Liverpool

Xherdan Shaqiri: 'Liverpool style is perfect for me'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 27 August 2018

Liverpool attacker Xherdan Shaqiri talks up his versatility along the frontline and believes that the team's style of play is "perfect" for him.

Liverpool attacker Xherdan Shaqiri has said that the team's fluid style of football is "perfect" for him as he waits to make his full debut for the club.

Shaqiri joined the Reds in a summer switch from relegated Stoke City, but has been forced to make do with a place on the bench in the opening three games of the season as manager Jurgen Klopp has so far kept faith with the same XI.

The Switzerland international believes that the competition for places at Anfield is a good thing, though, and insists that he is capable of playing anywhere along the frontline.

"The manager has brought a few players in this summer with very good quality who are going to help a lot. This team needed a little competition in various positions because that makes you better and makes you stronger so I am looking forward to the season and we have started very well," Shaqiri told Liverpool's official matchday programme.

"I believe that I can play every position along the front line and the coach knows that. I played every position in the friendlies: I played as a nine, I played as a 10 and I've played as a winger, although with the coach you don't really have wingers as you change positions every time with one player going inside and another player going out.

"That's really good and I like the football the way the coach plays. It is perfect football for me too. I have known him (Klopp) for a long time from when I was playing in Germany, and I knew it was the right thing for me. I had a few options but this felt right.

"The fitness coach, Andreas [Kornmayer], was also with me at Bayern Munich too so I knew a little of his work and I also knew our nutritionist Mona [Nemmer] who came to Bayern later too. It's always nice to have a few familiar faces around when you move to a new place of work."

Klopp has hinted that he could make changes for this weekend's trip to Leicester City.