Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has admitted that Jurgen Klopp didn’t speak to him much before leaving Liverpool this summer.
Oxlade-Chamberlain departed on a free transfer after six years at Anfield, eventually joining Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig.
It was the end of a slightly strange couple of years for the 30-year-old, who played just 13 times last season. Now, speaking to The Athletic, Ox has opened up on his relationship with Klopp during that time.
“I sort of pride myself on, wherever I am, I want to be the best person to everyone around me and a good person to have around the lads, the staff, stuff like that,” began the former Arsenal man.
“You just… expect certain things to be told — whether it’s good, bad, whatever, that’s how the game goes. The lack of communication was… a bit surprising to me.
“We (he and Klopp) had a good relationship. There was never any falling-out or anything like that.
“I understand as a manager it’s not easy to navigate every player’s needs, but when I was playing, I definitely enjoyed him a lot more than when I wasn’t even on the bench! But that’s how it goes.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain speaks his mind
This is a really revealing interview from Oxlade-Chamberlain and confirms what appeared to be the case.
Throughout the last three years of his time at Liverpool, the midfielder really didn’t play much at all. More than that though, there were times when he was frozen out completely.
Take the end of the 2021/22 campaign for example. Ox was playing well around the turn of the year, filling in nicely for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who were away at AFCON.
But upon their return – and the signing of Luis Diaz – Oxlade-Chamberlain was jettisoned completely.
He ended the season not even on the bench for the final few weeks of the campaign. As Liverpool collected both domestic cups, Ox didn’t play a single minute in either final, not even in the squad for the FA Cup.
It looked for all the world as though the former England international would be on his way out of the club last summer. But for whatever reason, Oxlade-Chamberlain was kept on.
In hindsight, that hardly seemed worth it. Having barely featured in 2022/23, his relationship with Klopp appears to have slightly soured. What a shame
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
