Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was complimented by Jurgen Klopp, who also identified a particular incident that encapsulated his Liverpool career.
Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, complimented the talent of the departing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the player tribute statement but also revealed a memory that best captured his time spent at Anfield.
In the 2017 summer, Liverpool acquired Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal. In January 2018, after a sluggish start, he started to play an important role in the team’s midfield. The Englishman played his two home matches against Manchester City in the league and the Champions League when he was at his best. He also scored some incredible goals in those contests.
After that, he sustained a serious injury during the first leg of the 2018 Champions League semifinal against AS Roma that kept him out for a long time. The midfielder has since had some success, but he hasn’t been able to match his performance from 2017–18.
Following is what Klopp had to say about Oxlade-Chamberlain, his attributes, and that particular regret (through the Liverpool website):
Ox is a super guy—really and truly a super guy. Now that Ox is involved, it’s even more unfortunate because, as is sometimes the case with athletes, he had some amazing experiences here but, in the end, I have no doubt that he is not completely satisfied, and I can certainly understand that.
“But the one instance that springs to mind is the Roma semi-final, the home game when he was hurt. It somewhat sums up his time here and also illustrates how talented he is. Since Ox was so good at that time, I honestly had no idea how to replace him.
The 29-year-old had it all as Klopp’s number eight, including a turn of speed with the ball, directness while running, the ability to shoot and assist goals, and an unceasing need to run.
It was only logical that after recovering from that severe knee injury, his confidence would be shaken. In the 2019–20 season, he displayed some of his best qualities, but he fell short of what we saw in 2018.
There is some logic for why the player wasn’t good once he had that physical setback, as much as Liverpool fans may be irritated with his stint at Anfield.
He still has a lot to offer any club in England or Europe, despite being only 29 years old. We are crossing our fingers that he is picked up during the summer window. The next team an Ox will play for will benefit greatly from his renewed energy.
Liverpool supporters will undoubtedly wish him the best wherever he goes, despite their regrets in this situation.
