Photoby John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
It’s been a tough two years for Shaqiri at Liverpool, but recent
games have shown he can still make a difference.
It’s probably fair to say that Xherdan Shaqiri’s Liverpool career hasn’t exactly gone to plan for the
now 29-year-old Swiss international who arrived as a bargain from
relegated Stoke City in 2018 before struggling through two
injury-plagued seasons.
Multiple injuries and struggles to regain match fitness have
limited his chances, and it’s felt as though any time he has begun
to find form and minutes there has been another setback. As a
result, the belief over the summer was that his time at the club
had ended.
Early in the 2020-21 season, though, he has impressed, taking on
a midfield role as the left sided eight in Jürgen Klopp’s 4-3-3 and
showing that he still has what it takes to make a real impact for
the defending Premier League champions.
“The subs always try to change the game and try to decide the
games,” Shaqiri said of his latest impact, looking lively off the
bench against a pesky West Ham side on Saturday and eventually
providing the assist on Diogo Jota’s match winner.
“I’m a player and Diogo is also a player who can decide games
and we needed that, so it was perfect. We both [played a part] in
the second goal. It was a nice one and an important one, so we are
very happy the three points stay here at Anfield.”
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Saturday may have been Shaqiri’s first Premier League appearance
this season, but he was one of Liverpool’s best players mid-week in
the Champions
League and previously this season put in one of the club’s best
performances in the League Cup.
Now, having proven he can still make an impact—and in the
process getting himself a little closer to being fully match fit
after two years in which he has played very little football—the
goal will be to continue to perform and, hopefully, to stay
healthy.
“It’s always nice to be involved,” Shaqiri added. “Obviously I
was injured a few times and it was always the hard way for me until
now. I’m very happy that I’ve got my minutes back, I’ve tried to
stay fit, and I hope it stays like this.”