Liverpool romped to a 4-0 away victory against Bournemouth on Sunday, with Philippe Coutinho once again producing a superb individual performance which included a magnificent slalom goal.
After the game, the Brazilian, who was strongly linked with a move to Barcelona in the summer, was asked by a reporter ‘how desperate’ he is to stay at Anfield until at least the summer.
While Coutinho did his best to politely answer the question, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, another of the Reds’ best players on the day, stepped in to defend his team-mate and dismiss the question itself, saying:
He’s a Liverpool player right now and he’s doing really well for us. He’s been the most professional person I’ve seen all season.
He’s been top quality from the start and every time he gets on the pitch he does his all for the club. That’s the most important thing right now.
It’s not fair to ask those kind of questions, I don’t think. He gives us his all every game and that’s all we can ask of him.
Fair dues to Oxlade-Chamberlain for defending Coutinho. Although Arsenal fans may well be wondering if the England man himself ‘gave his all’ to the Gunners in the lead-up to his move to Anfield.
What a man!
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain helping Coutinho answer when they asked him again regarding him leaving.
Big future for #LFC 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vidRWUBaZ9
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) December 17, 2017
One thing is for sure, after a slow start with Liverpool, Oxlade-Chamberlain is certainly starting to assert himself in his preferred midfield role.