Xherdan Shaqiri to leave Liverpool after three years of service at Anfield
The 29-year-old Xherdan Shaqiri will finally leave Liverpool and head off to Lyon in France, ending his mixed, yet successful three-year spell on Merseyside.
Shaqiri joined the Reds in 2018 from Stoke City, following their relegation and his desire to play in Europe. Over the next three seasons, the Swiss International would go on to make 63 appearances, scoring as little as 8 goals, as he struggled for game time, yet created some memorable moments for Liverpudlians.
Xherdan Shaqiri is set to join OL from Liverpool, confirmed after agreement reached also between clubs. Personal terms already agreed since weeks on a three-years contract. đź”´ #LFC #OL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 22, 2021
Fee will be around €12m as per @IanDoyleSport - after Liverpool turned down €6m opening bid. https://t.co/hJaf66liYq
The Winger bagged his first goal against Cardiff City in late 2018 and followed it up with his best stretch at Liverpool, and the two games he will be remembered for most.
In December of 2018, one of the Reds’ big rivals Manchester United came to Anfield. With the scores 1-1, Shaqiri entered the playing field, going on to score twice and give Liverpool their first league victory over their Manchester counterparts since 2014.
In early 2019, Liverpool came up against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. The Reds would lose 3-0 in the Nou Camp, needing to overturn this huge deficit in the second leg. Shaqiri would start that leg at Anfield and put in a superb performance.
Divock Origi scored in the first half and Georgini Wijnaldum was brought on at 45 minutes, the player who Shaqiri would set up two goals for as Liverpool overturned the 3-0 deficit in one of the most memorable European nights on Merseyside in history.
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The Reds would go on to win the Champions League and get Shaqiri his second UCL Medal. The following season they would win the Premier League, so despite his lack of time on the field, his spell was very successful.
Shaqiri has had a mixed time of it at the top end of the Premier League, struggling for game time and being quite low on the pecking order throughout his time in Liverpool.
As an impact player, for which Shaqiri will be most remembered, he was exceptional and, on his day, he could light up teams.
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The Swiss winger will move to Lyon for around ÂŁ10 million, on a three-year deal and his deal is subject to a medical.