Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took inspiration from Liverpool s Champions League triumph last season as he took the early steps in his own return to elite football.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was the Reds star performer with a superb brace in their 4-1 win at Genk on Wednesday, keeping Jurgen Klopp s side a point behind Group E leaders Napoli on their European title defence.
The England midfielder s last appearance in Europe s top competition ended in heartache as he suffered a serious knee injury against Roma in the 2018 semi-final.
He returned to fitness to be an unused substitute when Liverpool beat Tottenham in last season s final and the 26-year-old revelled in being back on centre stage in Belgium.
It s nice to be back out there. It s a special tournament to play in. A competition that we all want to grow up and play in one day, Oxlade-Chamberlain told BT Sport.
Seeing the boys do so well in it last year, then I was fortunate to get back involved on the bench on the big day in the final. Watching the boys bring it home was inspirational and [made it] something that I ve wanted to get back to do.
It s just nice to be back in the starting line-up, trying to put in a performance to help the team. To get a few goals is a bonus.
Oxlade-Chamberlain opened the scoring in the second minute with a deflected low drive.
It was his second that will live longest in the memory, however – a sublime strike with the outside of his right foot from 20 yards that cannoned into the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Is right,
A message from Ox after his brace tonight
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
Everyone will be delighted for him, said James Milner, who battled against Genk side at right-back before moving to left-back in the second half, told BT Sport.
The things people don t see behind the scenes at a training ground, the long hours and time spent in the treatment room and gym on their own.
I think that goal was coming, to be honest. He had a couple of sighters at Old Trafford [during Liverpool s 1-1 Premier League draw on Sunday], just getting his range right.
We want him to be positive when he s in there, he s got a great strike on him, he s good in those pockets with dribbling ability.
It s good to have him back as another option in that midfield where there s great competition for places.
Genk captain Mbwana Samatta had a first-half goal disallowed for marginal offside in the build-up and the hosts had plenty of chances to score before substitute Stephen Odey s 88th-minute consolation – a tidy turn and shot after Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah coolly made the points safe.
In the first half we got a bit sloppy and we ve got to do a lot better if we want to go further in this competition, Oxlade-Chamberlain added.
Second half it was quite mature. We controlled the game. Disappointing to concede but it was a good night all round.
