Spare a thought for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Having been part of the Arsenal side humiliated 4-0 at Anfield before the international break, Oxlade-Chamberlain found himself on the receiving end of an even more convincing scoreline following his £35milllion switch to Liverpool.

Coming on for your debut away from home, with your team reduced to 10 men and trailing 2-0, was far from the ideal set of circumstances for England international Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Against that backdrop, little can therefore be read into the former Arsenal man's 45-minute debut, other than he was forced to chase the ball just like he did at Anfield two weeks earlier.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain chases the ball (
Image:
AFP)
Oxlade-Chamberlain started on the bench (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)

Until Sadio Mane's justified dismissal for a reckless and dangerously high challenge on Manchester City keeper Ederson, Liverpool had been impressive in attack, justifying Jurgen Klopp's decision to start his new signing on the bench.

Defensive naivety from Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan allowed City to open the scoring through Liverpool's nemesis, Sergio Aguero, but, attacking-wise, the visitors had certainly been more threatening than their hosts.

With Mane now suspended for three domestuc games following his dismissal for serious foul play, the door has opened for Oxlade-Chamberlain to make his mark for his new team.

With Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah so rampant for Liverpool until this sobering defeat, it was difficult to see where Oxlade-Chamberlain was going to fit in.

And with Philippe Coutinho soon to be back in contention after failing to secure a move to Barcelona, the Ox will have it all to prove, despite his big fee and Klopp's clear belief in him.

Oxlade-Chamberlain craved a more permanent central midfield role while at Arsenal, where he did feature at times under Arsene Wenger, and it remains to be seen where Klopp decides to best utilise him going forward.

For Liverpool, having had such a formidable record against the top six last season, not losing to any of them, this was a reality check for them, even accounting for the imbalance in the game that was caused by Mane's sending-off.

Next up for Liverpool is Wednesday's Champions League return at home to Sevilla, where this domestic aberration can at least be put to one side.

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