Monday 16 October 2017 23:37, UK
Jurgen Klopp says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could make his first Champions League start for Liverpool, against Maribor on Tuesday.
Klopp was impressed with the midfielder's performance after he came on as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Saturday, and it may have been enough to earn him a start in Slovenia.
Klopp said at his press conference on Monday: "I really loved the performance when he came on. He needed a little bit of time and my most positive thing was that finally he has arrived.
"He is a big signing for us, obviously, but a fast player like him needs the circumstances to perform so he needed time.
"But then Saturday - 'bang!'. Comes on, uses his speed, really spot on, it was a very nice sign. I loved to see it.
"I was not only happy about his offensive situation. I also liked the way he reacted after we lost the ball, little things. I cannot say how happy I was to see Chambo playing like this.
"I don't know about the line-up today. He is in my mind - if it is about a start, you will see tomorrow [Tuesday]."
Oxlade-Chamberlain has got off to a stuttering start at Anfield after his £35m Deadline Day move from Arsenal, starting just once, in a defeat at Leicester in the Carabao Cup.
Klopp says that is because the 24-year-old has twice been away on international duty, and has had limited training time with his new Liverpool team-mates as a result.
One of the reasons Oxlade-Chamberlain left Arsenal was because he wanted more opportunities in his favoured central-midfield position. However, Klopp insists that, for now, he will have to be happy playing as a winger.
He said: "There has been no consistency until now. He plays for England and they all come back from their national teams with different plans. That is not too simple.
"At the moment it is more the wing than the number eight position. It is a long-term thing and so without training and playing in the middle of the park it doesn't make sense."
