Klopp says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘relieved’ to join Liverpool

Jürgen Klopp claimed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s move from Arsenal came as “a kind of relief” to the England international.

The 24-year-old will make his first Liverpool start in the Carabao Cup tie at Leicester City on Tuesday, having made three substitute appearances since signing for an initial £35m on transfer deadline day.

“It would be strange for me to say it after two and half weeks when Arsène Wenger said this after working with him for six years. But a new start is very often a kind of relief, that’s how it is.

You are in a situation with your old club – and I don’t say this about Alex specifically – and you accept it and it is difficult to make the next step.

“I thought it made complete sense for Alex to change club and to come here. So far I can’t see that [he lacks self-belief]. He has settled in perfectly.

He knows the situation. He played all the games for Arsenal from the beginning and now he comes here and is on the bench so it looks ‘Oh, not the best decision’ but it is long-term thing. We want to use him and to prepare him also. It is all good from this side at the moment.”

UCJ, UNILORIN.