---
title: "Why Shaqiri has fully justified his price tag at Liverpool"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/why-shaqiri-has-fully-justified-his-price-tag-at-liverpool/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Articles"
published: "2020-03-25T09:30:00Z"
modified: "2020-03-25T09:30:00Z"
---

# Why Shaqiri has fully justified his price tag at Liverpool

Xherdan Shaqiri’s stay at Liverpool is likely reaching its conclusion, but while it may feel as though he has been a failure at Anfield, that isn’t the case.

Given his status as an experienced international footballer with two Bundesliga titles to his name, you could be forgiven for thinking the Swiss star cost the Reds a small fortune.

He was still only 26 in the summer of 2018 when Liverpool [snapped him up](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44818207) from Stoke City, following an influential spell with the Premier League strugglers.

Shaqiri cost just £13.75 million, however, with the Reds triggering his release clause to add him to the Jurgen Klopp revolution.

To put that into context, the 28-year-old cost less than Liverpool [sold](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jul/14/bournemouth-sign-liverpool-winger-jordon-ibe-club-record) Jordon Ibe (£15m) to Bournemouth for two years earlier.

In the two seasons since arriving, it’s fair to say that Shaqiri has been one of the more forgettable figures at Anfield, during a glorious period in the club’s history.

While the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have hogged the headlines, the former Bayern Munich man has played a supporting role, often from the [treatment table](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/xherdan-shaqiri/verletzungen/spieler/86792).

When you’ve only paid £13.75 million for a player, though – a bargain in this day and age, particularly for such a seasoned professional still in his prime – not too much is required to be deemed a success.

Shaqiri made a very promising start to life at Liverpool, thriving in a [4-2-3-1 formation](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/match-analysis/liverpool-arsenal-premier-league-jurgen-klopp-tactical-analysis-statistics). Occupying a right-sided role, with Salah leading the line and Roberto Firmino dropping deep, he was a key man before Christmas in 2018/19.

Well-taken goals against Cardiff City, Fulham and Burnley all caught the eye, but it was his performance against Manchester United in December that really stood out.

Brought on with the score level at 1-1, Shaqiri lit up Anfield, scoring twice to secure a vital win against Liverpool’s most bitter adversaries.

Another goal against Newcastle United later in the campaign took his goal tally to six, not to mention his inch-perfect assist in the unforgettable 4-0 win over Barcelona as he crossed for Gini Wijnaldum to head home.

This season has admittedly been more forgettable, with injuries limiting Shaqiri to [just two starts in the Premier League](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/76304/Show/Xherdan-Shaqiri). There was still a star showing at home to Everton in the Merseyside derby, though, including a ruthless finish and some lovely pieces of skill.

It is his [only goal contribution](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/76304/Show/Xherdan-Shaqiri) of the campaign, but if you keep going back to his price tag, and a good first season, it is no great issue.

Shaqiri is fully expected to [move on](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-set-xherdan-shaqiri-transfer-21326482) this summer and there is every chance that he won’t be remembered too often, becoming just a footnote in the Klopp era.

For the money paid for him, and some of the key moments he went on to produce, however, he has been a steal.