Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain couldn’t time long-awaited return any better

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain truly couldn’t time his return any better. The Englishman is back and should feature very shortly.

Diogo Jota is going to be out for some time, it seems. Jurgen Klopp says it could be two months – potentially ruling the player out for around a dozen games.

So that’s a bit of a disaster, then. Jota picked up the injury against Midtjylland in a game he really didn’t have to play and now the Reds are short up top over the busiest period of the season.

Fortunately, some help is here. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is ready to return and made the bench against Fulham.

He couldn’t time that return any better, in truth.

Time of need

We recently covered what Oxlade-Chamberlain can bring to Liverpool once he’s back. And in light of Jota’s injury, you can add ‘versatile squad option’ to the list. In fact, just scrap the whole list for that one.

Because that’s now by far the player’s greatest quality in this Liverpool squad.

In Jota – when he’s fit – Liverpool have a player who can cover the left-wing, right-wing, and cente-forward spots, while also playing off a striker if need be.

It’s why he called him a ‘dream player’ – he’s the exact squad option Liverpool needed to cover their forward line.

Liverpool lose their best cover behind every forward with one injury, then. Oxlade-Chamberlain at least helps with that.

He can play both left and right, while he can actually play as the most advanced central player, too. He played there against Genk last season and scored – he impressed us, actually.

That versatility is why Liverpool paid £35m for Oxlade-Chamberlain, really. And this is the kind of moment where the investment truly pays off.

You can couple it all with Takumi Minamino, too. The Japanese international is currently covering in midfield but that’s not his natural position.

Oxlade-Chamberlain can move Minamino back to the forward line with his return, though. The Englishman is undoubtedly a better midfield fit and will take over the squad role.

Would we rather have Jota fit and ready? Of course – he’s on fire. But in his absence, we should all count our blessings that Oxlade-Chamberlain is finally ready to play this season.

He can certainly be the ‘difference-maker’ Klopp believes he is.