Liverpool new boy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showed glimpses of promise against Maribor but whether he passed this audition is unclear

  • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was handed a start for Liverpool against Maribor 
  • The winger has seen his chances limited since making the switch from Arsenal 
  • Oxlade-Chamberlain and Liverpool struggled early on as Maribor parked the bus
  • As the game opened up the England international began to show promise 

In his programme notes, Jurgen Klopp described Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as 'dynamite'.

Liverpool fans have certainly spent a long time waiting for him to explode onto the scene.

To much head scratching, the Merseysiders, in desperate need of a defender and goalkeeper or two, gave Arsenal £35m to bring the England attacking midfielder north at the end of August.

Jurgen Klopp described Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as ‘dynamite’ in his pre-Maribor notes

Jurgen Klopp described Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as 'dynamite' in his pre-Maribor notes

The winger was given a rare start in the red of Liverpool since making his switch from Arsenal

The winger was given a rare start in the red of Liverpool since making his switch from Arsenal

The itch remains. Despite injuries to new teammates, Oxlade-Chamberlain is yet to start a Premier League match. His one start before this one, in the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Leicester City, prompted severe criticism.


Perhaps it was that lack of activity that prompted a gushing outburst from Klopp.

'He has shown his class each and every time he has had the opportunity on the pitch,' he wrote. 'He is like dynamite when he comes on.'

There was little sign of that in the first half - but there were mitigating circumstances. The Slovenians were hammered 7-0 by Liverpool on their own patch a fortnight ago. 

Hardly surprising, then, that they happily jumped into the driving seat of the bus Huddersfield parked at Anfield on Saturday and left the handbrake firmly in place.

As the game opened up Oxlade-Chamberlain began to show glimpses of promise in the tie

As the game opened up Oxlade-Chamberlain began to show glimpses of promise in the tie

Klopp paid £35million for the winger's services but knows he will be hard pressed for a place

Klopp paid £35million for the winger's services but knows he will be hard pressed for a place

Two half chances came and went for Oxlade-Chamberlain before Klopp switched him from the left to the right of his attacking trio.

Things got slightly better in front of the Kenny Dalglish Stand, from where he sent over two crosses unmarked teammates could not finish, but with the second half came a switch back to the left.

Following Mohamed Salah's opener, space finally opened up. Oxlade-Chamberlain showed some nice touches and was unlucky to see a shot deflected over the bar.

Indeed, it would be harsh to pile criticism on the ex-Gunner. He clearly needs time and a run of games to get back to anywhere near his best. 

With Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane to return following the international break, whether he will get it remains to be seen. 

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