Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cited a desire to play in central midfield as one of the key reasons behind his defection from Arsenal to Liverpool.

So it didn’t take Twitter wags long to suggest he’d be looking to switch international allegiances as well after Gareth Southgate started him on the right of England’s attacking midfield three.

And no doubt Malta left-back Zach Muscat must have wished the Ox had been tucked into a more central role as well after being given a torrid first half in particular by the jet-heeled 24-year-old.

There were times when Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pace made Muscat look like he was wading through cement rather than running with the hammer down to keep up with him.

Liverpool fans won't have learned a great deal (
Image:
AFP)
The Ox laboured with his England teammates (
Image:
Getty Images)

Particularly in that opening period when, time after time, he left him for dead down England’s right.

The final ball from Liverpool’s £35million new boy was decent as often as it was poor but, as England laboured, the openings he helped create failed to materialise into a real goalscoring opportunity

So what will the Liverpool fans who were here at the Ta’ Qali Stadium and those who tuned into their televisions sets back home have learned of their new acquisition?

Well, apart from the fact he remains as quick as you like, frankly, not very much.

Oxlade-Chaberlain still has a lot to prove (
Image:
REUTERS)

It’s hard to judge Premier League performers against sides like Malta and particularly when they aren’t playing the positions they will be playing for their club.

Jurgen Klopp will know, however, that he can operate out wide when injury and suspension means he needs cover there.

He did link well with new club-mate Jordan Henderson a couple of times and there was one delightful flick into Harry Kane which will have set one or two Liverpool pulses racing.

But there is still much to prove for the Ox — for England fans, for his old Arsenal supporters and for his new Liverpool followers too.

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