As the Liverpool side has changed so has the midfield, the addition of Fabinho has added a new dimension to the holding position role while pushing Jordan Henderson up into a favoured number 8 role. While Gin Wijnaldum remains unmovable due to what he gives the side; it has been tough on Chamberlain to find his role again.Chamberlain had the same problem when he first arrived at the club when he failed to nail down a permanent position. This left questions where the best place in the team for him after being played across a number of positions at Arsenal from attacking midfield to right wingback. He managed to establish himself as a dynamic central midfielder capable of driving his side on with his pace and energy.The development in the side since means they pick their moments when to pin the opposition in their own half meaning their pressing doesn’t last the whole 90 mins. Despite Ox having the ability to keep up with an intense full game he has seemed lost at times this season as he seemed on a different wavelength to the rest of the team. When he wanted to try an ambitious pass or needlessly giving possession away it leaves his team exposed.When training passing patterns are worked on it is key that every player knows and more importantly are in the right position. It only takes one person being in the wrong place and the whole move falls apart and gives the opposition a chance to counterattack. At times this season it has been Ox who has been the odd one out in the Liverpool team hence Klopp’s decision to move him from midfield to a false nine against Genk in the Champions League shows the intention to get minutes in his legs without affecting the team.
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One option that has been experimented with has been playing him in the left of the front three as it allows Chamberlain to unleash his risky attacking play in the opposition’s final third without any fear of being lured into tactical traps. It proved effective away at Bournemouth away in December where a long-range pass from Jordan Henderson found Chamberlain running in behind and he toe poked the effort past the keeper with ease.It is a role that Ox can play with the freedom of making forward runs without the duties of a Klopp midfield that carries so much weight and responsibility. The injury in Qatar did not help and his run in the side as one of the three in midfield again looked like it took Chamberlain back to square one in terms of rediscovering his form. Against Spurs and Manchester United he struggled to stamp his mark, and these were the type of games he was starring in during his early days at Liverpool.
But like the Bournemouth game Ox found his swagger back covering for the injured Sadio Mane on the left wing and put in an effective performance with a goal and explosive bursts of dangerous play against Southampton.These glimpses of Chamberlain quality make you wonder if Klopp could find a way to fit Ox in the bigger games like he was two years ago. In reality the team has moved in a different direction and it’s a question to whether Liverpool’s vibrant midfielder could mould his game to be in Klopp’s first team plans for Champions League latter stage games and heavyweight clashes in the Premier League.Article by Jake Clay – @JakeClay17
