Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the Liverpool bench (Getty)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wouldn’t be good enough to get in the England squad 20 years ago, claims Paul Merson.

The Liverpool midfielder is expected to start tonight’s World Cup qualifier between England and Slovenia at Wembley.

But according to Arsenal legend Merson, the former Gunner is lucky to even be in the squad.

‘You look in midfield and Oxlade-Chamberlain will be very fortunate to play. In my day and age he wouldn’t even be in the squad,’ Merson told Sky Sports.

The former England midfielder added: ‘That’s the problem now, the squad virtually picks itself. There’s not a huge amount of depth and it is harder to get out of the squad than it is to get in it.’

Oxlade-Chamberlain in action for Liverpool (Getty)
The Ox in England training this week (Getty)

Merson’s comments come just a couple of months after Oxlade-Chamberlain left the Emirates in a £35million deal that took him to Anfield.

It’s understood the 24-year-old became frustrated at the lack of progress he was making at Arsenal which prompted him to seek an exit from the club.

Following his move he’s made four appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League but is yet to start a top-flight match.

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