Jürgen Klopp has described Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s form as “pretty much the best” of his Liverpool career and insisted he has no concerns over the midfielder’s contract situation.
The 28-year-old made his 20th appearance of the season in Liverpool’s Premier League win over Newcastle on Thursday having gained much-needed playing time to re-establish himself in a midfield beset by injury problems. Oxlade-Chamberlain shone for Liverpool before sustaining a terrible knee injury in the Champions League semi-final win over Roma in April 2018, but Klopp believes adaptations the player has made to his game have improved his overall contribution.
“It’s pretty much the best Oxlade since I am here,” the Liverpool manager said. “I know he was more spectacular in moments, scored wonderful goals against [Manchester] City and really good goals for us, but it is a completely new quality now – calming the game down, being not only the sprinter with the ball or the shooter but being involved in all the things on the pitch. It is a massive step. I am really happy with Ox in the moment and hopefully it stays like this.”
The England international will be out of contract at the end of next season and has been linked with a January move, although Klopp insists a decision on whether to cash in or offer an extension is not a priority at present.
“I think it is a completely normal situation,” he said. “It is about what makes sense for both sides in six or 18 months or whatever. But it is not important at all at the moment. In this moment what is important is how do you contribute when you play? That is the only thing.
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“We will not stay together for ever. That is how it is. If someone wants to go somewhere else we have to find a solution for it. If we want to find somebody from another club we have to find a solution for it – all these kind of things. But it has nothing to do with now. It’s about how you play in the moment and then you are in the starting lineup.
“If your contract expires in two days, four months or five years it makes absolutely no difference. All the players are important because they can really contribute in the moment when they start or when they come on and that is why they are Liverpool players.”