Henderson: Oxlade-Chamberlain Will Thrive Under Klopp

We’ve hit the lull of international football break but luckily for us, Liverpool’s captain is eager to chat about England teammate and new boy, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. It’s a good thing, too: the crash of transfer day mania has faded by this point and we’ve got nothing to do but wait anxiously for next Saturday. And listen to Henderson hype up Oxlade-Chamberlain to everyone, of course.

“I think he can [play both wing and midfield] very well, he’s a fantastic player, he can adapt to each position, gives you something different on the wing,” Henderson said. “He’s very direct and powerful and in the midfield he’s clever enough to get on the ball and get on the half turn so, for me, he can play in either position.”

Ox’s versatility, speed, and intelligence are definitely worth mentioning, but Henderson is also eager to quash any worries fans may still have about his role on the team and his lack of production at Arsenal. The captain believes Klopp is exactly what Ox needs to take his game to the next level.

“Well, I think, you’d have seen Klopp on the sidelines, he’s very passionate,” Henderson added. “What you see is a fantastic manager and I think he will help Alex a lot. He will help him develop as a player and hopefully you will see even more good things from him.”

Klopp’s ability to bring out the best in players that fit his style of play, combined with Oxlade-Chamberlain’s clear desire to be at Anfield and prove himself there, puts the midfielder in a perfect position to succeed. Hopefully we’ll get a first taste of what’s to come next Saturday against City.