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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain itching to work under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool

The former Arsenal midfielder could make his debut in Saturday's Premier League headline clash with Manchester City.

London: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is itching to start work with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and could make his debut in Saturday's Premier League headline clash with Manchester City.

The England midfielder, 24, rejected a new contract offer from Arsenal and an approach from champions Chelsea to join Liverpool in a 35 million ($45.8 million, 38.1 million euros) deal last week.

He said playing in Klopp's swashbuckling team had been a key motivating factor and he could scarcely have asked for a more high-octane start than a showdown with Pep Guardiola's big-spending City.

"Watching him, (you see) his passion and how much he cares about the game," Oxlade-Chamberlain, nicknamed 'The Ox', told the Liverpool website. "The thing that stood out for me was his relationship with the players, how close he seems to bond with the players on and off the field.

"That's massive and it's definitely a big plus when you're looking to progress, having that relationship with the manager. "And then obviously the way his teams play. That's definitely inspirational for me and was one of the instrumental (reasons) -- if not the main reason -- that I felt this place was definitely the place for me."

Sealing a move for Oxlade-Chamberlain was one of two key pieces of deadline-day business for Liverpool, the other of which was retaining the services of Philippe Coutinho.

Coutinho submitted a transfer request on the eve of the season in the hope of joining Barcelona, but Liverpool rebuffed three big-money bids from the Catalan giants.

Having returned to action for Brazil during the international break following a spell on the sidelines with a back injury, Coutinho could make his return to action at the Etihad Stadium.

But while owners Fenway Sports Group were adamant that Coutinho would not be sold at any cost, Liverpool have not missed him in the season to date.

( Source : AFP )
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