OPINION
Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has enjoyed a fruitful spell recently.
The England international has really started to catch the attention of Jurgen Klopp, and he has been given responsibility in the Premier League, the Champions League, and the Carabao Cup.
The 26-year-old has started back-to-back games at Anfield recently, scoring an unstoppable drive in the 5-5 draw with Arsenal, and also a low finish into the bottom corner in the 2-1 win against Genk on Tuesday evening.
Michael Owen has recently claimed that Oxlade-Chamberlain may not suit being a starter in Liverpool’s side, due to their midfield having a specific style built around their attacking full-backs.
“I mean Liverpool’s midfield are very efficient, I seem to be using that word a lot tonight, but they are an efficient midfield, and none of them really, are similar to Oxlade-Chamberlain, he can come on and change things,” said Owen on BT Sport 3 (19:33, Tuesday, November 5th).
“But whether the way Liverpool play will suit Chamberlain playing permanently…we all know how attacking their full-backs are, but that’s mainly due to that midfield being solid as a rock.
“So it may knock the balance of the team, but as an alternative, it’s great to see as he does have something different.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain has definitely proved the former Reds’ legend wrong in his latest verdict on the midfielder, his recent performances have been of the highest standard, and without him, Liverpool could have been in trouble.
The former Arsenal midfield man has stepped up to the mark and has shown that Klopp and the Reds can adapt to a different style when needs be, and something that will prevent them from being too one dimensional.
The Champions League has allowed Oxlade-Chamberlain to excel in an attacking midfield role, scoring three goals in two games, as well as averaging three shots per game according to WhoScored – as he continues to impress in the final third.
Liverpool still haven’t been found out despite playing with a near-identical midfield three for the past year and having the options of Adam Lallana, Naby Keita, and Oxlade-Chamberlain can only help.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has definitely proved Owen wrong, and as the season goes on, he will only get more and more starting minutes at Anfield.
