Shaqiri withdraws from Switzerland squad to ‘focus’ on Reds career

Xherdan Shaqiri’s Liverpool future has been placed into question in recent weeks.

He joined from Stoke in 2018 for a £13.5m fee, making 30 appearances last season including 15 from the bench. He started Liverpool’s historic Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona, and made a huge impact after coming on to score twice against Manchester United.

And the Swiss international has had his attitude scrutinized by press since his omission from regular action at the turn of the year. Having featured only once so far this season (a substitute appearance in the Community Shield), Jurgen Klopp admitted in his press conference yesterday that Shaqiri isn’t the ‘happiest’ in the dressing room.

“It’s the first four weeks of the season, that’s how it is. That’s probably the hardest period for players who are not playing.

“Is he the happiest player in the squad? I don’t think so. Can I see that on the training pitch? No.

“He is in a good mood, training hard, doing what he has to do and is ready for the moment when he has to help the team on the pitch.”

After these comments, Shaqiri decided to withdraw from Vladimir Petković’s Switzerland squad to focus more on getting his Reds career back on track.

Switzerland face a crucial Euro 2020 qualifying trip to Republic of Ireland on Thursday night before a match with Gibraltar three days later.

Having only played twice in Group D so far, they sit third with four points. ‘Shaq’ is the only real notable absence with star-men Granit Xhaka, Fabian Schar and Haris Seferovic all in the squad.

After his surely endearing actions to the manager, Shaqiri will look to feature tonight as Liverpool take on Burnley at Turf Moor, a stadium which he scored at last season in a 3-1 victory.