Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson believes that the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to full fitness will be like a new signing for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has spent almost nine months on the sidelines after rupturing ligaments in his leg during the first leg of Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against Roma last season.
It was originally expected that the midfielder and England international would miss the entirety of the 2018/19 season due to the severity of his ligament damage, but Oxlade-Chamberlain’s recovery looks to be ahead of schedule.
In a recent interview, Klopp said that he expects to see Oxlade-Chamberlain return to action for the Reds before the end of the season.
Thompson revealed that he is excited by the prospect of Oxlade-Chamberlain playing his part in Liverpool’s title challenge and that he will be like a new signing for the club.
It would be an absolutely brilliant addition and it would be like having a new player. It’s so difficult. As players, you go through these turmoils, and it is a turmoil to you when you have to sit out.
It will give the players a buzz to see him coming back and he will be a massive asset if he can get back for the run-in. We’ve got a very good midfield who don’t get as many goals as they should do but that’s where Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in
He had it at Arsenal, it took a little bit of time to get to know the Jurgen Klopp way, the Liverpool way, but when he did, my goodness. He can dominate that drive from midfield, that powerful shot and the assists that he can bring. These are all assets that will help that midfield three that we’ve seen in the bigger games.
