Liverpool's Oxlade-Chamberlain to miss 'vast majority' of upcoming season
Liverpool will be missing one of last season's key members, as the team revealed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will miss the "vast majority" of the 2018-19 season, with manager Jurgen Klopp saying it will be a "bonus" if the winger recovers from a knee injury in time to play before May 2019.
"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 said in an interview on Liverpool's website.
The England international suffered the injury during Liverpool's Champions League semi-final win over AS Roma in April. He was ruled out for the season almost immediately and underwent surgery eight days after the match.
Stay strong @Alex_OxChambo - we’re all right here with you mate 💪🏻 #LFCfamily https://t.co/qHHA42aS9W
— James Milner (@JamesMilner) July 18, 2018
Liverpool revealed the length of his rehabilitation had been withheld until now at the request of Oxlade-Chamberlain, as he did not want to be a distraction during Liverpool's journey to the Champions League final.
The club added that "his rehabilitation remains in line with the timeframe outlined following his surgery."
Klopp admitted that the club was aware of the severe nature of the injury shortly after Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered it.
"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.
"His surgery - which he had on the day of our second leg in Roma - has been completely successful and his recovery has started superbly well.
"But 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."
A statement on the club's website added that the decision to reveal the latest development was made to alleviate unrealistic pressure on the player before he returns to fitness.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who joined Liverpool last summer from Arsenal for a reported £35-million fee, scored three goals and provided seven assists in 32 Premier League appearances during the 2017-18 campaign.