Xherdan Shaqiri proves he’s already attuned to the Liverpool way

Jurgen Klopp was genuinely contrite when the subject of Xherdan Shaqiri was raised during his regular Friday media call.

The surprise package of Liverpool’s summer transfer window has quickly endeared himself to Liverpool’s manager but the opportunities he had been given were not reflective of his efforts: 27 minutes in five Premier League games was not fair.

So game six offered a chance to put things right. Klopp had toyed with starting Shaqiri against Paris St Germain in the Champions League but Southampton’s visit was to be the Swiss’ moment, with James Milner given chance to have a breather.

Xherdan Shaqiri was given his first start for Liverpool and made impact after just 10 minutes 

Shaqiri was responsible for putting in the cross which was turned in by Wesley Hoedt

Shaqiri was responsible for putting in the cross which was turned in by Wesley Hoedt

The pint-sized winger was elated with his contribution and celebrated accordingly

The pint-sized winger was elated with his contribution and celebrated accordingly

Shaqiri made an instant impact when scored a brilliant bicycle kick against Manchester United in pre-season and he hardly hung about here; within 10 minutes, the man signed from Stoke for £12.5million had created Liverpool’s opener.

Immediately there was a link with Sadio Mane, as he latched on to a glorious ball from the Senegal flyer, skipped inside Cedric Soares and then saw his curling shot cannon off Shane Long and into Wesley Hoedt before trickling over the line.

It was, most definitely, an own goal but it came about thanks to Shaqiri, who was heavily criticised during the summer – particularly by Gary Neville – for a perceived laissez-faire attitude to hard work and a tendency to go missing in the difficult moments.

There was no evidence of that here. He scurried around in the areas Milner would normally patrol, pointing and barking and making sure that those in yellow and blue shirts were picked up. He won’t succeed at Anfield if he doesn’t work hard and that’s precisely what he did.

Shaqiri hit the bar with a freekick just before half-time, which set up Mohamed Salah to score

Shaqiri hit the bar with a freekick just before half-time, which set up Mohamed Salah to score

In many ways, this was the perfect game for him to get attuned to the Liverpool Way. Without being at their best, they stretched easily away from Southampton in the manner that a top class racehorse would leave a lesser stablemate behind on the gallops.

Sure enough, you could see Shaqiri’s confidence surging. In one pin-ball passage of passing in the 32nd minute, that involved Jordan Henderson, Mane and Roberto Firmino, Shaqiri’s delightful back-heel into the Brazilian almost created a third goal.

Goal number three eventually arrived in the second minute of time added-on and, again, Shaqiri was central to it, his bending 25-yard free-kick thudding against the bar and beating Alex McCarthy all ends up, enabling Mohamed Salah to ensure he didn’t go a fourth game without scoring.

Jurgen Klopp removed Shaqiri at half-time, despite recently admitting he deserves chances

Jurgen Klopp removed Shaqiri at half-time, despite recently admitting he deserves chances

Shaqiri scuttled off at half-time content with his lot, so his failure to emerge for the second half was a bitter disappointment. There was no injury and he was not ill. Klopp had been concerned about the way Southampton’s full-backs had run in behind Liverpool’s defence at times and called for Milner.

Once again, then, Shaqiri was back on the bench and he would undoubtedly have felt a little hollow. Clearly in Klopp’s mind, the settling in process has not finished and he must still be educated in the way that Liverpool play.

What we saw in this contest, however, has made it clear that when Shaqiri adjusts he will be a potent weapon. In Klopp’s words, everyone in the squads ‘loves Shaq’. His moment will come.

‘It was not easy, to be honest,’ said Klopp, explaining his decision. ‘It’s my job to sometimes deliver news that nobody wants to hear. That’s how it is in half-time. He’s a fantastic boy and I explained it to him, so it’s no problem. Usually I don’t explain substitutions at half-time, but I thought today it makes sense. It’s just good to have him. You saw the free-kick was outstanding.

‘What a ball. The whole team was not used to what we did today and, as a new player, usually you struggle most. But he didn’t. He tried everything. We only had problem in defensive [situations], offensive it was a good idea. We have to work on that with him more often. He was good. I liked it’ 

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