Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade Chamberlain to be patient in his quest for more first-team football.
The England international is said to be desperate to continue his form at the beginning of this season which has seen him start consecutive games against Chelsea and Southampton.
Klopp admitted he was delighted with his performance in an interview with the Mirror, but has warned the midfielder to slow down.
“He needs to be patient in the right way, and everything will be fine 100 per cent,” he said. “We only talk about Ox because everybody knows how good he is.
“We need to make sure that he can show that on the pitch as well. When I make the decision that he is now ready then it is my responsibility of course.”
The £120,000-per-week midfielder [Spotrac] missed the majority of last season after picking up an injury in the Reds’ Champions League tie with Manchester City in 2018.
OPINION
Oxlade-Chamberlain will know he needs to be patient as he returns to full fitness, with the end goal in sight being him returning to Klopp’s line up for the entire season. After missing 48 games in total [Transfermarkt] the 26-year-old will know better than anyone that he needs time to rediscover his best form in a Liverpool shirt. The former Arsenal man can bring a new dimension to the Reds’ midfield, with his athleticism something players such as Jordan Henderson fail to offer. Against Southampton, Oxlade-Chamberlain completed four dribbles, and also had two shots on goal on top of one key pass [WhoScored]. As well as offering a threat in front of goal, he also ensured Liverpool stayed defensively solid, making a single interception and completing a couple of clearances. If Oxlade-Chamberlain is patient, he will eventually rediscover his form consistently, and even though he is desperate to cement his spot in the Reds’ side – he must remain patient and deliver whenever he is given the chance.
