Liverpool FC News
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is more qualified to Liverpool’s framework, following his move from Arsenal.
The England worldwide made a move to Anfield in August, after a time of playing as a wing in a 3-4-3 arrangement at Arsenal, and has scored two objectives for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Merson trusts Oxlade-Chamberlain is in an ideal situation playing far from the Emirates to create in front of Liverpool’s conflict against Arsenal on Friday, live on Sky Sports Premier League.
“At Arsenal, when you are playing with those two players [Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil] – world-class footballers – the common response is, when they kick it into high gear the ball, to search for those two,” Merson said. “You give them the ball, and they’ll presumably touch it 40 times more than Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“Straight away that thumps his chances down of having a decent amusement contrasted with them. I’ve taken after his profession from Southampton to Arsenal, despite everything I don’t know where he plays, I don’t have a clue about his best position.
“I think you must place him in the middle, in the midfield three and say ‘you are playing there’ and abandon him there for ten diversions. He plays one deviation there, at that point he plays wing-back, on the wing and he merely needs a position.”
Merson dismissed the proposal that Chelsea wasn’t right to let Mohamed Salah and Romelu Lukaku leave in 2016 and 2014 separately, and contended that occasionally players just don’t fit the approach a club receives.
“Individuals say they can’t trust Chelsea let Salah go; he didn’t fit Chelsea. It resembles Lukaku didn’t meet Chelsea. He could’ve gone there. However, he looked and that and however: ‘No, I will play wing-back at Chelsea. I need to play in midfield’.
“Ideally he [Oxlade-Chamberlain] will remain in midfield and, after tomorrow, begin playing admirably.
“At Arsenal, he didn’t play with a great deal of pace before him; [Olivier] Giroud typically played in advance alone. It’s hard when you get into a place like a No 10, you are shouting out for somebody who can just go ‘blast’, and they are away.
“He [Ox] most likely fits Liverpool – they are very open, they have a lot of pace in advance. On the off chance that you were playing in a midfield three and you have three in advance who are as energetic as anything, it’s decent.
“It’s not advanced science – he needs to play football, and that is the thing that he is doing.”
Likewise talking on The Debate, Brighton full-back Liam Rosenior concurred that life far from Arsenal suits Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“You can perceive any reason why he needed to leave because the way he plays, he is dynamic, he is a fabulous competitor, and additionally actually, he’s an excellent player. He fits into Liverpool’s framework a ton superior to anything he would playing wing-back for Arsenal.
“He’s an assaulting player, Klopp has specified he needs him to get in goalscoring circumstances – I don’t know what number of objectives a season you can get from wing-back and I’ve played there – I wouldn’t get any!
“I don’t believe it’s such a great amount of an advancement thing, I believe it’s about a player having the correct attack of a group.”
Just before Sunday’s all crucial fixture, Jurgen Klopp has showered his rival Pep Guardiola in high praises. The German has called his Spanish compatriot Pep Guardiola the best manager in the world.
Not sure many Reds fans would agree with that one, though. The Gaffer’s comments came after Pep Guardiola jokingly admitted to overthinking allegations in the Champions League.
Klopp defends Pep Guardiola in the press
Guardiola commented that the solution to his overthinking might be to just ‘play with 12 players.’ This comes as City have blown away their huge lead in the league over Liverpool from the start of the year.
Jurgen Klopp when asked about Guardiola’s comments, he went onto explain what Pep actually meant. Read what the German said below.
“It was ironic! I saw there was a story in Ecuador this week which claimed I didn’t understand Luis Diaz. You[journalists] have a responsibility on this planet.
Klopp has previously said the pair have a ‘respectful relationship’
If you want to talk to us then please do us a favour and help us. Pep said ironically, ‘I overthink, and I like overthinking’.”
Not only this, the German then went onto claim Guardiola is the best manager in the world.
“Pep is the best coach in the world. I think we would all agree on that and it might be a coincidence that it didn’t work out in the Champions League so far. If anybody doubts him, I have no idea how that could happen.”
The Bromance goes both ways, as well. Pep has several times termed Klopp’s Liverpool as the toughest team he’s ever encountered.
Guardiola says Klopp makes world football a ‘better place’
When asked about he thinks of Klopp’s comments, Pep denied that he thinks he’s the best. He further said he’d love to have a drink with the German if City won the game, jokingly.
“Jurgen makes world football a better place to live. His message, he is a huge competitor.”
Over the likes of SAF’s Man United, Jose’s Madrid and Inter, and even Simeone’s Atleti. Needless to say, Klopp rightly deserves that praise. Out of all those managers, Klopp has the best record against Guardiola.
Many have termed this game as the biggest in recent English history and dubbed the English ‘El Clasico’.
The duo are evenly tied at 9 wins each and 4 draws out of their 22 encounters throughout the years. The game is setting up to be a potential title decider with Liverpool in red hot form currently.
It was a game of close margins as two close finishes from Jota and Firmino saw Liverpool through against Arsenal. Check out the match report, opinions and tweets from last night’s game here!
Diogo Jota always loves playing against Arsenal
A game of narrow margins and Jurgen Klopp’s Reds always know how to pull off results out of those. In the blink of an eye, two neat finishes of the highest order changed the complexion of the game in the span of eight minutes.
The first half of the game was even, as many had expected but without any goals. One could say Arsenal were even the better team till the first goal, but goals are the most vital.
3 things guaranteed in life, death, taxes and Jota scoring against Arsenal.
— Chunkz (@Chunkz) March 16, 2022
At the 54th minute mark, a pinpoint threaded pass by Thiago Alcantara found its way to Jota.
The Portuguese was running at the Arsenal defense and kept doing so, before smashing the ball into a small pocket of space left by Ramsdale near post.
📊 STAT: Diogo Jota's last three appearances at the Emirates Stadium:
⚽⚽
⚽⚽
⚽He's 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 😏 #awlive [@Squawka] pic.twitter.com/VTP9Lgueid
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) March 16, 2022
Diogo Jota has scored seven times against Arsenal since moving to Liverpool, with 5 of those at the Emirates. He truly loves himself a game against the Gunners, doesn’t he?
Just a little later, Firmino put in a cheeky outside boot to finish off the game. Robertson got the ball after a failed clearance by Saka, and the left-back ran with the ball till he put it on a platter for the Brazilian, who finished it with rather ease.
Firmino’s movement in such a small area to operate is why he’s elite. Small margins and more depth. LFC to win the title. Our boys did good, we getting there 💪🏾
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) March 16, 2022
Arsenal are a good team, it’s certainly a fact that Arteta’s changed their whole outlook and aura. However, Liverpool never seemed to be moved or at unease during the whole game and they showed it in the 2nd half.
A night when you saw exactly why Jurgen Klopp loves Roberto Firmino, why everyone loves Alisson Becker, and why you should never doubt this Liverpool team.#LFC
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) March 16, 2022
Almost as if this was a game between Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool of 16/17 versus the current one. A team in the ascendancy against a team settled, sure of itself and brimming with the demeanor of champions.
Read up the matchday preview as Liverpool visit the Emirates in one of their most crucial games in the league. Liverpool’s trip to Emirates is set up to be increasingly important in the upcoming title race.
Matchday Preview: Liverpool travel away to the Emirates to face Arsenal
Liverpool will be going away to the Emirates to keep up their push for the Premier League this season. If they snatch a win here, they can in touching distance of the league leaders.
The Reds currently sit at second place in the league, a point less than leaders Man City. However, since Pep’s team played a goalless draw against Crystal Palace earlier this week, Reds have their best chance to close the distance.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70627331/1354469717.0.jpg)
Liverpool beat Arsenal by a margin of two goals in their last game against each other in the EFL Cup
Arsenal, on the other hand, will be looking to cement their top four spot ahead of Man United. Arteta’s men are impressing on all fronts recently, as proven by their 5 consecutive win streak in the league.
Fans are gearing up for the game to be a cracker, with immense attacking talent on display on both sides.
Venue: The Emirates
Time: 8:15 pm local time
Referee: Michael Oliver
Team News
Reds supporters will be delighted to hear that Moh Salah is back in contention for the game, possibly. All this comes after the Egyptian suffered a foot injury in Liverpool’s weekend game against Brighton.
However, It still remains to be seen whether he can make the starting XI or not. If not, Klopp will have to choose between Jota or Firmino.
📺 Jurgen Klopp on Mo Salah's injury record:
"He’s worked on his body, it’s his body but obviously you cannot, there’s no miracles. Players are more vulnerable than others and Mo has obviously the right mindset, the right attitude and the right body for it as well.” 🔴 pic.twitter.com/8MkFinxd2m
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) March 15, 2022
Possible Starting XIs
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz
Arsenal: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Lacazette, Martinelli
Result Prediction: Liverpool to edge it out at the Emirates
Arsenal 2 – 3 Liverpool
While Arsenal have been on an impressive run as of late, Liverpool are on an even better streak. With the Reds clicking at the right time of the season, we expect them to exploit Arsenal’s defensive woes.
The Gunners have been left exposed at times at the back due to their high press up the pitch. Opponents haven’t fully cashed in on that weakness, but Jurgen Klopp and his men are a different caliber altogether.
Clash of the titans comes to a draw as Liverpool, City both equal
WATCH: Jota equalise against City as he passed the ball in the net!⭐️⚡️
Klopp, Pep sing each other’s praises ahead of English ‘El Clasico’
Match Preview, team news and more as fiery hot Reds take on the Hammers tomorrow🔴
Look at all the reactions, tweets as Reds clinch Carabao Cup on penalties against Chelsea🏆
