Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to miss all of the 2018-19 season through injury, Jürgen Klopp has confirmed
The England international sustained damage to knee ligaments during Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final first leg with AS Roma last April, undergoing a successful operation days later.
At the time, his estimated recovery time was not made public at the request of the player, who didn’t want his teammates to be distracted from their run to the Champions League final.
“It feels like now is an appropriate time to tell people that for Ox this coming season will be about focusing on recovery and rehab,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website.
“We have known this from pretty much the day after he got the injury and after the successful surgery, we were sure of it. I hope everyone treats this information responsibly.
“There has been no change, no setback – it’s exactly on the schedule we expected and planned for. The new information is that we’re now giving more detail publicly.
“It is typical of Ox that he didn’t want the news to overshadow the end of the season and, to be quite honest, we thought we could wait and tell people at an appropriate time.”
Continuing, Klopp said Oxlade-Chamberlain would not be able to play competitive games for most of the season, explaining it would be a “bonus” if he managed to make any kind of return before the end of the campaign.
“The truth of the matter is that we are preparing this season knowing he will not be with us on the pitch for competitive matches for the majority of it. If we do see him back this season it will be a bonus.”
The Liverpool manager signed off by praising the former Arsenal midfielder – both as a person and a player.
“He is such an outstandingly good person and someone who even when not playing is integral to the heartbeat of Melwood.
“I cannot wait to have him back with us for matches, but we will wait for him and we will show the patience that is required to make sure he comes back ready to continue where he left off: as one of the most outstanding performers in European football in that moment.”
