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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needs time to adapt at Liverpool, says Jurgen Klopp

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Jurgen Klopp says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needs time to settle in at Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will need time to get to grips with Liverpool's style of play.

The £40m deadline-day signing is in line for a first Reds start at Leicester in Tuesday's Carabao up tie, live on Sky Sports.

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Klopp has so far restricted the former Arsenal man to just 57 minutes across three substitute appearances - 45 of those in a damage-limitation exercise at Manchester City following Sadio Mane's red card.

And ahead of the Leicester game, he said: "We are working on it. We are obviously together with him and the analysts to show him how we want to play him in this position and in that position.

"So there is work to do but there is no rush. That is how it is but it is really good that he is here.

Jurgen Klopp gives instructions to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Image: Oxlade-Chamberlain has played 57 minutes across three substitute appearances under Klopp

"Of course it is always better - and next year it will be like this - if a new player comes in for the [start of] the season at least, if not for the pre-season. That would be even better.

"When the season starts, now we are really in this three-games-per-week rhythm and during the international break he was with the national team. So it is not easy and it takes time.

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"But already at the weekend [against Burnley], he came on in a difficult situation and he did really well."

Klopp is convinced Oxlade-Chamberlain made the right call in leaving Arsenal for Anfield but dismissed suggestions the 24-year-old's development stalled at the Emirates.

He said: "I thought it made complete sense for Alex to change club and to come here.

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"He played all the games for Arsenal from the beginning and now he comes here and is on the bench so it looks, 'Oh, not the best decision', but it is a long-term thing. We want to use him and to prepare him also. It is all good from this side at the moment.

"Arsenal changed a lot since Arsene is there. I am sure they didn't always play with three at the back and with wing-backs and so Alex played in different positions when he was there.

"It is the highest quality if you can play in different positions in the Premier League. That says a lot about you. The judgement from outside may be that you don't develop but playing different positions is development.

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists he does not feel pressure but sees the opportunity to win a cup competition in the EFL Cup. The German is also unfazed by the Manchester clubs' strong start to the season.

"Probably when Alex was 18 or 19 people thought he would be 'the man' - as people think a lot of times pretty early - and immediately you put a rucksack on their back. That makes development not easy.

"He's at a perfect age and is still able to make big steps."

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