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Jamie Redknapp: 'Jurgen Klopp has transformed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain'

Redknapp: 'Klopp has transformed Ox'
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Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes that Jurgen Klopp has made Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 'fitter and stronger' since he arrived from Arsenal.

Jamie Redknapp has admitted to being "surprised" by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's transformation since swapping Arsenal for Liverpool earlier this year.

The England international has been eased into the Reds' first team since leaving the Emirates Stadium in a £35m deal during the summer transfer window.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was used sparingly by boss Jurgen Klopp in his first few months at the club, but he has since thrived in a more central-attacking position and netted his second league goal of the season against Swansea City on Tuesday.

Former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp insists that Klopp deserves praise for getting the best out of the 24-year-old.

"I wasn't sure about the move for him to start with and I was wondering how he was going to do, but he has surprised me," he told Sky Sports News. "I looked at him at Arsenal and it was like he was treading water and going nowhere, but under Jurgen Klopp I am seeing a completely different player.

"I am seeing he is fit, with a great attitude and wanting to win tackles. It's probably unfair to question how he was coached under Arsene Wenger but I watched him play and I didn't feel he developed for years. It looked like he was standing still. I feel a lot of players at Arsenal are in a similar situation.

"You can go and sign a new contract and say 'OK, I'll be on the bench', but he has taken a risk in his career. He could have stayed at Arsenal and signed a new contract but he wanted to challenge himself and has gone to live up north and given himself a chance to play in the first team.

"He wasn't guaranteed a spot but he is in now and it will be hard to dispossess him of the shirt. It was a really bold move for him and one that is really paying off. Look at how much he is improving, he has got fitter, stronger, and he is a different player than he was at Arsenal."

Oxlade-Chamberlain has started six Premier League games for Liverpool and made a further 11 appearances from the bench.

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Jurgen Klopp congratulates Philippe Coutinho after the Premier League game between Liverpool and Swansea City on December 26, 2017
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal19116238172139
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford197393335-224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


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