Why Xherdan Shaqiri must be a regular starter

Xherdan Shaqiri was left out of the Liverpool squad for their Champion’s League match against Red Star Belgrade but this can’t continue.

The omission was mainly for political reasons, but the Reds really missed Shaqiri and his creativity behind the front three. Adam Lallana started in his place, and to be honest, he just was not the answer. Lallana is not the man of old, and much as most Liverpool fans once loved him and his style, it is time for another plan.

Nearly every game Shaqiri has played in, he has made a tremendous impact. The Swiss winger has been playing as the number ten and has been able to link up play in the final third while also bagging a goal in the process.

Jurgen Klopp’s team have been lacking offensive creativity mostly all season, and are in dire needs of an intense facilitator in the middle. We missed out on Nabil Fekiri in the summertime, and got Alpine Messi instead at a bargain of $13 million.

It is time that Klopp and Liverpool start making their investment worthwhile, and play Shaqiri as a regular starter from here on out. The midfield of James Milner, Gini Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson or Lallana is just not cutting it.

While they were the midfield that led us to the Champion’s League final last  year, many forget that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also had a huge say in that. He played in the same sort of role and was not afraid to drive the ball through the midfield and have a go.

Right now, the midfield is so stagnant. They are great on the defensive side of the ball and in terms of winning the ball back, but how many times have they really gave the front three a great service in or started a run at goal? The answer is very few.

All of the great teams have a great number ten that can slot the ball in anywhere and is also a threat on the ball. However, now that the offense is sputtering somewhat, we need that creative figure to come in and give the squad a boost.

Shaqiri will provide the team with that curiosity and bravery in the middle we need, and could help the offense get their mojo back. I mean really, imagine Naby Keita and Fabinho as the two ‘no 6s’, with Shaqiri in front of them at the ten behind the front three. Beautiful that.