In an interview before Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Xherdan Shaqiri has a future at Anfield when he said (via the Daily Express), “Why should I talk about something that’s outside? We spoke earlier [in the season] that he wasn’t playing as much as he wanted to.
“Speculation is speculation. Completely fine here. Of course, he has a future here.”
Shaqiri’s Injury-Prone Spell At Liverpool
The German manager’s words will be quite reassuring for the Swiss winger who has lost his way at Merseyside since arriving from Stoke City in the summer of 2018. Shaqiri’s career at Liverpool has been ravaged by injuries which is a big concern for Klopp as he leads his players into the busiest period of the season.
The European champions will need to utilise their entire squad if they are to cope with injuries and suspensions in the coming weeks. Therefore, Shaqiri might still have a significant role to play for the Reds as they try to compete across multiple competitions this term.
The Swiss international has only managed to appear in four matches for the Merseyside outfit so far. However, he proved his worth as a valuable contributor from the Liverpool bench in the previous campaign. Shaqiri is also vastly experienced at the international level, having represented the Swiss national team in 80 matches while scoring 22 goals for his country in the process.
What Does The Swiss Sensation Offer On The Pitch?
Shaqiri is deceptively quick and can make some penetrative runs with the ball in the opposition half. He excels at creating chances from the wide areas and tends to come alive in 1v1 situations. The Swiss wide player can also strike the ball with a lot of power and precision, which makes him a potent threat from long range.
Can Shaqiri Turn His Fortunes Around At Anfield?
When Shaqiri is playing with confidence on the field, he can still be a useful member of the Reds squad. However, the 28-year-old needs to prove his fitness first before he is ready to feature for Liverpool week in week out.
With the Merseyside giants set to compete in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar next month, Shaqiri will have plenty of opportunities to turn his fortunes around for the better at Anfield. However, if he fails to prove his fitness over the next few weeks, then Klopp should consider moving him out next summer.
