This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
The Athletic journalist James Pearce has hailed Liverpool man Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and believes he’s given himself every chance of starting against Manchester City on Sunday.
What did he say?
Liverpool will host City this Sunday in an almighty clash at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp will no doubt look to field his most in-form players, as a win for his side takes the club nine points clear in the table.
Certain players have become guaranteed starters lately, such as Fabinho. However, the likes of Naby Keita have not been able to fully take their chances in midfield. Although one man who seems to impress under the radar is Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Pearce wrote for The Athletic: “Naby Keita certainly didn’t do enough on Tuesday night to stake a claim for a start at the weekend, but Oxlade-Chamberlain couldn’t have done much more to force his way in.”
City’s nemesis
The Englishman bagged the winner for Liverpool in the Champions League this week, which puts the defending champions at the top of the group. It was another occasion in which the versatile star has gone slightly under the radar with his important contributions.
It is easy to praise Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah these days, but Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal against Genk was his third in the Champions League, making him the joint top scorer along with the Egyptian.
There is then the worry for City, having witnessed the 26-year-old smash in a brilliant goal against them in Europe two seasons ago. His goal and overall performance will ring fresh in the memory of the City faithful and should he match this display, Pep Guardiola’s side could be in trouble again.
The £35m man has proved to be a handful for the champions and his pace, tenacity and goalscoring ability could be a key difference on Sunday.
From a City perspective, the fact Pearce believes Oxlade-Chamberlain is in good enough form to be in contention for a place in Sunday’s starting XI is ominous news indeed.