Xherdan Shaqiri again shows his worth as Liverpool’s most undervalued understudy

Shaqiri again showed his quality when called upon as Liverpool beat West Ham on Sunday

Liverpool midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri (PA)

During the 2019 NBA play-offs, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers hit a 37-foot buzzer-beater in Game 5 against Oklahoma City Thunder to seal a 4-1 series win.

It remains one of the most remarkable shots in NBA history, racking up eight-figure views on YouTube and cementing Lillard’s legend as a big player for clutch moments. But just as repeated are the comments of the man guarding Lillard before the now iconic step-back, monster three-pointer.

“That’s a bad, bad shot,” grimaced Paul George hours later. “I don’t care what anybody says. That’s a bad shot.”

George's comments have been ridiculed, memed and torn to shreds ever since. Yet the logic is sound. With the chance to win the game – scores were tied with 15 seconds to go, meaning a closer shot for two was achievable – why take such a risk trying something so outlandish?

It was a thought that came to mind during the build-up to Liverpool’s second goal in their 3-1 win against West Ham. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ping across from right-back to left-wing set his side through with a four-on-three break, each Liverpool player running very distinct lanes leaving the three in claret-and-blue in disarray. The value play was for the man widest to latch on, carry the ball forward and perhaps even allow an extra man to join the party and offer more choice for a match-clinching second. But Xherdan Shaqiri had other ideas.

After sprinting 60 yards in the 68th minute of only his fifth start of the season in all competitions, Shaqiri picked the toughest option: a first-time lofted through-ball into the path of Mohamed Salah. An option that not only takes out both defenders but Lukasz Fabianski as well, such was the precision - and touch from Salah - that the goalkeeper can neither come for the cross nor hold his position.

It was, in a world according to George, a “bad, bad” pass. Opting for the extraordinary when the ordinary would have done just fine. Shaqiri’s coach agreed.

"You say manager knows best,” Jurgen Klopp started in his post-match briefing with Sky Sports. “I thought he passed the ball too early!” But as it was with Lillard, the execution was perfect, and the result spoke volumes of the footballer, his self-belief and the trust instilled in him to try such a thing.

Shaqiri’s Liverpool career to date is hard to quantify outright as a success. Being a squad player for such a team requires a degree of compromise. The Swiss international forward could be a started elsewhere, lauded as a hero to many others, so much more than a bit-part alternate in an outfit that has picked up a Champions League and Premier League title since he joined in the summer of 2018.

Even in a 2020/21 campaign beset with injury, his opportunities have been limited. This was only his third league start, all of them coming in 2021, and the first to end in a win. The assist was only his fifth goal involvement across 12 appearances this campaign. His most notable contribution so far was changing the FA Cup tie against Aston Villa as Liverpool won 4-1, though even that was only against kids. On five occasions he has been part of a matchday squad without seeing game time.

But you don’t take up space in a Klopp squad if you don’t have value. And there’s no better coach to appreciate a player’s uncountables quite like the German.

Shaqiri has assumed a variety of positions because of his technical ability in possession and directness out of it. Such positional dexterity has seen him utilised as part of a front three, on the wing as well as central as a No 8 or 10, the last of which was his primary role here before being shifted wide for the second-half to offer greater scope as a runner.

He is, as most squad players have to be, a popular member of the dressing room. A strong training ground relationship with Salah paid dividends here, but it’s worth noting those familiar with the inner workings at Liverpool say his rapport with Thiago Alcantara is one to keep an eye on. The pair did not spend much on-field time together at Bayern Munich, but their chemistry has transplanted itself to the United Kingdom.

Injuries have predominantly worked against him for minutes and, subsequently, any rhythm. But they haven’t robbed him of purpose. No one created more than his three chances against West Ham, and only Andy Robertson and Georginio Wijnaldum completed more passes in opposition territory than he did on Sunday. Both played the whole match.

The assist for Salah was his last touch before being replaced in the 69th minute for Roberto Firmino. By the time he had reached the dugout, Klopp had already reassessed his view on a pass played too soon.

"Shaq’s last ball was an incredible ball,” beamed Klopp in his press conference. “With Shaq, he played really good and he maybe could have played 90 minutes but that’s the problem in the moment, that you just don’t know. He didn’t play plenty of games and had before that slight injury problems. My mood is constantly concerned about injuries – constantly concerned about injuries – and we try to save everybody"

An early withdrawal might be the biggest compliment anyone could pay Shaqiri. With Liverpool 2-0 up and over 20 minutes to go, three points secured. Klopp decided preserving the 29-year-old ahead of two more league fixtures in the next six days was a justified early call of his own to make.

Shorn of the brilliance of Sadio Mane, ruled out an hour before kick-off with a "minor" muscle injury, and with Firmino on the bench, Shaqiri needed to step up and match the pair's excellence, showcased in Thursday’s 3-1 over Tottenham Hotspur that lifted Liverpool out of a winless and scoreless funk.

That meant having the courage to try things few others would dare and even fewer could pull off. Many others see rare game time as the opportunity to prove they can be trusted by not making mistakes. He does not have the argument of youth on his side, where there is legislation for misjudgements, nor credit in the bank to point to if things go awry. No one would have begrudged him for taking the safe option. That he didn’t deserves a good deal of respect. 

Of course, it was just one moment, however game-clinching. But as Liverpool sit third, four points off Manchester City and with their title defence just getting going with 17 fixtures to come, they and their fans will hope this was one of many “bad, bad” moments to come.