Klopp delighted with Shaqiri's 'fantastic impact' at LFC
‘A fantastic impact,’ is the appraisal Jürgen Klopp today offered on Xherdan Shaqiri’s start to his Liverpool career following his summer transfer from Stoke City.
The Swiss forward was influential in the Reds’ 3-0 victory over Southampton last weekend, playing a key role in two of the goals during his 45-minute run out.
Shaqiri followed that up with another impressive display in midweek in the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup third-round tie at Anfield.
Asked for his assessment on the 26-year-old’s opening few weeks at the club, Klopp told his pre-match press conference at Melwood: “Very good. Very, very good.
“When he came in, what I wanted from him is that he really only plays completely free; [that he] doesn’t think about anything and plays football. I didn’t want to bother him and fill him up with information about the way we play, the way he has to defend and the way he has to run.
“I wanted to see how he adapted and it was pretty good in the pre-season, you saw that.
“Of course, for the long term, you need to get used to all of these different things more and more – and he has made big steps in that.
“Again, like it always is, when you use this information then you lose a little bit from the natural skills for a few days, weeks or whatever because you think a bit more on the pitch. As you should because it’s football and as I’ve said a few times, it should be more instinct than thinking too much, so you have to do it often so you don’t have to think about it anymore.
“So, that’s where he is in the moment. I am completely happy. He has had a fantastic impact, he is a really good player and a good boy.”
Klopp also explained the discussion he had with Shaqiri on the pitch immediately following the final whistle against Chelsea.
The boss said: “A German newspaper said I had an argument with Shaqiri on the pitch. I didn’t. Only to make it clear, I didn’t. It was only that he was the first one involved that I met [when I went onto the pitch].
“It was after the free-kick we had and I wanted to do it differently. He was not even involved in the free-kick, but it was only about that.”