It’s blatantly obvious that we’re missing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain right now…
The Englishman is out injured and will be for the majority of this season.
Today against Manchester City, we drew 0-0 at Anfield, but missed a player able to drive through the midfield with the ball.
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Naby Keita should be fulfilling that role, but is playing within himself at the moment as he learns Jurgen Klopp’s system. On a few occasions, he got the ball on the half turn and drove us forward, but not nearly enough.
Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum can’t do it, and neither can James Milner, who went off injured.
Really, Liverpool need Keita to play with a little bit more freedom and with plenty more dynamism. When he does, our midfield will link much better to the attack.
Here’s what Reds said about Twitter:
Really.. really.. Missing Ox in this kind of game this season..
Come on @Alex_OxChambo come back stronger ASAP!! #LFC #YNWA
— Weny Icha (@WenyIcha) October 7, 2018
You realise now how much Liverpool are missing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, particularly in a game of this kind. @ManCity couldn't contain his breaks from midfield last season. Naby Keita needs to be that explosive presence
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) October 7, 2018
I wonder can Klopp convert Shaqiri into the Oxlade-Chamberlain role? Keita clearly supposed to provide the surge from midfield, but miles off the pace to date. Still, took Ox 3 months to settle & he was well used to the Prem
— red vagabond (@redvagabond) October 7, 2018
A lot of people won’t admit it after skating him when we signed him, but we really miss Oxlade-Chamberlain. Not enough link between the midfield and front 3 with his passing and runs. #LFC
— LiamThomo (@LiamThomo) October 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/RedRodimus/status/1048993251162775554
Oxlade-Chamberlain is missed in this game. Liverpool need a player that can drive through the midfield and play that incisive pass to the front 3.
— Hafiz Azhar (@HafizzAzhar) October 7, 2018
We need naby to step up too. Obviously a quality player in there but we need it now. Mix oxlade-chamberlain too
— Lee Thomas (@Leetomo7) October 7, 2018
When is oxlade even coming back??
— DarkMan (@TheTarmilore) October 7, 2018
Missing Coutinho and Oxlade Chamberlain in midfield very much #LIVMCI
— NALDO (@ashman58) October 7, 2018