Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has this evening provided an update on the injury setback suffered by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Derby 1-3 Liverpool
Liverpool’s U23’s travelled to the Moor Farm Training Centre last Friday afternoon, for a Premier League 2 clash with Derby County.
The Reds eventually emerged with a comfortable 3-1 victory, courtesy of goals from Curtis Jones (2) and Rafael Camacho.
The win took Neil Critchley’s men to within a point of 3rd-placed Derby in the Premier League 2 table.
Chamberlain’s fresh concern
However, on an otherwise positive day for the Merseysiders, there was also a concerning development on the injury-front.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was making his first appearance in a competitive fixture since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last April, was forced off 5 minutes before half-time.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 09: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Liverpool looks on from the bench during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
The English international was due to see out the opening 45 minutes at Derby, but, after signalling to the bench that he had picked up a problem, seemingly in his left hamstring, he was quickly replaced as a precautionary measure.
‘It’s all good’
As such, Liverpool’s fans have since been left sweating over the fitness of their midfield dynamo.
Jurgen Klopp, though, has this evening provided an update on Chamberlain’s well-being, confirming that the club are not concerned by the 25-year-old’s setback.
Speaking in an interview with Liverpool’s official website, Klopp explained:
‘It’s not really surprising, it’s normal. The good news is the knee is perfect – nothing happened, that was our only concern.’
‘Football games are different to football training, that’s why he felt the muscle a little bit, and thank God we were smart enough to take him off, even if it was only five minutes earlier than we thought [before the game]. That made absolute sense. Nothing else happened.’
‘We always said he needs time. Maybe I’m a bit guilty for being too excited about it; if nobody asked me I wouldn’t start talking about Ox, to be honest, but they ask me and I say the truth – and the truth was it looked so exciting in training. But it’s only small-sided games, shooting situations and all that.’
‘It’s Ox, we all know and love him, that’s cool, but, at the end of the day, we all need to make sure we are ready for the big-size pitch. And for this he just needs time. It’s all good.’
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