Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s World Cup dream in balance after knee injury
LiverpoolAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s World Cup dream in balance after knee injury
• Liverpool midfielder taken off during 5-2 win over Roma• Jürgen Klopp: ‘All the medical department are concerned’
Jürgen Klopp fears Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fine debut season for Liverpool is over after the midfielder suffered a knee injury against Roma that threatens his involvement at the World Cup.
Mo Salah leads Liverpool onslaught to leave Roma needing new miracle
Read moreOxlade-Chamberlain was taken off on a stretcher in distress during the Champions League semi-final first leg victory following a 15th-minute challenge on Aleksandar Kolarov, his right knee appearing to give way as he tackled the former Manchester City defender.
The extent of the England international’s injury will not be known until later in the week but the Liverpool manager said the club’s medical team did not expect him to play again this season. With only two months to go before the World Cup, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s loss is also likely to impact on Gareth Southgate’s plans for Russia.
Klopp said: “The biggest blow for the mood in the dressing room is the injury of Oxlade-Chamberlain, so conceding two goals is not what we want 100 per cent but we can deal with that.”
Liverpool player ratings
Show Hide Liverpool player ratingsLoris Karius
Lucky to get away with pushing first-half Kolarov effort on to his bar; otherwise relatively quiet 6
Trent Alexander-
Arnold
Another nerveless performance from the teenager, given space to push on 7
Dejan Lovren
Strong defensively, struck Roma’s bar just before half-time. Some impressive distribution 8
Virgil van Dijk
The pressure eased while Roma dropped into a rearguard action. Rarely challenged by Dzeko 7
Andy Robertson
Profited, like the right-back, from Roma’s narrowness in attack. Some good crosses, as expected 7
James Milner
Tireless as usual, his pressing helped win the ball to set up the opening goal. Unlucky to concede penalty 7
Jordan Henderson
Boundless energy in protecting back four but still able to exhort his team-mates to greater efforts 7
Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain
Midfielder was burning up the pitch in attack and defence until injury struck 7
Mohamed Salah
Unplayable at times, he was withdrawn too early. Inspired passing and breaks even before his opener 9
Roberto Firmino
Missed early chance but otherwise
tormented Roma with timing and vision. Deserved his goal 8
Sadio Mané
Poor lofted finish in the first half. Later provided good support to score the third goal 7
Ratings by Paul Wilson
Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback.Asked whether he expected the player’s season to be over, the Liverpool manager replied: “Yes, that is how it is unfortunately. We don’t know yet but when all the medical department are concerned without a scan then you know it doesn’t look good. The season is not that long any more.
“I am a very positive person and hope it only feels bad but the reason I am not flying mood-wise tonight is because we lost a fantastic player. I am not in the mood to talk about fantastic things. Since I have been here Liverpool has always had to take the more difficult way but in the end Liverpool have always succeeded.”
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