Oxlade-Chamberlain Out For the Season

Welp, worst fears confirmed, then. What looked like a painful and potentially traumatic injury on first watch has today been confirmed as such, with Liverpool releasing a statement on the extent of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s knee injury. Following an assessment by the club’s medical staff at Melwood, it has been made clear that the damage to the 24-year old’s knee ligaments suffered during a duel with Aleksandar Kolarov will keep him out for the rest of Liverpool’s season, as well as England’s participation at this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

It is a devastating blow for the former Arsenal man, whose form has been curving sharply upwards as the season has gone on, and who made it the most productive season of his professional career with his assist against West Bromwich Albion last weekend, taking his total tally to five goals and eight assists in all competitions.

Beyond the disappointment of the player, the injury further depletes Liverpool’s already wafer-thin midfield, taking the number of healthy senior midfielders down to three, as Adam Lallana and Emre Can have yet to recover from their own fitness troubles. Thus, there will be no rest for Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum as the season comes to its climactic end.

Without further details on the specifics of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injury, there is no time frame on his return, but with four months to go until the start of next season, the player will be hoping to be able to contribute as early as possible when the 2018/19 season commences in August.