Jurgen Klopp praises substitute after Hammers clash

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was impressed with Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against West Ham United last night.

Liverpool claimed a 3-2 win against the Hammers, which gives the Reds a 22-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. Four more victories would ensure the club a maiden Premier League title.

Reds midfielder Gini Wijnaldum opened the scoring in the first-half, but Hammers defender Issa Diop equalised shortly after.

Despite Liverpool’s dominance with the ball, West Ham took the lead through midfielder Pablo Fornals early in the second-half.

However, taking the lead was arguably the worst thing the Hammers could have done, as it woke Liverpool up.

Forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane both scored shortly after to secure three more Premier League points for the Reds.

Oxlade-Chamberlain came on for midfielder Naby Keita directly after the Hammers took the lead, and Klopp feels the introduction of the Englishman helped change the direction of the match.

Klopp said, as quoted by the Standard: “We needed that direction. Ox came on and the first [contribution] was a finish. Close, but still a finish.

READ: David Moyes suggests that Liverpool were lucky against the Hammers

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Liverpool is tackled by Felipe Anderson of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United at Anfield on February 24, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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“Next one was dribbling with a foul or not, if it was not a foul then probably we have the ball in a good position again. So, the dynamic helped, of course.

“Always, if you get direction in a game, our people appreciate that obviously. That helped.”

Klopp is correct. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s introduction definitely put Liverpool on the front foot. There was a real lack of urgency until he made an appearance.

Keita, who Oxlade-Chamberlain came on for, had an off night, but having squad depth allows for a manager to make changes according to the match.

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Source: anfieldhq.com