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Football

19th Sep 2017

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gets to play centre midfield, produces worst pass of season

Conan Doherty

Notions.

We’re a long way from Kenny Cunningham ripping Ander Herrera apart and saying United should break the bank to get Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in.

Listen, this guy isn’t a complete dud but, for the guts of 40 million, he’s going to be held to a high standard. Jesus, you could’ve bought Paulinho for that price. And don’t laugh, he scored two for Barcelona on the same night – the same amount he scored for Spurs. Ever.

In England though, the Ox’s desire to play central midfield is already being thrown back in his face after his full debut for Liverpool ended in a 2-0 defeat to Leicester and an early exit from the League Cup.

Oxlade Chamberlain on the bench again…

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The English international has played four games since signing for Liverpool and is still waiting on a victory.

  • Premier League: Man City 5-0 Liverpool (45 minutes)
  • Champions League: Liverpool 2-2 Sevilla (1 minute)
  • Premier League: Liverpool 1-1 Burnley (11 minutes)
  • League Cup: Leicester 2-0 Liverpool (90 minutes)

 

At the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night, his evening was summed up with a late wayward pass to… God knows who.

He gets into the final third, he’s in that playmaking role he wants to be in, he has a bit of time and, at the end of it all, he does this.

The Ox isn’t exactly a stranger to mishaps like this. He’s often threatened to do something only for his decision-making or execution to let him down. That would generally be a problem for a man who wants to play in centre midfield.

Arsenal fans will be dining out on this one for a while. Liverpool fans – even the loyal Liverpool fans – might not be too bothered trying to offer a half-hearted defence. At the end of it all, he’ll be back in the England starting team in October.