Jurgen Klopp has defended Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s slow start to his Liverpool FC career in comparison to Mohamed Salah.
The Reds made the Egypt international their first summer signing following his £39m switch to Anfield from Serie A giants AS Roma back in June.
Liverpool FC got a deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain over the line on transfer deadline day following a £40m switch to the Anfield outfit from Arsenal.
Salah has already scored 14 goals in 18 games in the Premier League, as well as finding the net six times in the Champions League.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, on the other hand, has only scored two goals in 20 appearances in all competitions this term.
The 24-year-old English midfielder will make a return to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since his move to Liverpool FC from Arsenal.
Speaking to his pre-match media conference about Oxlade-Chamberlain’s start to life in comparison to Salah’s incredible impact at Anfield, Klopp said:
“[Mohamed] came in the pre-season, that was the big difference. If Alex had been here in the pre-season, it would have been completely different.
“Alex came in the middle of the season that’s why I don’t like these late transfers but that’s how it is.
“He needed to adapt in a much more busy time when you don’t have time to talk to one player much more than to all the others because you are already in the middle of the season.
“Mo came in and it was smooth, it just happened. We went to different camps, the boys were together all the time. That helps for settling in, of course.
“That’s the biggest difference. There’s no difference between Ox and Mo – I think Ox would have needed less time than Mo and he was already quick.”
Liverpool FC finished in fourth place in the Premier League table last season to secure a return to the Champions League after a two-season absence.
The Reds signed four players in the summer transfer window in preparation for their return to Europe’s premier club competition.
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