‘We have to see… it can take a while’: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confirms Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has suffered ANOTHER blow with the midfielder damaging an ankle ligament
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was subbed off on Saturday after injuring his ankle
- The 26-year-old came off in the 75th minute in the Club World Cup final
- He spent over a year out with a knee problem and has now suffered a new blow
- Manager Jurgen Klopp said the ankle injury could rule him out for ‘a while’
Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has suffered another injury blow after damaging an ankle ligament in the Club World Cup final on Saturday.
The former Arsenal star was forced off against Flamengo after 75 minutes in Qatar after appearing to fall awkwardly on his ankle.
The 26-year-old has spent much of the last year in the physio room with a knee problem that ruled him out of the World Cup in 2018 and two Champions League finals, and now his manager Jurgen Klopp said the blow could ‘take a while’ to heal.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went down injured against Flamengo after falling on his ankle
Klopp said: ‘One of the ligaments is damaged, we have to see how quick we can fix that. I don’t know exactly, it can take a while.
‘No chance for this [calendar] year. We have to see how quick it can settle.’
Oxlade-Chamberlain has made 21 appearances since making his return this season having featured just twice in the last campaign.
He had looked to be back to his best form after putting in an impressive shift against Monterrey in the Club World Cup semi-finals, driving the team forwards with some dangerous runs.
The former Arsenal star returns from the tournament on crutches as Liverpool land in the UK
The England international did not let his injury get him down as he celebrated Liverpool’s win
But he suffered the agonising new late on in the final against Flamengo, and now faces a spell on the sidelines in 2020.
Speaking at a press conference after he came off injured in Qatar, Klopp said he was hopeful the problem was not too serious.
He said: ‘I spoke a second ago with him. If you see it already on television again, for us in the game it was not so easy, he showed me now the video and when he’s landing he gets the kick and rolls over.
Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Oxlade-Chamberlain could be out for ‘a while’ after his injury
‘He feels OK. We will see. Of course, not perfect – far away from being perfect – but we will see if it’s a ligament stretch only or is ruptured, partly ruptured or whatever, we have to see.
‘That’s a big shadow again but that’s how it is in contact sport. He seems to be OK.’
Oxlade-Chamberlain did not let his new injury get him down as he celebrated Liverpool becoming world champions against Brazilian side Flamengo.
The Reds secured a late 1-0 win as Roberto Firmino stepped up again to score the winner after rescuing the team in stoppage time in the semi-final against Monterrey.
