Should Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain be picked ahead of West Ham United’s Michail Antonio for England for the 2018 World Cup in Russia?
Merson believes that Liverpool summer signing Oxlade-Chamberlain should be part of the Three Lions’ squad for the competition next year.
Although the former England international has praised West Ham United winger Antonio, he does not seem to rate him higher than Oxlade-Chamberlain, who can operate as a central midfielder or as a winger.
Antonio, 27, is a winger by trade, but the former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest star has been deployed as a right-back from time to time by West Ham manager Slaven Bilic.
“Oxlade-Chamberlain gets the nod because he’s as versatile as an egg,” Merson told Sky Sports while picking his England squad for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
“He could play in midfield, on the wing, at No 10 or even as a wing-back – you need players that are versatile.
“I’m a big fan of Antonio, and there have been calls for him to be included, but if he cannot get ahead of Oxlade-Chamberlain when he’s struggling to get into the Liverpool team, what chance does he have when he finally plays regularly under Jurgen Klopp.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain is a very talented and promising player, but the 24-year-old has struggled to play well for Liverpool so far this season.
As reported by The Guardian, the Reds has to pay Arsenal a transfer fee of £40 million in order to secure the services of the versatile attacker.
West Ham paid Forest a transfer fee of £7 million in the summer of 2015 in order to sign Antonio, as reported by The Daily Mail.
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