After Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne picked up a back injury, fans on Twitter couldn’t resist having a dig at wannabe midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who may have to fill in.
According to the rumours around the Ox’s deadline day move to Liverpool, swapping North London for Merseyside was largely motivated by his hopes of playing a more central position in midfield, rather than anything to do with game time, money or winning trophies.
In fact, it’s been rumoured that the 24-year-old is earning significantly less at Liverpool than the £180,000 a week contract offered by Arsenal. But now Clyne could be out of action for a while, Oxlade-Chamberlain might have to reprise his role as a wing-back, much to the amusement of many on Twitter.
One fan wrote: “Oxlade-Chamberlain has been conned into playing right back again,” reports the Daily Star. Another asked: “Has Klopp informed Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain that he’ll be playing right back yet?”
They weren’t the only ones. Almost everyone on social media seemed to take the opportunity to poke fun at the former Arsenal player.
https://twitter.com/EdIputo/status/905335726065283072
https://twitter.com/HXINES/status/905191674372030464
The Ox signs for Liverpool because he's tired of playing right back. Nathaniel Clyne is now out till 2018. I can see this ending one way
— Ebss Artez (@BeatPlugTV) September 5, 2017
Realistically, there are still options for Liverpool at right-back, like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez, but then the Reds have plenty of options in central midfield as well.
One thing is for sure, if the Ox plays for Liverpool like he has been for Arsenal in the past few weeks, he will struggle to get a game in any position.