Peter Crouch comments on Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

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Peter Crouch has told BT Sport’s live post-match coverage of Liverpool’s win over Genk (broadcast on 5/11; 22:05) that he is not sure whether Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is quite ready for a starting spot this weekend when the Reds face Manchester City.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been in sensational form as he continues his comeback from injury. He has scored four goals in his last four appearances.

The latest strike came with a superb finish to bag the winner against Genk on Tuesday. That has taken his tally to three goals in his last two Champions League appearances.

But while Crouch lauded the 26-year-old’s performance at Anfield, he suggested that he does not expect Jurgen Klopp to name the midfielder in his starting lineup when they face Pep Guardiola’s side this weekend.

“He’s getting up to full fitness. But what he is doing is scoring goals, and it’s a priceless commodity to have. I just think he’s not quite there to be starting games of the magnitude of the weekend. But he’s knocking on the door,” he told BT Sport.

“What he mentioned in his interview is the manager is asking questions of him. And I think behind closed doors, he’d be asking for more from him. But what he does, he offers something completely different to the Henderson’s, the Wijnaldum’s, the Fabinho’s.

“He can go wide, he can beat people, he’s good on the ball and he’s an attacking threat. I just think when you play someone like Manchester City, that three in midfield just gives the full-backs license to go. And I think sometimes he’s a bit too forward-thinking.”

If Oxlade-Chamberlain does not start on Sunday, Liverpool have left themselves with a potentially-devastating option to bring off the bench.

What has been remarkable about his recent form is the quality of the goals that he is scoring. There was an outrageous finish in Belgium, a stunning strike against Arsenal and a classy piece of skill for his latest effort.

So while Crouch may not expect Oxlade-Chamberlain to start this weekend, it should not be a huge surprise if he still proves to be the match-winner.