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Liverpool Winger Xherdan Shaqiri: ''I was always an admirer of Klopp so I’m happy to reunite with him.''

Xherdan Shaqiri relishing the prospect of working under the management of Jurgen Klopp after completing his £13m Liverpool move.

The Switzerland international became the club’s third new arrival this summer following the arrival of Naby Keita from Leipzig and Brazilian Fabinho from Monaco as Jurgen Klopp and his transfer team really mean business this summer.

Shaqiri’s signing represents a good depth and rotational piece for the club. Coming into the offseason, one of the items on the LFC to-do list was to find depth on the wing and Shaqiri is precisely that. Traditionally having spent his time on the right, he likely represents a rotational option for Salah as well as an option off the bench when fresh legs might help to unlock a stubborn defense.


Shaqiri knew of Klopp’s style long before he took the reins of the Reds – from 2012 he was part of the Bayern Munich team battling with his Borussia Dortmund side in the Bundesliga.

So the opportunity to work with the Liverpool manager, and integrate into his high-intensity football, was one the 26-year-old grasped eagerly.

''I know the coach from Germany, when he was at Dortmund,” Shaqiri told Liverpoolfc.com during his first official interview.

''We played against each other me with Bayern Munich and they were always big games.


''That was a big point for me to come here, because of the coach. I love his football, how he plays and how he manages a team. I was always an admirer of him so I’m happy to reunite with him.”

Jurgen Klopp on the other hand returned the favour to the swiss man as he said:  ''I know him well from his time in Switzerland and especially Germany – I have been a long-time admirer. 

''But the added bonus now is that he knows the Premier League and what it takes to perform in this uniquely intense environment. 

''He also did really well at the World Cup – so he comes to us full of belief and confidence.

''From our perspective, he is someone who makes a big difference to the squad and team, because he can fit in so many positions in our system. 

''He gives us greater flexibility in how we can use our current players also. This is cool.

''He has speed and ability, has the right amount of arrogance on the football pitch, real bravery to want the ball and influence things. To play for us these are mandatory requirements.

''We are the perfect move for him in this moment as well I think, because he needs to push himself and challenge himself and our environment encourages that. 

''We will want him to express himself but also learn and improve the areas of his game where he can still make progression.