Recently revealing he has yet to really set foot in the town of Liverpool, Xherdan Shaqiri is still enjoying life in and around Anfield as one of their summer signings.
Perhaps not starting as often as he’d like, seen more as a cup player and rotation option for Mohamed Salah for now, the Swiss international remains a key member of his national team, who are set to play Belgium on Friday evening.
Facing off in the Nations League, the two sides will be aware of each other’s weaknesses, but Philippe Albert, once of Newcastle fame, took it upon himself for Le Soir to point out his effective the Liverpool forward can be when left some freedom.
Capable of threatening down either wing or through the middle, Shaqiri presents ‘traits comparable to Hazard’s’, which are a low centre of gravity and an ability to accelerate quickly, making him a ‘poison’ for defenders.
A lot will depend on how Roberto Martinez decides to set up, but with a lack of an out and out left-back in the squad, that area could be where the Liverpool man finds the most joy, as Albert feels Thomas Meunier’s defensive ability as a right-back could prove too complicated to overcome regularly.
As Jan Vertonghen is out injured, we could see Shaqiri face an out of form Thomas Vermaelen or Nacer Chadli/Yannick Carrasco at left-wing back if the Spaniard lines his team up with three at the back.
