Liverpool legend John Barnes has backed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to prove a "fantastic" signing for Jurgen Klopp, insisting the midfielder's early performances at Anfield are a reflection of the Reds' form.
Oxlade-Chamberlain began the campaign at Arsenal where he started the north Londoners' first three Premier League games, including the 4-0 loss away to Liverpool in late August.
He then rejected a new contract at the club, and also the chance to move to champions Chelsea, in favour of a £35m transfer deadline-day move to Merseyside.
But the 24-year-old is struggling to find his form - and has failed to produce a goal or an assist thus far. He is being used primarily as a substitute by Klopp and only starting Liverpool's League Cup tie against Leicester, which they lost 2-0.
But Barnes says that fans and pundits alike shouldn't be quick to judge Oxlade-Chamberlain because he's had to come into a side who have only won one of their last seven games in all competitions.
Barnes, speaking on behalf of Bonus Code Bets, told Standard Sport: "He hasn't started all the games but he's come to be a main player at Liverpool for, hopefully, the next five, six or seven years.
"We're too quick to judge. When players come in and do well we say they are fantastic. And if they aren't in the team and don't start, we say it's a disaster. It's not.
"I think he's a fantastic player. He's probably a reflection of the team. He's come to be part of a good team and because the team has been inconsistent, maybe he's been inconsistent.
"But I think he'll be a fantastic signing for Liverpool long-term."
Klopp's side host rivals Manchester United on Saturday after a September in which Liverpool conceded eight goals and secured just one win in the Premier League.
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Their recent run of results has left the Reds sitting in seventh place while United only trail leaders Manchester City on goal difference.
But Liverpool's impressive record against England's top six sides - they've won nine, drawn nine and lost just twice in 20 Premier League matches since Klopp arrived at Anfield in October 2015 - means Barnes isn't worried about the visit of in-form United.
He added: "[Liverpool's season has been] patchy. They are such an attacking side with so many players going forward that at time they leave the back four exposed. For me, that's one of the main problems - not necessarily that they have a dodgy back four but the way they defend as a team.
"They don't have a classic No.9 goalscorer to put the ball in the back of the net. They create chances, efforts on goal but they [Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino] are not a Robbie Fowler or an Ian Rush. They aren't that clinical.
"But they are playing an exciting brand of football.
"They've had the best record against the top teams. I'm not worried about when they play against Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Tottenham. The problem they have is when they play the other teams who defend deep."