I'll never forget what we achieved at Liverpool

I'll never forget what we achieved at Liverpool - but I was disappointed by Jurgen Klopp decision

Xherdan Shaqiri has opened up on his move to Liverpool and trophy-laden three years with the Reds

Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland replacement bench prior the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between England and Switzerland at Düsseldorf Arena (Image: 2024 Stefan Matzke - sampics )

As Liverpool look to clinch their second Premier League title in five years, one of their former champions is closing in on the eighth domestic league title of his career. Xherdan Shaqiri has been in remarkable form since rejoining Basel last summer.

The 33-year-old, who was handed the Basel captaincy back in January, scored and registered a hat-trick of assists for his side as they thrashed Yverdon Sport 5-0 on Monday. The victory preserved his team’s six-point lead at the top of the table with just five games left to play.

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Shaqiri now has 16 goals and 18 assists from just 32 appearances in all competitions this season, while he has recorded 14 goals and 17 assists from 29 outings in the Swiss Super League.

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Only Mohamed Salah (18 Premier League assists, 45 goal contributions) has set up more goals in Europe top 15 leagues this season, while the Swiss playmaker stands fifth in the for overall goals contributions on the continent (30) with Viktor Gyokeres (41), Harry Kane (33) and Omar Marmoush (33) also ahead of him.

Should Basel be crowned champions this season, for the first time since 2017, it will mark Shaqiri’s fourth Swiss Super League title. The former Switzerland international previously won the league with the club in 2010, 2011 and 2012 before leaving for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2012.

He would also go on to win three Bundesliga titles with the Bavarians, before lifting his most recent title with Liverpool in 2020.

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Spending three seasons with the Reds, Shaqiri made 63 appearances for Liverpool - returning eight goals and nine assists - while he also won the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup during his time at Anfield.

The 33-year-old still cherishes his ‘special’ time at Liverpool and has opened up on how much joining the Reds - from Stoke City in 2018 - and winning the Premier League meant to him.

“It was a big opportunity,” he said. “I wanted to play at the highest level. When we got relegated at Stoke, I had a clause in my contract that meant I could go for the same price I came for, so I went to Liverpool for a low price.

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“Going to the Premier League was always a big dream. Going to Liverpool meant a lot. Everyone knows how big they are. They’ve always been one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the fans are amazing. We won a lot of things there with Jurgen Klopp.

"It was fantastic to finally win the Premier League after such a long time. People will always recognise you for that – that’s what makes the club so special.

“We had a very good team, with Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah. Finishing ahead of Manchester City was a big challenge for us, as they were very good and always on top.

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"But it was a big blow that we couldn’t celebrate with the fans because of COVID. After waiting 30 years, you can imagine how they were feeling to have won the title again.

"It was a special three years. I’ll never forget what we achieved as a team, and I grew as a player and as a person. I am always in touch with the club. Jurgen Klopp was a very good motivator and coach.”

Shaqiri’s highlights at Liverpool included scoring in victories over Manchester United and Everton, and setting up the Reds’ equaliser on aggregate in their famous 4-0 thrashing of Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals.

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The Swiss remains popular with supporters courtesy of such moments, with the 33-year-old in awe of the Liverpool fanbase and their passion.

However, despite his successes, he admits he is still disappointed at being left as an unused substitute in the 2019 Champions League final when Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in Madrid.

“It felt amazing to score in a derby like that (against Manchester United),” Shaqiri told FourFourTwo . “Scoring against Everton was also special. If you score in those games, the people love you and you’re a legend already!

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“I loved scoring in front of the Kop. Liverpool’s fans are a big family and they support the club like crazy. I loved how passionate they were and how strong the team was in front of the fans.

“(Barcelona) was one of the best nights ever for the club. It’s one of the greatest comebacks in football history. It was amazing to be involved in that – how we turned it around against one of the best teams in the world.

"A game like that might not happen again, so it lasts forever. People were so emotional afterwards; they were crying. The fans believed in us for every second of that game. That’s why we were successful: because everybody believed. And we did it.

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"I was disappointed not to play in the final, but we won the Champions League and everybody was happy. We couldn’t have won it without that semi-final.

“The whole team, the whole club, wins the Champions League – not just 11 players. I’m very proud to have been part of it.

“And after we had won the Champions League, it was crazy – there were more than half a million people on the streets of Liverpool. Incredible.”

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