Liverpool fans are suffering after a second successive Premier League draw but Jurgen Klopp cheers them up by adding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the Euro squad.
Liverpool have dropped points in the Premier League with consecutive draws and the mood among the fanbase is solemn despite being three points clear. Jurgen Klopp has moved to cheer up Reds everywhere with his Champions League squad inclusion of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The England international is back training with the first team and should be available in March. He will miss the first leg of the last 16 knockout tie with Bayern Munich but could be in contention for the game in Germany on March 13th.
Nathaniel Clyne, Dominic Solanke, Kamil Grabara and Pedro Chivella were in the Euro squad for the group stages but they have all left the club; three on loan and Solanke permanently to Bournemouth.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is taking one of those places and there are two other additions; Ben Woodburn who has returned from his disappointing loan spell at Sheffield United and Ki-Jana Hoever who made his impressive debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup.
Woodburn and Hoever are there for emergencies – they won’t even make the bench unless there is an injury/suspension crisis.
However Oxlade-Chamberlain could play a role in the Reds’ fortunes in 2018/19. His clutch goals against Man City last year – one in the league and one in Europe – were huge moments in big wins against the rivals.
Klopp was forced to start Adam Lallana in midfield yesterday and the English playmaker looked off the pace despite a nice trick in the build up to the Liverpool goal.
The return of Oxlade-Chamberlain will be a big boost the midfield unit that has struggled to create and dominate over the last few months.