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WORLD FOOTBALL

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Trophies Will Be 'Harder and Harder' for Liverpool

    Christopher Simpson@@CJSimpsonBRX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistAugust 20, 2019

    ISTANBUL, TURKEY - AUGUST 14: Sadio Mane of Liverpool FC, Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool FC and Goalkeeper Adrian of Liverpool FC celebrate after winning the UEFA Super Cup match between FC Liverpool and FC Chelsea at Vodafone Park on August 14, 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by TF-Images/ Getty Images)
    TF-Images/Getty Images

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has predicted it will get even tougher for Liverpool to win trophies.

    The Reds secured their first honour since the League Cup in 2012 when they won the UEFA Champions League last season.

    Oxlade-Chamberlain is under no illusions as to the difficulty the Reds face in winning more silverware, per Glenn Price for Liverpool's official website:

    "We've had a taste of winning [a trophy] and we knew what it took to get there. It was nowhere near easy. I think it's going to get harder and harder.

    "We know what it's going to take, there are going to be moments that test us and maybe new tests this year that we didn't face last year.

    "We had to dig in, the boys dug in all last year through difficult moments, where you're expected to win and still go out and win. We know there's going to be tests and we know that's what's required."

    Last season's Champions League win came after heartbreak for Liverpool in the final of the same competition in 2018, as well as in the 2016 UEFA Europa League final.

    The Reds lost 3-1 on both occasions, to Real Madrid in the Champions League and Sevilla in the Europa League.

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Trophies Will Be 'Harder and Harder' for Liverpool
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    As well as winning the Champions League last season, Liverpool finished second in the Premier League by one point, having racked up 97.

    Jurgen Klopp's side started this season with the possibility of winning seven honours: the Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Premier League.

    They lost the first to Manchester City on penalties, but they won the second by beating Chelsea in a shootout last Wednesday (U.S. only):

    Bleacher Report Live @brlive

    Liverpool and Chelsea played a #SuperCup worthy of two champions 💪 The Reds prevailed in penalties to claim another trophy 🏆🔴 https://t.co/ZmSAXahHDY

    The Guardian's Sachin Nakrani observed Liverpool's need to dig in to beat the Blues:

    Sachin Nakrani @SachinNakrani

    Bloody hell, that was a horrible game. Liverpool well below par and that defence continues to looks worryingly shaky. But they dug in, picked up no serious injuries and won another piece of silverware. That’ll do, I guess.

    Liverpool writer Dave O'Connell is pleased Klopp has been able to instil a winning mentality in the squad:

    DaveOCKOP @DaveOCKOP

    Not the most prestigious trophy but it is fantastic to win it. Most important factor is Klopp is turning us into winners. We are getting used to winning on the big stage.

    The Reds will be favourites to win the Club World Cup too. The European representatives have won the tournament every year since 2007, with the exception of 2012.

    They're also capable of challenging for any of the other trophies available. Their focus will be on the Premier League and Champions League, though, so the domestic cup competitions may fall by the wayside as they did last season, in which they exited both in the third round.

    Winning major trophies consistently is difficult even for teams of Liverpool's calibre, but it's clear from Oxlade-Chamberlain's comments that he and the squad recognise as much.