Jurgen Klopp was coy when asked whether Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be unleashed from the start tonight.
The Englishman must be chomping at the bit to play from the outset, having been given just one start since Liverpool acquired him for £35m on transfer deadline day.
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That was against Leicester in the miserable League Cup defeat, meaning Klopp hasn’t once trusted him from the beginning in the proper competitions.
Considering Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and others have been absent at various points (all three are now) – this is fairly damning.
But Klopp’s lauded Ox’s ability today, while suggesting the 24-year-old doesn’t realise how good he is.
“I do want to specifically mention Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,” Klopp told the official site. “He has shown his class each and every time he has had the opportunity on the pitch and the weekend was another example of this.
“He is like dynamite when he comes on. Aggressive in the most positive way. Front foot always. Looking to attack and create.
“These performances come because of how good his attitude is in training at Melwood. He has the highest quality in everything he does; sometimes I think he is the last to realise this.”
Surely, he has to start tonight…?
We reckon that Daniel Sturridge could make way, as Klopp rarely starts him twice in quick succession, enabling Ox a start on the left.
If he’s on the bench again, we can only assume this will forever be his role considering the players that are coming back after the international break.