Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injury hell continues as he hobbles off during Liverpool’s pre-season game with Crystal Palace
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN has suffered another injury blow after hobbling off in the first-half of Liverpool's pre-season game against Crystal Palace.
The ex-Arsenal midfielder, 28, has struggled to stay fit ever since his cruciate ligament rupture in 2018.
Oxlade-Chamberlain played less than HALF of Liverpool's games last season - scoring three times in 29 matches in all competitions - and had been linked with a move away.
Arch-rivals Manchester United and West Ham have been linked with a move in recent weeks.
But the latest knock could scupper the former England international's chances of leaving Anfield this year.
Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up a knock late in the first-half of the game against Palace in Singapore and hobbled straight down the tunnel for treatment.
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He was replaced by Leighton Clarkson, with the Reds leading 1-0 at the time thanks to Jordan Henderson's opener.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury could force Jurgen Klopp to re-think his summer transfer plans.
The Kop boss was adamant he didn't need to add another midfielder to his ranks this summer, so far signing only forwards Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho, as well as right-back Calvin Ramsay.
Klopp hinted he would not pull the trigger on a new central midfielder this summer as Liverpool prepare an incredible swoop for Jude Bellingham in 12 months' time.
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But fans have vented their frustration on Twitter following Oxlade-Chamberlain's latest injury.
One tweeted: "Just shows we do need a midfielder he is very injury prone and isn’t reliable."
Another wrote: "He can't manage Liverpool's intensity, another season gone now."
A third added: "We missed our chance to sell him over the summer, that's it now."
One posted: "Why the hell did Klopp hold onto this war wounded veteran?"
Another raged: "This is why we need new midfielders.... the ones we have are so injury prone and need to be sold."
But some fans did stick up for the Reds' boss - suggesting he's got plenty of backup in that position already.
One said: "So, because our 6th choice midfielder has come off we need to go and replace him with someone that costs twice as much and would expect to start every week?
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"Or we could all stop overreacting and accept that the Ox is way down the pecking order and barely plays even when fit."
Another tweeted: "We still have Thiago, Fabinho, Henderson, Carvalho, Elliott, Jones, Keita, Milner..."