Xherdan Shaqiri hoping for more first-team action after Merseyside derby goal

Xherdan Shaqiri is looking forward to playing a significant part in Liverpool’s season having spent most of 2019 watching from the sidelines.

The Switzerland international made his first Premier League start since January – and his first start in any match since the 4-0 Champions League semi-final second leg comeback against Barcelona in May – in the 5-2 Merseyside derby victory on Wednesday.

Shaqiri fell out of favour with Jurgen Klopp in the second half of last season, making just 10 appearances from the turn of the year, and a calf injury in the first few months of this campaign restricted him to just 25 minutes of action.

However, with the manager looking to rest key players, Shaqiri was one of five changes against Everton and he responded with a goal.

“I think for everyone it’s good to come back, for me especially when I’ve been injured for a few weeks,” he said.

“I’ve been injured (but) thank God I don’t have knee problems or something. I had some muscle problems so I just needed a few weeks to recover well.

“I worked very hard in training and when I was injured with the physios and the fitness coaches to come back.

“Everybody knows that it’s a busy period now with a lot of games coming up, (so) I’m very happy to be back. I’m feeling fresh, feeling good, and I think you saw that.

“I’m ready, I think the coach saw that too in training. I trained very well and he gave me the chance and I think I played very well.

“At the end of the day it’s important to win games with my team, we won it as a team, and obviously when I can contribute it’s always good. Let’s hope for more games.”