Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is putting his head on the chopping board for one particular player in his team after rewarding him with a new contract in the summer.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has become a fan favourite after his grit and determination shone through to help him return to fitness and help his side during their successful Premier League and Champions League campaigns at the end of last season.
But when the news broke that the former Arsenal midfielder was to put pen to paper on a new contract, alarm bells started ringing. It’s almost as if Liverpool haven’t learnt their lessons over previous players with similar circumstances such as Alberto Aquilani and Danny Ings. Both were on big wages and just sat on the sidelines for the majority of their respected times at the club.
Despite the positive response from Liverpool fans after the difficult journey he has been on, Klopp must know that his £35m gem from Portsmouth is not guaranteed to stay fit. Any slight knocks to his knee could be serious and another year out on the sidelines could be the result for the Southampton Academy graduate.
The Liverpool coaching staff understand that, on his day, Oxlade-Chamberlain can bring a lot to this team with his talent. During his first season, the 26-year-old had an impressive attacking record for Liverpool before the serious knee injury he picked up against Roma in the Champions League. He scored five goals in all competitions and conjured up seven assists in 32 appearances for the club. His average shots per game for the campaign was at an impressive 1.2 and his key passes per game were at 1.1.
There is a lot to like about Oxlade-Chamberlain both on and off the field. He has a great attitude towards the game, he can shoot from range, play through balls and dribble well to create openings.
However, the 26-year-old’s injury history confirms that the Reds’ midfielder has suffered a knock every season since 2012. That alone is something that the Liverpool manager will have to be wary of.