Liverpool should give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain another chance after the Sunday World reported that the midfielder could leave this summer, writes Anfield Central’s chief writer Michael Mongie.
It’s safe to say that ‘the Ox’ is out of favour at Liverpool. For all their injuries, the former Arsenal midfielder cannot get a game for the Reds and his future at the club doesn’t look very promising.
A report from the Sunday World’s Kevin Palmer claims that Chamberlain could be sold this summer. He suggests that Joel Matip, Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi are all deemed surplus to requirements at Anfield as well.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 15: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Joel Matip of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on January 15, 2021 in Kirkby, England. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ANDREW POWELL/LIVERPOOL FC GETTY IMAGES.
Shaqiri has had his issues with injury and when he does get the chance to play, he struggles to deliver the goods with regularity while Divock Origi seems to have lost the magic that saw him guide the Reds to a Champions League final in which he scored.
Then there’s Joel Matip.
The Cameroonian arrived at Liverpool on a free transfer and in the last two seasons, he has been one of the best central defenders in Europe when fit – and therein lies the major issue.
According to Transfermarkt’s records, Matip has been injured for 228 days this season alone. In total, he has missed 548 days of football as a Liverpool player which amounts to a whopping 112 games.
31% of his time at Anfield has been spent injured. That’s unfortunate but not good enough.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 27: Joel Matip of Liverpool interacts with Alisson Becker of Liverpool he kneels down injured during the Premier League match between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on December 27, 2020 in Liverpool, England. PHOTO BY NICK POTTS – POOL/GETTY IMAGES.
Chamberlain has also had his fair share of injuries, including an ACL tear which saw him on the sidelines for 316 days. As we’re seeing now with Danny Ings at Southampton, however, it shouldn’t be the end of the road for the midfielder at Liverpool.
Liverpool should not sell Chambo. All he needs is more game time or a goal to get his confidence back. We saw during the 17/18 season what he can bring in midfield and with his pace, power on the ball and vision, he can be an asset for this side.
He should have had an assist for Mohamed Salah when Liverpool beat RB Leipzig 2-0 in the second leg of their 4-0 aggregate Round of 16 win in the Champions League before the international break.
The Egyptian was just offside but the ability to break away in midfield and play an incisive pass to Salah is exactly the kind of thing that has been lacking at times this season.
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola, (C), Liverpool’s English midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (L) and Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah react at the final whistle during the UEFA Champions league Last 16 2nd Leg football match between Liverpool and RB Leipzig at Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on March 10, 2021. PHOTO BY ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES.
Selling Chamberlain at a fraction of the £35million they signed him for won’t improve the Reds’ fortunes next season.
What they would benefit from the most is keeping him fit and using him to put pressure on the likes of Thiago and Keita to perform to keep their place in the side.
