Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drops future hint and sets Virgil van Dijk challenge

Departing Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has hinted that he may remain in the Premier League after his Anfield exit.

The 29-year-old has been reduced to just nine appearances in the English top-flight this season after missing the start of campaign with a hamstring injury. His gametime has been impacted further as he has featured just twice in the matchday squad since the chastening 3-0 defeat at Molineux against Wolves in January.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was among the outgoing quartet as Anfield bid farewell to the former Arsenal midfielder, Naby Keita, James Milner and Roberto Firmino. It was the 31-year-old Brazilian who stole the headlines before and after proceedings against Aston Villa as he scored his 110th Liverpool goal as he salvaged a point against Aston Villa.

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The former Southampton trainees career at Anfield began with promise as he was a catalyst in the run to the Champions League final in Kyiv in 2018 but a serious injury in the semi-final curtailed his progress and further problems followed. He managed to scoop winners medals for the Premier League, Champions League as well as the domestic double last season plus Super Cup and Club World Cup honours.

What's next for the likes of Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Firmino remains uncertain with reports suggesting the 37-year-old Milner is set for a move to the south coast to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Speaking after his farewell at Anfield, the midfielder hinted that his next move will be within the Premier League as he sets his sights on doing something to Virgil van Dijk that he has never done before.

"I don't know what happens next," he told Liverpool's official website. "It will be a busy summer chasing after him [his son] and then seeing what comes next.

"But yeah, I'm sure I will probably be back here at some point in the difficult away dressing room, against these fans – I've done it before.

"I'll try to do my best and if I manage to score or anything, I won't be celebrating, I promise you that, because I've got so much respect for everything that I've been through here. But I told Virgil I might actually be able to dribble past him for the first time ever."
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