Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp described Xherdan Shaqiri’s performance in the 4-1 drubbing of rivals Manchester United in the International Champions Cup as “not normal”. Shaqiri only joined up with his new team-mates on Wednesday, having played a key role in helping Switzerland to the last-16 of this summer’s World Cup.
Liverpool thrashed Manchester United 4-1 in the International Champions Cup as Xherdan Shaqiri capped his debut with a memorable goal. Liverpool thrashed Manchester United 4-1 in the International Champions Cup on Saturday as Xherdan Shaqiri capped his debut with a memorable goal.
This was a pre-season friendly in name only as over 100,000 fans in Michigan were treated to an intense clash played at a competitive pace for the majority. Sadio Mane got things rolling with a first-half penalty (28) after Mohamed Salah had been fouled but United youngster Andreas Pereira (31) levelled with a wonderful free-kick – one of just three shots on goal mustered up by Jose Mourinho’s team.
Shaqiri was introduced at the break for his first appearance since joining from Stoke City and set up Daniel Sturridge (66) to give Liverpool a deserved lead. Sheyi Ojo scored from the spot (74) before Shaqiri wrapped up the scoring with a spectacular overhead kick.
Klopp has been impressed with how keen Shaqiri was to join them on tour so soon after playing in Russia, as well as how he adapted to playing in an advanced midfield role after coming on as a half-time substitute in Michigan and scoring with a bicycle-kick.
“That’s not normal after four days in the club – adapting that well to the style of play,” said Klopp. “We wanted to help him a little bit with the position so that it’s not too complicated, gave him a lot of freedom, offensively playing natural, plus offering runs in behind, which is what he did, especially around the Sturridge goal.
“It was better than I would have expected, to be honest. I think today it was a game where it was quite easy to come in for pretty much all of them because we played over 90 minutes of really good football on a very difficult pitch for both teams. We still played simple and quick, kept them moving. After the Dortmund game [a 3-1 defeat last Sunday], I didn’t feel really good but I knew I don’t have to make it bigger than it is.
“It’s a pre-season game so if you make mistakes you should lose – if you learn from it that’s okay. Today we don’t make it bigger of course.
“For Shaq, in the moment he signed he wanted to stay immediately at Liverpool and train with us. I think it was a week after he finished the World Cup, so I said: ‘No, no, no. Go!’ He came back a few days ago and he was really excited. For him it was a very good moment in his career, having already had a real experience at Bayern, at Stoke, at Inter.
“Those were important moments in his career and now we have him and he can now play together with a few really nice football players.”
Liverpool’s next game is a friendly against Napoli at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.