Shaqiri labelled a ‘genius’ by Klopp after excelling in Champions League bow

By Leanne Prescott

Xherdan Shaqiri received his first Champions League start for Liverpool against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night. The winger delivered an all-action performance on the flank to add the creative guile Jurgen Klopp’s side have been accused of lacking this season.

The Swiss international adopted the role of orchestrator at Anfield, creating the opener entirely out of his relentless work rate. Tracking back 20 yards to regain possession, Shaqiri then drove forward with the ball, producing a perfectly weighted, eye of the needle pass behind the defence for Andy Robertson.

Such was the quality of the ball the Scotsman was able to guide his cross into the box first time for Roberto Firmino, who was never going to miss from close range. His performance didn’t end there. The £13 million summer signing providing a deft touch to tap the ball into the path of Mohamed Salah, who recorded his 50th goal for Liverpool in just 65 games.

His performance rightfully warranted a standing ovation midway through the second-half, coming off for Adam Lallana having pulled the strings in all that was good about the Reds. Hailed a ‘genius’ by his manager, Shaqiri will be banging down the door for a starting spot in the coming games as, the kind of impact Klopp hoped he would have when recruiting the former Stoke City man.

“I just want to say thank you (to Klopp) for that”, Shaqiri reflected after recent praise. “It is a game where I am trying my best to give good performances. I think I have the quality and vision to give good passes and you can see that I wanted to give another good performance.”

“I am enjoying the football here and you can see that on the pitch. The most important thing is to win as a team and it was brilliant from everyone. I need to try to keep going. It is a long season and we want to be successful.”

Despite numerous boos from away fans that made their way into the Main Stand despite a ban, the former Inter Milan forward looked energised and expressive beyond belief.

A player previously lauded a lazy and selfish by former teammate Charlie Adam, the 27-year-old appears to be thriving with the heavy workload of Klopp’s gegenpressing system, delivering scintillating moments of individual brilliance that may see him move from a series of cameos to regular starts in Liverpool’s attack.