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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Liverpool made it five wins from five by seeing off Newcastle on Saturday, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may be more pleased than most with how the match panned out.
The former Arsenal man is still slowly reintegrating into the side after spending the majority of last season sidelined with an ACL injury and his progress has, so far, been steady.
But if the former Southampton man can rediscover his best physical side he should not only be able to return to his previous level of consistency for the Reds, but act as an important part of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield, perhaps challenging Jordan Henderson or Georginio Wijnaldum for their place in the side.
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The Newcastle game showed there is still some way to go until he is at that point, but there are signs of progress which should cause optimism for the 26-year-old.
If Oxlade-Chamberlain is going to persuade Klopp he is deserving of a first-team place, though, he will have to show he is not careless in possession.
Each of the Reds’ regular three midfielders in Fabinho, Henderson and Wijnaldum look after the ball, boasting pass success rates of 87%, 80% and 92% respectively.
Against Newcastle Liverpool’s number 15 displayed similar, acting as a link between attack and defence. He frequently found Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right-flank, allowing the right-back to make seven key passes through his own pass accuracy of 95%, as per whoscored.
If he is able to maintain his average pass success rate this season of 92% he will give Klopp something to think about, particularly as he can also add a unique dynamic style.
His excellent long-range goals against Manchester City in both the league and the Champions League are evidence of that, and that an area in which Liverpool’s midfield has been lacking – Wijnaldum, Henderson and Fabinho provided just five league goals between them in the last campaign.
They are also unable to match the former Gunner’s ability at running with the ball. He is yet to get up to speed but still managed two successful dribbles against the Magpies – more than Fabinho and Wijnaldum combined.
Only the Brazilian can match Oxlade-Chamberlain in terms of key passes, too, though he did outperform the England international in terms of interceptions, and that is one area of his game which will require improvement.
Klopp may also be concerned with his wastefulness in the final third. The midfielder succeeded with only one cross from three attempts, and against teams like Newcastle, who could be tough to break down at times, Liverpool will need greater quality to find a way through, so Oxlade-Chamberlain must prove himself in that regard in order to break into the team as a regular.
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