It has been a pretty difficult season for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Liverpool.
The 27-year-old has only managed two Premier League starts under Jurgen Klopp since the start of the campaign.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is a popular figure among a lot of Liverpool fans due to his heroics during the 2017-18 campaign, prior to suffering a year-long absence through injury.
But as a midfielder, it’s clear to see that Klopp values other players much higher than the former Arsenal winger, who joined in 2017 for £40 million.
But speaking to Liverpool’s official website, the German coach has revealed that he could potentially try use the England international as a number nine.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has a lot of experience in several different positions, having been used on both wings and as a right wing-back during his time at Arsenal.
But through the middle as a number nine is more or less completely new territory, but it’s a role that Klopp feels he could play.
He said: “He can do that [play as a number nine].. He did that against West Ham as well. West Ham away, he came on in the same position and did really well there. Ox is obviously a versatile player, definitely more offensively orientated. And that’s a very offensive position for him with the speed, the technique, the moves, the turns, the acceleration he is able to do. He didn’t play it [the position] 500 times obviously.”
Liverpool are away to his old club tonight, but Oxlade-Chamberlain is unlikely to face Arsenal.
It’s absolutely a must-win game for Klopp’s side who could be eight points adrift in the race for a top-four finish should they lose, and therefore the boss will be taking no risks with his team selection.
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