ReactionAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain issues honest assessment on Brentford defeat
Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain issued an honest assessment following Monday’s 3-1 Premier League defeat to Brentford.
The Reds were beaten at the Gtech Community Stadium after goals from Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo followed an Ibrahima Konate own goal.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s header five minutes into the second period gave the Reds a route back into the contest before the hosts restored their two-goal advantage late on.
The No.15 – who made his 100th Premier League appearance for Liverpool in the loss – gave his thoughts to Liverpoolfc.com post-match.
Read on for a summary below…
On his overall assessment of the performance…
[It was] tough. We just weren’t good enough. We knew it was going to be a difficult game, we knew their threat around the set-pieces and we didn’t do well enough. We got away with a couple of [goals] with VAR ruling them out, but they were the warning signs and in the end we conceded a sloppy second goal after the restart after we sort of got away with that. Then at 2-0 it’s difficult. I think at times we did well and we created some good moments but we didn’t carry on doing the same things that got us that success. We came looking for the ball to feet a little bit too much I think and stopped offering in behind and causing them problems.
Match action: Brentford 3-1 LFC
And then at 2-0 - at half-time - we wanted to come out and really go for the game and believe. The early goal helped see that but unfortunately we couldn’t get the second one in quick succession. If we had it might have been a different ending. Brentford play their game and they play it really well and we kind of fell into the trap a little bit tonight. Overall, it wasn’t good enough from us.
On his attacking role and getting back on the scoresheet…
I’ve watched Sadio and Mo play that position for years and one thing that they have both done outstandingly well is provide goals for the team. Obviously it’s a bit different when Darwin is playing through the middle because he is such a threat in behind, and usually when Bobby plays that role he’s the one that drops a bit deeper and it fills the half space.
So, that’s been kind of my role from there, being the one that drops deep and tries to link but then ultimately get up with Darwin’s pace and Mo’s pace and get in and around the box. That’s the thing I think in the last few games, I’ve been missing that real goal threat. So, it was nice to get that chance and take it. But it’s a shame it doesn’t mean anything and the overriding feeling is disappointment.
On getting sharper with every game he plays…
I think that was evident tonight with the way I felt in the game. It is massive is rhythm and I’ve had the opportunity now to have three [starts] on the spin and I feel good for it… I know when I’m playing and when I get the opportunities in that role I need to do more and provide more to impact the game. That’s what was lacking and for any forward, or attack-minded player, goals, or creating chances, are massively important and that’s no different for me.
Luckily [getting a goal] tonight was good for me moving forward, but ultimately the main thing is I didn’t manage to get a second and I’m sure Mo and Darwin will be thinking the same. If we had got that second and brought it back to 2-2 at that point maybe things could have been different. But it’s hard to think of any positives as the overriding feeling is just disappointment and it wasn’t good enough overall.