Phil Thompson raved about midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when evaluating the signings Liverpool had made this season.
The Sky Sports pundit revealed that the 24-year-old had dramatically improved in his opinion, since joining from Arsenal last summer, and had earned a place in the Reds’ first-team.
“After a slow start, he was getting into the way of playing the way Klopp wanted and earnt his place in the side,” said Thompson for Sky Sports’ website.
“He’s improved dramatically and it’s just a shame he’s got the injury as I’m pretty sure he’d be in the starting XI v Real Madrid.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain has made 46 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side this season, scoring five goals, while registering eight assists.
OPINION
Thompson could not be anymore spot-on with his assessment of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s season. The Reds paid £35million, according to the BBC, to welcome the midfielder to Anfield at the start of the season and what a signing it has turned out to be. There should have been eyebrows raised over his high price tag, when it was first reported, as Oxlade-Chamberlain never really fulfilled any of his potential at the Emirates. It was hard to name what his main attributes were and it was easy to see, that there was lot of weaknesses in his game. However Klopp must be laughing at how easily he has helped develop the midfielder at the club. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was worth more than £35million on the current transfer market, as the midfielder has demonstrated that he has all the tools to be a fantastic Premier League player. It’s a shame that the midfielder has suffered an injury at the worst possible time, just as Thompson implies, as England will actually miss him at the World Cup. The 24-year-old could have tore it up for Gareth Southgate’s side in Russia, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be.