Liverpool expect Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to miss 'majority' of season - 7M sport

Liverpool expect Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to miss 'majority' of season



Posted Thursday, July 19, 2018 by ESPN

Liverpool expect Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to miss 'majority' of season

Liverpool have confirmed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to the vast majority of the 2018-19 season as he continues his recovery from knee ligament damage, with manager Jurgen Klopp saying "it will be a bonus" if the 24-year-old plays at all.

Oxlade-Chamberlain injured his knee during Liverpool's Champions League semifinal with Roma in April and underwent successful surgery eight days later.

Liverpool say a timescale for Oxlade-Chamberlain's recovery was not revealed at time because the 24-year-old did not want the developments to distract his teammates from their run towards the Champions League final.

"It feels like now is an appropriate time to tell people that for Ox this coming season will be about focusing on recovery and rehab," Klopp told Liverpool's website,

"We have known this from pretty much the day after he got the injury and after the successful surgery, we were sure of it.

"I hope everyone treats this information responsibly. There has been no change, no setback -- it's exactly on the schedule we expected and planned for. The new information is that we're now giving more detail publicly.

"It is typical of Ox that he didn't want the news to overshadow the end of the season and, to be quite honest, we thought we could wait and tell people at an appropriate time.

"His surgery -- which he had on the day of our second leg in Roma -- has been completely successful and his recovery has started superbly well.

"But the truth of the matter is that we are preparing this season knowing he will not be with us on the pitch for competitive matches for the majority of it. If we do see him back this season it will be a bonus."

Liverpool, the player and Klopp all agreed on the need to be patient with his rehabilitation as they look towards the long-term future.

"It is so important -- because of how valuable and important he is to what we are looking to do here in the coming seasons -- that the focus is on doing this right and not rushed. Ox is completely on board with this approach," Klopp added. "He is such an outstandingly good person and someone who even when not playing is integral to the heartbeat of Melwood.

"I cannot wait to have him back with us for matches, but we will wait for him and we will show the patience that is required to make sure he comes back ready to continue where he left off: as one of the most outstanding performers in European football in that moment."

Oxlade-Chamberlain made 42 appearances during his first season at Liverpool following his £40 million move from Arsenal.

Also on Wednesday, League Two Notts County announced they had signed Oxlade-Chamberlain's younger brother, Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, a 20-year-old right-back who was out of contract at Portsmouth.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.