Shaqiri: Klopp's half-time team talk key to Burnley win
Jürgen Klopp’s half-time message at Turf Moor was the catalyst for Liverpool’s hard-fought 3-1 win over Burnley, according to Xherdan Shaqiri.
After a goalless first 45 minutes, a much-changed Reds side fell behind early in the second period.
The visitors upped the ante following Jack Cork’s opener, though, and responded rapidly through goals by James Milner and substitute Roberto Firmino.
Shaqiri, one of only four players to retain their starting berth from Sunday’s Merseyside derby, then applied the finishing touch in stoppage time when he rounded off a lightning-quick counter-attack with aplomb.
Victory keeps Liverpool, who remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season after 15 matches, within two points of table-topping Manchester City.
And the No.23 believes the manager was the architect of their second-half improvement versus the Clarets.
Highlights: Milner, Firmino and Shaqiri strike to beat Burnley
“It is always tough to play here. I played with Stoke here and it was also a cold, rainy day. It is not simple to play this game but we managed it very well and we fully deserved to win,” Shaqiri said.
“First half, maybe not so good, but the second half we played like we usually play so we got a lot of chances.
“At half-time the manager just said we have to be more in the game, more lively in the game, and to win the ball more because a lot of times we played not forward but back.
“We weren’t exactly perfect on the ball but in the second half we did better and scored three goals.
“We have to be brave in these games. We know we are going to have a lot of possession but obviously we have to defend well too.
“They scored, I don’t know if it was a foul or not but they decided to give the goal. But we stayed calm and it was most important to take three points from here.”
Shaqiri also feels the fact Klopp is able to win while rotating his XI proves the strength of the squad he has at his disposal this season.
The Switzerland international continued: “Definitely, it shows the depth. It gave a lot of players confidence to play this game.
“Obviously, it is not simple for the other players who did not play for a long time so in the first half they needed time to come into the game, but after that we managed it well and you can see we have a very strong team where everyone can play.”