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Liverpool vs Leicester: Jurgen Klopp needs to show the dynamic duo some love

By Russell Hughes

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Liverpool FC and RB Salzburg at Anfield on October 02, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Liverpool FC and RB Salzburg at Anfield on October 02, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp needs to show the dynamic duo Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain some love, starting with the Leicester game on Saturday.

These are two footballers who can change the game in the blink of an eye but right now they’re not even given the chance to change their socks. Klopp needs to rectify that.

We’ve never seen the best of Keita at Liverpool but we’ve seen how damaging Oxlade-Chamberlain can be, we’ve seen it with our own eyes. And that blessed six months between 2017 and 2018 may feel like a long time ago now, and that’s because it is.

Recovery from long-term injury needs long-term patience and that’s what the Ox is getting as he looks to become the player he threatened to be. We all remember those performances against Manchester City and weep out of fear that we may never see them again.

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But we can.

Oxlade-Chamberlain needs games to find his rhythm and confidence. He wasn’t setting the world alight when he joined from Arsenal and he isn’t now. The only difference was Klopp’s backing and a slow integration into the first team.

Keita has only ever shown flashes of brilliance and is yet to reach his Leipzig levels. A series of niggling injuries have had the same effect as the Ox’s big one: intermittent game time, no run of matches and low confidence.

But put them together and these are two midfielders who have the dynamism, energy, strength and ability to run games and give teams consistent headaches. With Fabinho holding the midfield, they could form a very potent trio.

Georginio Wijnaldum is an excellent player and Klopp sees a lot of value in the Dutchman, but he’s the only regular started the manager could afford to give a few weeks off in the name of Oxlade-Chamberlain or Keita reaching game-changing levels.

Next. Liverpool’s 32 best signings under Brendan Rodgers. dark

That should start on Saturday with Leicester.

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