Critics have already been claiming the £35million summer signing from Arsenal could be a flop, pointing to only one start since he arrived and some indifferent displays.
Apart from a full game against Leicester in Carabao Cup, the midfielder has only played 86 minutes in six other appearances.
But Jurgen Klopp believes the England international needed time to settle at Anfield after signing on deadline day but is now ready show his true worth.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, impressed after coming off the bench late on during the Reds’ 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Saturday.
And he could get his chance tonight when Liverpool take on Maribor tonight in their Champions League Group E clash, even though Klopp refused to give any secrets away about his team selection.
“I cannot say how happy I was to see Chambo playing like this,” said Klopp. “I said he needed a little bit of time and my most positive thing was that finally he has arrived, but it always takes time.
“Since Alex came in he has been twice with the national team, there have been a lot of games with no training so his start has been interrupted.
“He is a big signing for us, obviously, but a fast player like him needs the circumstances to perform so he needed time. So far it has been OK but not what we know he is able to do.
“But then Saturday, bang – comes on, uses his speed, really spot on, it was a very nice sign. I loved to see it.
“I would say there has been no consistency until now. We let him run so far, let him do what he is naturally good at and it will take time but it’s all good. He is obviously powerful and that is what we need.”
When asked if this game would be a chance for him, Klopp said: “Each game can be an opportunity to show what you can do.”
While Oxlade-Chamberlain could be one change from Saturday’s dull draw with United, Klopp says there will not be many more.
He has told his side they need to make up lost ground in back-to-back games against the Slovenian minnows after dropping points in draws against Sevilla and Spartak Moscow.
He said: “We know we play Maribor twice and we wasted points already. We know it is unbelievably important for us, so nobody should expect 11 changes.
“In the moment, actually, yes it is the key game because it is the only one we can play now. Now we have twice Maribor and know we know what we have to do – we have to get the points.
“It is clear, we have to win, we should not waste time. But also we play twice against Moscow or twice against Sevilla so we can win one game each.
“We want to go to the next round, we got a second draw in Moscow but now it is only possible if we start collecting points. We should not break through unless we start collecting points.”
Despite their struggles, Klopp was at least able to maintain his humour during yesterday’s pre-match press conference.
When posed a question by one journalist that, despite being a a top coach, he does not win that much, Klopp said: “So you are saying I am a charismatic, funny loser?”
