Xherdan Shaqiri is eyeing a frontline role at Liverpool after his ‘instinct’ return.
Shaqiri started his first game since the Reds’ Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona during Wednesday’s Merseyside derby hammering of Everton.
The Swiss international produced a sparkling performance which was capped off with an early first-half goal as he pounced onto a through-ball from Sadio Mane.
Despite spending large parts of this season on the sidelines with a calf injury, he displayed little signs of ring rust as Jurgen Klopp’s side ran out 5-2 winners.
And Shaqiri has set his sights on forcing as way back into the Premier League leaders’ plans on a regular basis as they enter a testing period of games.
He said: “I’m an instinct footballer so I like to play good football if I feel good. I felt good so I tried some things and it went well.
“I’m ready, I think the coach saw that too in training. I trained very well and today 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!
“I think for everyone it’s good to come back. For me especially when I’ve been injured for a few weeks.
“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 [against Everton].”
Reflecting on his injury spell, the former Bayern Munich forward admits that the time spent away from first-team action was at times difficult to contend.
“I’ve been injured [but] thank God I don’t have knee problems or something,” added Shaqiri.
“I had some muscle problems so I just needed a few weeks to recover well.
“The calf is very dangerous to get a re-injury and I had this so obviously it was not nice but I stayed positive and tried to come back.
“I worked very hard in the gym and with the fitness coaches to come back and be ready when the coach needs me. I’m feeling good.”