Has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain blown his World Cup chances by joining Liverpool?

Rahul Warrier looks at whether the Ox might have played himself out of contention for a seat on the plane to Russia

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the centre of most headlines as deadline day neared with reports linking him with a move to Chelsea and Liverpool. He nearly swapped London clubs too but was convinced to do otherwise after a phone call with Antonio Conte.

The Italian pitched his plan for the Englishman to compete with Victor Moses and play at right wing-back, something that made sense given Oxlade-Chamberlain’s new-found versatility in that position. But he turned Chelsea down and instead wrapped up a move to Liverpool.

The reasoning: More gametime in midfield. This can either be construed as brave, smart or foolhardy from the player’s point of view. As time passes, the benefit of hindsight is more likely to change perceptions of his move, given the long-term implications for his career.

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Joining from Southampton as a teenager, Oxlade-Chamberlain was hyped up as the future of Arsenal and English football. At 24, he managed to become more of a regular at Arsenal but failed to carve out a position for himself.

His versatility has seen him play all across midfield, on the wings and at right-back. He was Wenger’s ‘Jack of all trades’, but just as he was beginning to slowly become a master of one, he reneged on that. He has yet to define himself as a player, with his best position remaining a question mark.

Having found his mark at right wing-back in Wenger’s three defender formation towards the back end of last season, most fans thought the logical move would be to move to Chelsea, who employ a similar position. But it remains clear that the Ox still sees himself as a midfielder. Turning down Chelsea suggests he was unwilling to commit as a wing-back. That is certainly a risk, considering game-time is hardly a guarantee at Liverpool and that he lost a chance to cement his position in a first-team.

Two months on from his move on deadline day, evidence points to that risk being vindicated. A case can be made that the new environment and the lack of a pre-season with the new club is bound to have its impact on a new player but it hasn’t impacted Mohammed Salah.

Therein lies not only the difference in quality between both players but the fact that one has a defined position and one doesn’t. Oxlade-Chamberlain has been used across the midfield so far, mainly playing at right midfield but has only once played 90 minutes. That was an underwhelming, poor display versus Leicester in the 2-0 loss in the EFL Cup.

At £35m, it is no wonder why Oxlade-Chamberlain has his critics. Fans expect a match-winning player for that price, someone who can stamp his mark on the first team. At the moment, he is nowhere near fulfilling that remit. His deal has to be seen as a long-term investment and a gamble. He may turn out to be a success, but in the short-team his current situation doesn’t look like changing.

It is there where the merits of his Liverpool move come into question: If he is willing to play the long game, then this can be construed as a good move, as he is unlikely to make any short-term gains.

The main short-term implication is that of the impending World Cup next year. In a best England XI, there is no place for Oxlade-Chamberlain. In a full-strength England squad, it is tough to see where Oxlade-Chamberlain fits. A ticket to Russia may be dependent on how much he plays this season, and that would be influenced by his decision to move to Liverpool.

While his being a midfielder rather than a wing-back helps his case slightly, England have numerous better options there. Potential has carried him through his career, but he’s made his decision at the crossroads, and it could define his career.

Whether Liverpool was the right choice for him cannot be known now, but it could be a career defining decision that could also ruin his World Cup plans. Only time will tell, but for now, the enigma of Oxlade-Chamberlain continues to roll on.