OPINION
The start of Xherdan Shaqiri’s Liverpool career has been an exploratory affair, with Jurgen Klopp looking to to discover the best way to utilise the Swiss star’s multitude of talents.
However, it has become clear in recent weeks that if the Reds boss wants to get the best out of the former Stoke City man he needs to utilise him centrally in a tactical move which should boost their chances of silverware.
The 27-year-old’s best performances for Liverpool have without doubt been when he has been playing as a number ten.
Shaqiri, on a reported £90,000-per-week at Anfield [Source: Spotrac], has flourished when employed as the creative hub of this Liverpool team and that is where he must stay moving forward.
Fans saw against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League last week, where Shaqiri was left out of the squad for political reasons, that Klopp’s team can appear bereft of creativity without the Switzerland international in the starting line up.
That fact was reinforced by his tremendous performance against Fulham in the Reds’ 2-0 victory on Sunday. He was a maelstrom of creativity, and got himself on the score sheet as well.
This is not a player who should be utilised on the wing or in a deeper midfield role – no, he should be played where he can most influence the game.
That is playing just behind the frontmen. The Reds have enough central midfielders to do the defensive dirty work, while the constant rotation of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane means that Shaqiri isn’t needed on the wings.
Instead, he must be given a free role to go out and cause havoc for the opposition defence. If Klopp gives him that then Shaqiri could end up having a huge impact on this Liverpool season.
