Doubt that Liverpool midfielder will be ready for Cardiff match
By David Gate
Liverpool are preparing for Sunday’s Premier League matchup with Cardiff City but there is doubt that midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be ready to feature.
The day we’ve been waiting for is almost here, but it probably won’t be Sunday. After a year out action with a knee injury we are close to seeing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain return to contention but he is unlikely to make the match day squad for Cardiff this weekend.
The Liverpool ECHO are reporting that Dejan Lovren has returned from illness and that Jurgen Klopp has to make a decision over Oxlade-Chamberlain. But with the England international featuring for only partial appearances in two reserve games it is unlikely he will squeeze into the squad until he has proven himself further.
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Klopp has a full complement of midfielders available this weekend with Gini Wijnaldum, Fabinho and James Milner starting against Porto and Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita likely to start in South Wales.
The boss also has Adam Lallana and Xherdan Shaqiri who have not seen the minutes they would like – and some would say deserve. I don’t see the manager passing over either of those two to include a *maybe* fit Oxlade-Chamberlain despite the boost in morale it would give the fans and players.
Unless we suffer two or three injuries or suspensions in midfield I don’t want to see Oxlade-Chamberlain feature until pre-season. Give him that extra few months to build up fitness and strength and unleash him next season.
The Reds don’t have the same level of cover in defense which is why we will see fellow long-term injury absentee Joe Gomez feature. He has been on the bench the last few games and came on for Trent Alexander-Arnold at Porto.
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I’m not sure if we will get to the point where Klopp is dropping Joel Matip for the English defender but he will be crucial on the bench and in the event of injury.