Liverpool paid just £12m to sign Xherdan Shaqiri after Stoke City were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2017/18 season
Xherdan Shaqiri has really stood out in the last two games for Liverpool, even if he does have work to do to convince manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Switzerland international inadvertently set up Mo Salah’s goal in Saturday’s 3-0 cruise against Southampton after his wondrous free-kick came crashing down off the crossbar.
Klopp, however, surprisingly opted to replace Shaqiri at half-time and appeared to be giving the winger a stern telling off in the aftermath of Liverpool’s 2-1 EFL Cup defeat at home to Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Though there is one man who appears to be absolutely convinced by Shaqiri’s qualities – the former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.
“There’s no doubt there is quality in that left foot, there’s been real evidence of that, certainly a few days ago with that free-kick he took (against Southampton),” Carragher told Sky Sports (26 September, 7.30pm).
“We’ve seen also tonight that he doesn’t have Salah’s blistering pace but for £12million, he’s a steal.”
After Stoke City were relegated from the Premier League in May, Liverpool triggered the £12 million release clause in Shaqiri’s contract to bring the former Bayern Munich and Inter Milan man to Merseyside.
In today’s market, £12million is certainly a bargain for a player with Shaqiri’s experience and international class. Alongside Andrew Robertson, Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Gini Wijnaldum and co, the 26-year-old looks like example of Liverpool getting brilliant value for money.
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