Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has expressed frustration with his injury-prone reputation at Liverpool - but admits he must make a major impact under Jurgen Klopp this season.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is among a group of players vying for a start in midfield when the Reds resume their Premier League campaign at Leeds United on Sunday afternoon.
The 28-year-old's attempts to remain a regular during his Anfield career have been hampered by suffering cruciate ligament damage in April 2018 that ruled him out for 12 months, and then a separate knee injury that sidelined him for the first three months of last season.
Nevertheless, Oxlade-Chamberlain has made more than 100 appearances for the Reds - 30 coming in the Premier League when the title was won in 2019/20 - and believes this season could prove pivotal.
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"I don't really think that I've had, like, loads of injuries," he said.
"But the ones I've had are big and they've kept me out for long spells, which I think sometimes makes people think I'm always injured. That's a bit of a frustrating one.
"But during those spells and the battle to come back and prove yourself and whatever, I've sort of had to remind myself that through all of that at this point in my career, I'm still lucky enough to be at an amazing football club like Liverpool and how lucky I am to have that opportunity to still be in this environment, competing at this level.
"I feel like this season's important for me to go and do something really good – hopefully on an individual level and then obviously for the team."
Oxlade-Chamberlain started the season opener at Norwich City but missed the following week's win over Burnley to attend the birth of his first child.
With Harvey Elliott having impressed against the Clarets, the 18-year-old retained his place for the 1-1 draw with Chelsea while Oxlade-Chamberlain remained unused on the bench.
And Elliott's emergence is a reminder to the former Arsenal man that he is now among the senior professionals at Liverpool.
"I still see myself the same age as Harvey, to be fair!" said Oxlade-Chamberlain, speaking to liverpoolfc.com.
"So it is a bit strange when you dip into the senior player pool – it comes around quick!
"It's also important as well. Once you've been around the block and you've done a lot, that experience is important and it helps you going into games, into situations, playing with other players – how to communicate with each other and get the best out of each other and seeing them in general situations day to day.
"Experience always helps in that respect, so I don't mind it. But it's strange to think of me as one of the older ones now in the team."
