Ahead of this season, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was warned by critics that he needed to sign a new central midfielder.
The German eventually listened - bringing in Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus on deadline day - but that's only added to Liverpool's crippling injury crisis. Not a single Reds midfielder has started 10 Premier League games this season - and they've paid the price.
Klopp's side are ninth in the table after winning just four of their 12 Premier League games. They've beaten the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle, and lost to the likes of Nottingham Forest and Leeds. They need some consistency sooner rather than later.
One player who could sure up their midfield is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who's endured an indifferent time on Merseyside since his £35million move from Arsenal in the summer of 2017. The 29-year-old has played just 95 Premier League games for the Reds.
Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn't featured for England since 2019 and often finds himself playing a supporting role for Klopp's side. Yet the 35-cap international has picked up seven winners' medals at Anfield - including the Premier League and Champions League.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has also impressed in spells. He was outstanding during his first season at the club, which was cruelly ended in April 2018 when he picked up a serious knee injury. He also played an important role in their Premier League triumph in 2019/20.
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Few Liverpool fans will have forgotten about the midfielder's goal against Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-final in April 2018, as he smashed in a rocket from 25 yards out to stun Pep Guardiola's side. The Reds went on to win 5-1 on aggregate.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has often been deployed on the wing, yet his best position is on the right of Klopp's central midfield. The injury-hit star is likely to feature against Tottenham in North London on Saturday - one Liverpool's biggest games of the season.
Klopp told reporters the Englishman "is now ready for the league" after recovering from a hamstring injury that delayed his start to the season. That's a big boost for the German, as Oxlade-Chamberlain wasn't available for Tuesday's 2-0 win against Napoli in Europe.
Liverpool can't afford to lose any more games if they want to close the 15-point gap between them and leaders Arsenal, which will put a lot of pressure on Oxlade-Chamberlain. Yet it's also a great opportunity for him to remind his employers of his ability.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is out of contract at the end of the season and it's unclear how many more chances he'll get on Merseyside to earn a new deal. Even if he wants to pursue a fresh start at another club, it would be wise to put himself in the shop window.
With his existing deal dwindling down, it does feel like it's now or never for Oxlade-Chamberlain at Liverpool. A big performance against Tottenham and a stellar second half of the campaign is exactly what the midfielder - and Klopp's struggling side - need.
