Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes he can unlock Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s “unbelievable” goalscoring potential after Arsenal failed to make the most of it.
Oxlade-Chamberlain scored just nine goals in 132 Premier League appearances for Arsenal before making a £40million switch to Liverpool in August after opting against signing a contract extension at the Emirates.
Since his move to Liverpool the 24-year-old has yet to develop into a consistent goalscorer, with two to his name in 20 appearances and those coming in drubbings handed out to West Ham and Maribor, but Klopp sees the potential for him to be a regular scorer.
“I think the biggest improvement, or the biggest potential he still has, is really being involved in goalscoring situations, because he has it in himself,” Klopp said.
“It is unbelievable. But he was not asked for this too much I think in the past.
“If you watched Arsenal in the past, the two decisive players were [Alexis] Sanchez and [Mesut] Ozil. In a lot of moments, the decisive passes, Ozil or Sanchez. Or (Olivier) Giroud when he is coming on the pitch. Then you are not that much involved.
“Here, we put it on much more shoulders, and if he's on the pitch he needs to be involved in situations like this.
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“So I'm fine for the moment, it is all good, but I see really a lot of space for improvement as well, and that's good.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain initially struggled to set Anfield alight after his big money move but has come to the fore somewhat over recent weeks, starting four of Liverpool’s last six games.
“He had to adapt,” Klopp said. “He did well from the first day, but I know how it is if you're kind of a big signing - then everybody expects you immediately on the pitch, and when you are on the pitch, then you have to perform immediately.
“But it's difficult. A lot of things are difficult.
“I was happy from the first day about his involvement, about his attitude, and since then he became more and more a Liverpool player.”