Roy Keane has claimed that the career of former Arsenal man, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, has ‘stalled’ at Liverpool, as he told ITV Sport.
The outspoken TV pundit made it clear that Oxlade-Chamberlain is a ‘quality player’, but he is being ‘left behind’ at Liverpool.
It has been five years since Oxlade-Chamberlain swapped Arsenal for the red side of Merseyside for £35 million (BBC Sport).
During that period, the Reds have won the Premier League title, FA Cup and League Cup – although Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t been a regular during those moments.
Nonetheless, this is what Keane had to say about the player after he started his side’s win over Norwich City in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.
“Injury problems,” said Keane. “He is now, what 28? His career has stalled over the last years. He has been left behind a little bit.
“But a quality player.”
When Oxlade-Chamberlain left the Emirates for Anfield, he wasn’t exactly shining bright for the Gunners, at the time.
They were struggling, he was struggling, but Jurgen Klopp took a punt on his talents and has played him in the middle of the park since.
Come the summer, if the Southampton academy product continues to be a fringe player at the club, then it will be interesting to see if he moves on.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is still at a healthy age, he has been playing at the top, he has the experience and has previously been an England international, so he would be a top purchase for another team in Europe.
But leaving Liverpool, when they are in the middle of one of their best periods in history, is a very difficult thing to do.
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