Jurgen Klopp Admits He Sees Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a Winger Despite Star's Centre Midfield Dream

After completing a summer move from Arsenal to Liverpool, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was hoping to gain more playing time in his preferred central midfield role, as opposed to out wide.

After splashing out up to £40m on the 24 year-old, Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool obviously value his talent, but the German has revealed that the former Arsenal man will have to prove himself in that role if he is to move positions.

As quoted by The Metro, Klopp said: "Obviously it is a different style to Arsenal and a different role to the wing-back role he played in his last games for Arsenal.

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"Then he plays for England and they all come back from their national teams not confused, but with different plans. That’s not too simple.

"I would say there has been no consistency until now. We let him run so far, let him do what he is naturally good at and it will take time but it’s all good. He is obviously powerful and that is what we need.

"At the moment his best position is more the wing than the number eight. Without training, playing in the middle of the park doesn’t make sense. 

However, despite failing to grant his star an immediate chance in his favoured central position, Klopp has admitted to liking what he's seen so far from the 30-cap England international.

"I was not only happy about his offensive situations [against Manchester United], I also liked the way he reacted after we lost the ball," Klopp said.

"At this moment he is training only on the wing so it is clear. It can never be without training as a number eight first. It wouldn’t be good for him, it wouldn’t be good for us.

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"For now it makes more sense to pick him in the more offensive positions. But it is not fixed for the next five years."

Klopp and co travel to Slovenia to face Maribor in the Champions League on Tuesday, and will be hoping to gain a crucial three points after slumping to consecutive draws (against Sevilla and Spartak Moscow) in their first two games.