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Liverpool return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be like new signing, says Phil Thompson

Jurgen Klopp is confident Oxlade-Chamberlain can be back this season

Liverpool's English midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (L) celebrates scoring their fifth goal with Liverpool's English midfielder Trent Alexander-Arnold (
Image: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return in a few months time after suffering a long-term injury

The return of the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be like a new signing for Liverpool, says Phil Thompson, and would be an asset for Jurgen Klopp.

The midfielder has been sidelined since April after rupturing ligaments in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Roma, with fears he could miss the entire 2018/19 season.

But Klopp recently said he expects to see Oxlade-Chamberlain back in action before the end of the campaign, and Thompson is excited by his potential return.

He told Sky Sports News: "It would be an absolutely brilliant addition and it would be like having a new player. It's so difficult. As players, you go through these turmoils, and it is a turmoil to you when you have to sit out.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain injured his knee ligaments against Roma in the Champions League semi-final
Image: Oxlade-Chamberlain injured his knee ligaments against Roma in the Champions League semi-final

"It will give the players a buzz to see him coming back and he will be a massive asset if he can get back for the run-in. We've got a very good midfield who don't get as many goals as they should do but that's where Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in.

"He had it at Arsenal, it took a little bit of time to get to know the Jurgen Klopp way, the Liverpool way, but when he did, my goodness. He can dominate that drive from midfield, that powerful shot and the assists that he can bring. These are all assets that will help that midfield three that we've seen in the bigger games."

Liverpool are currently top of the Premier League table by four points and Soccer Saturday pundit Thompson believes Klopp's side have to keep pace with second-placed Manchester City.

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Highlights from Liverpool's 4-3 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League

When asked what could stand in Liverpool's way for their first league title in 29 years, he added: "Manchester City. It's as simple as that. They're such a good side. They look like they can win every game until the end of the season. I hope that we can win every game and I think that's the slight difference.

"Man City get into that mode where they're wiping the floor with everybody, scoring three or four goals every game, and we have to do the same. That's it.

"You're looking at 15 games and thinking 'we've got to win every one of them'. You're ticking them down all the time and that's how you get. It's that expectation of each fan, but you've seen that Liverpool have been able to do that... Man City have been there and done it but for us, it has been a long time."

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