MX23RW : Friday, November 8 21:50:30| >> :60:186:186:

Jamie Redknapp: 'Jurgen Klopp has transformed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain'

Redknapp: 'Klopp has transformed Ox'
© Offside
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes that Jurgen Klopp has made Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 'fitter and stronger' since he arrived from Arsenal.

Jamie Redknapp has admitted to being "surprised" by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's transformation since swapping Arsenal for Liverpool earlier this year.

The England international has been eased into the Reds' first team since leaving the Emirates Stadium in a £35m deal during the summer transfer window.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was used sparingly by boss Jurgen Klopp in his first few months at the club, but he has since thrived in a more central-attacking position and netted his second league goal of the season against Swansea City on Tuesday.

Former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp insists that Klopp deserves praise for getting the best out of the 24-year-old.

"I wasn't sure about the move for him to start with and I was wondering how he was going to do, but he has surprised me," he told Sky Sports News. "I looked at him at Arsenal and it was like he was treading water and going nowhere, but under Jurgen Klopp I am seeing a completely different player.

"I am seeing he is fit, with a great attitude and wanting to win tackles. It's probably unfair to question how he was coached under Arsene Wenger but I watched him play and I didn't feel he developed for years. It looked like he was standing still. I feel a lot of players at Arsenal are in a similar situation.

"You can go and sign a new contract and say 'OK, I'll be on the bench', but he has taken a risk in his career. He could have stayed at Arsenal and signed a new contract but he wanted to challenge himself and has gone to live up north and given himself a chance to play in the first team.

"He wasn't guaranteed a spot but he is in now and it will be hard to dispossess him of the shirt. It was a really bold move for him and one that is really paying off. Look at how much he is improving, he has got fitter, stronger, and he is a different player than he was at Arsenal."

Oxlade-Chamberlain has started six Premier League games for Liverpool and made a further 11 appearances from the bench.

ID:314981: cacheID:314981:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3086:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jurgen Klopp congratulates Philippe Coutinho after the Premier League game between Liverpool and Swansea City on December 26, 2017
Read Next:
Jurgen Klopp: 'It is a perfect result'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!