Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has leaped to the defence of his new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain by saying he was “unlucky” after he was criticised for his performance against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup, according to a report on the Independent.

The Englishman saw plenty of the ball but failed to impress with it as he lost possession several times when in key positions.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images SportKlopp said:

“Ox had a few really, really good situations and a few unlucky situations. I thought he did really well in the moments when you could see he was trying to adapt to the style of play.

“He had a little problem with the calf, not an injury but a little problem. We all need to get used to this and manage it a little better.”

But the manager is in no doubt that Oxlade-Chamberlain will get back to his best after a few weeks of settling in at the club.

“He didn’t play the best game of his life so people probably ask: ‘What’s the impact he can have?’ But I’m not in doubt about this,” said Klopp.

Oxlade-Chamberlain left Arsenal for Liverpool in one of the biggest domestic transfers of the summer window, and will be hoping to again play against Leicester when Liverpool return to the King Power Stadium on Saturday, to make amends for his poor Carabao Cup performance.