Gareth Southgate reaping the rewards of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's Liverpool education

Back in November, when Gareth Southgate picked his England squad for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil, he could not find a place for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and did not sound as if he was planning to any time soon.

Oxlade-Chamberlain had only started two games since leaving Arsenal for Liverpool, and looked like a player still trying to discover where he would fit in at Anfield. And when Southgate discussed his new back-three system, he admitted he did not know where Oxlade-Chamberlain would fit in. Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker were ahead of him at wing-back, Dele Alli, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling ahead in the front line. Oxlade-Chamberlain was devastated.

Five months on, Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in the England team and suddenly looking like a likely starter against Tunisia on 18 June. In the Holland and Italy friendlies, Southgate finessed his formation to a 3-5-2 and both times Oxlade-Chamberlain excelled on the right of the midfield three, providing energy and forward momentum with the ball, linking up well with Trippier playing wing-back just outside him.

This England midfield can sometimes look one-paced – anyone who saw Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier paired up against Slovenia will know – but with Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lingard driving forward either side of one holder, England have some dynamism back.

“We were a massive threat going forward, far more than in previous games, and able to play through,” said Southgate after Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Italy. “Alex and Jesse were bright and sharp. Alex made strong runs to stretch the opposition, and Jesse took good positions and his play with Raheem was a real threat.”

All of a sudden there is a clear pattern to how England want to play in midfield, and it is one based around Lingard’s clever late runs – it was his quick free-kick to Jamie Vardy that set up England’s opener – and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s bursts with the ball.

The fact that Oxlade-Chamberlain has proved himself in a midfield three shows how much he has come on since joining Liverpool. The fact that Southgate would only consider him as a wing-back or a forward five months ago was in line with the thinking of the time. In his final months at Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain was mainly used at wing-back – sometimes even on the left – or wide in a front line. The days of him being trusted in midfield were long gone.

But all it has taken is a few months of Jurgen Klopp’s more hands-on, prescriptive coaching, and now Oxlade-Chamberlain looks like he could be the midfielder so many hoped he would be. He has found a better way to direct his energy, on and off the ball, and is now a regular starter in Liverpool’s big games. When Liverpool toppled Manchester City 4-3 in January, his contribution was vital, not least in putting Liverpool ahead after nine minutes.

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As one door opens, another one closes, and the unfortunate victim of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s success, and of Southgate’s change of system, is Dele Alli. The 3-5-2 system gives Southgate a difficult choice. Does Alli replace Sterling as the second striker, the role he has played for Spurs? On this form, no. But does he make it into the midfield three either? Not when he has not played in midfield for Spurs for two years.

Southgate insisted after Tuesday’s game that Alli was still an “important player” in his plans, and suggested that he would have come on had he been fully fit. He is a fantastic impact sub to have and will surely play a big part in Russia. But for now, with two friendlies left before Russia, Oxlade-Chamberlain is the man in possession again.