BBC pundit Martin Keown has described Xherdan Shaqiri as an ‘inspired signing’ for Liverpool after his display in their 4-0 win over Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Switzerland international was on top form against the Serbian side at Anfield as goals from Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and a double from Mohamed Salah saw the Reds romp to victory.
Keown has now highlighted £90,000-a-week star [Total Sportek] Shaqiri’s performance for praise and said that signing the 26-year-old for £13.5million was an inspired decision by Jurgen Klopp.
Speaking in his ‘Tackle Keown’ column for the Daily Mail, he said: “Shaqiri looks an inspired signing. In a struggling team like Stoke, he looked anonymous. Now he has options and runners — and is able to use his vision to pick them out.
“He gives Jurgen Klopp the option to rest the likes of James Milner and Jordan Henderson. He ran the show for Switzerland against England in September and is proving why he should be in the Liverpool team.”
OPINION
It is hard to disagree with Keown here, with Shaqiri already showing his worth for Liverpool despite a slow start to the season. The Switzerland international took some time to settle and become a trusted player under Jurgen Klopp, but that was always expected and he is now firmly part of the Reds’ plans. A £13.5million deal always looked to be a steal for Liverpool, with Shaqiri having multiple suitors in the Premier League and among Europe’s top five leagues. As Keown points out he gives Klopp more options in midfield, with his attacking instincts meaning that Liverpool essentially operate with four forwards instead of three when he is on the pitch. One thing that Keown also points out is Shaqiri’s vision, and that has really come to the fore during his time at the club so far, with the 26-year-old picking out passes like a seasoned playmaker for Liverpool.
