Jurgen Klopp hints Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will remain as winger despite it being reason he quit Arsenal
The 24-year-old looks to be staying as a winger while Sadio Mane is sidelined with a hamstring injury. He has been training on the wing and Klopp is not keen to play him in the 'middle of the park' without training.
JURGEN KLOPP has reservations about playing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a central midfield role and will keep him as a winger.
The 24-year-old left Arsenal in a £35million move this summer with a view of getting game time in the central position that he craves.
But it does not look to be a move that will happen imminently as Klopp plans to keep him playing on the wing, especially while star winger Sadio Mane is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Klopp acknowledged that Oxlade-Chamberlain was powerful and a welcome addition at Anfield, but is not yet convinced by his movement.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been fielded out wide during games for the Reds and has only been playing as a winger in training.
Speaking of his decision to keep him on the wing, Klopp said: "Without training and playing in the middle of the park it doesn't make sense."
Klopp said it was not a fixed decision for the next five years, but he would not field Oxlade-Chamberlain as a No8 until he had trained in that position.
The ex-Gooner has had minimal game time since he joined Liverpool this summer and appeared lost in his position in England's match against Slovenia.
However, Klopp did seem pleased with Oxlade-Chamberlain's performance as a late substitute during their draw against Manchester United.
The Liverpool manager spoke of affording Oxlade-Chamberlain time to adapt to Liverpool's style of play, he said: "Obviously it is a different style to Arsenal and a different role to the wing-back role he played in his last games for Arsenal.
"Then he plays for England and they all come back from their national teams not confused, but with different plans. That’s not too simple."
