Xherdan Shaqiri insists Jurgen Klopp made right call in leaving him back in Liverpool for Red Star trip

Xherdan Shaqiri insists he had no qualms over Jurgen Klopp’s decision to leave him out of Liverpool’s midweek trip to Red Star Belgrade.

But the Switzerland international was determined to make an impact upon his return to the squad this weekend and expressed delight after doing so by getting on the scoresheet against Fulham.

Having stoked tensions between Serbia and his homeland of Kosovo with his celebration of a goal against the former at the World Cup this summer, Shaqiri was expected to receive a hostile reception from supporters in Belgrade.

However, Klopp moved to “cool the situation down” by omitting his No.23 from the travelling party ahead of his side suffering a shock 2-0 defeat in the Champions League group stages.

Reflecting on the manager’s call, Shaqiri said: “He just wanted to concentrate on football because everybody knows what happened.

“There is a very hot atmosphere there and so it was better to stay at home and just concentrate on football.

“When I went there everybody was looking after me and so it was better to stay at home.

“I was fresh, I stayed here and trained with some other players, but it doesn’t change a lot.

“I wanted to give a good performance today [on Sunday] and yeah, it was a good one.”

Shaqiri marked just his fifth start for the Reds since a summer move from Stoke City by netting the second goal of a 2-0 win over Slavisa Jokanovic’s team on Sunday.

But, when asked if he had strengthened his claim for more frequent inclusion in the starting XI, the No.23 preferred to defer to his manager on selection issues.

“I think in the end it is the coach’s decision who is playing and against who,” he added.

“He will change the teams against who we are playing and he chooses the team who he thinks is [in] the right moment and the right team to win games.

“In the end, if he decides to play you from the beginning, nice and good, but also if you are on the bench, try and come in and make an impact it’s also good.

“In the end, only 11 players can play and we have a big squad and a good squad.

“Everybody has to accept the decisions of the coach and until now it’s going very good and we are in a good way.”

The 27-year-old believes he is still adapting to a new style of play and considerably loftier ambitions following his recent switch to Anfield.

He is, however, enjoying his football under strict instructions to do from Klopp.

He continued: “I changed the team and there are different mentalities and different visions, different goals.

“I have to adapt to the team and the most important thing is to enjoy the football here. The coach wants [me to] enjoy the football, also to give my talent on the pitch [which] is of course in the offensive.

“He wants that I enjoy the game but also try to make an impact and create some good chances for the team.

“It’s always better if you’ve got better players around you, if you can be more offensive, if you know that you are for sure going to have more possession than the opponent.

“But also you need to be ready to train hard every day. I’m feeling good, I’m fit, and I’m trying to give my best every time I get [a chance].”