Liverpool: Fans loved Xherdan Shaqiri’s comments as he seeks to impress at Anfield next season

Plenty of Liverpool fans have praised winger Xherdan Shaqiri after he hinted at his desire to impress at Anfield during the upcoming season.

The Switzerland international was a peripheral figure in the Reds’ squad last term, making only 11 appearances in all competitions during an injury-hit campaign and starting just twice in the Premier League (as per TransferMarkt).

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Last month, Turkish media outlet Fotomac reported (via talkSPORT) that he was set to join Fenerbahce this summer after falling out of favour on Merseyside, claiming that he had all but agreed personal terms. This morning, journalist Nicolo Schira tweeted (via @NicoSchira) that Lazio are looking to sign the 28-year-old.

However, in an interview with Liverpool’s official website, Shaqiri seemed totally committed to the Anfield cause and is determined to play a bigger role for Jurgen Klopp’s side next term. He said: “Always if you are injured or if you are not playing, you’re frustrated. But I’m looking forward to this season and trying to help the team all the time, so I have the chance to play like the first season.

“As a team, I just want us to achieve a lot of things. I think we have a lot of good players in our team, everyone can play and we try to make it very difficult for the coach as always. I’m trying to give my best too and to help the team to win games, titles – that’s the most important thing for me.”

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The 28-year-old has netted just seven times in 41 appearances for the Reds, but among those strikes were a brace in a 3-1 win over Manchester United in December 2018 and a goal in the 5-2 defeat of Everton last term. He also set up Georginio Wijnaldum’s second goal in the epic 4-0 Champions League win over Barcelona 15 months ago.

These Liverpool fans on Twitter lauded Shaqiri after his comments and hope that he will indeed stay put at Anfield despite the aforementioned recent speculation over his future:

https://twitter.com/Craig70614642/status/1295439852008345602

https://twitter.com/Tk__Lfc/status/1295486554933207040

Tears in my eyes https://t.co/OAls2aloal

— Marc (@MarcJBirch) August 17, 2020

https://twitter.com/Jamz121/status/1295404957194223620

There are worse things that could happen this summer than Shaq staying. We’ll get good money for him next summer too. Shift Wilson, Grujic and Origi and we could still fund another winger/forward. https://t.co/AJ8psTZxDU

— Q (@futebolbaseroom) August 17, 2020

Keep Shaqiri for Man Utd and Everton games he loves to score against our bitter rivals

— Tipu Zaman (@TheTipMyster) August 17, 2020

he wouldn’t be this confident if he were to leave. i’d give him one more season and a chance at least

— Scorsese Fish (@ScorseseFish) August 17, 2020