Former Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri has looked back on his impressive career, calling the Champions League win over Barcelona the “best comeback ever.”
The Swiss was a popular figure during his three-year stay with the Reds between 2018 and 2021, becoming a European and Premier League champion.
Shaqiri may not have always nailed down a starting berth, but he was in Liverpool’s starting XI for the 4-0 win over Barcelona in the semi-final second leg in 2019.
Speaking to The Athletic, he looked back at that incredible night at Anfield, when he assisted Gini Wijnaldum‘s second goal of the evening.
“It was probably the best comeback ever: I know Liverpool had one in the final in Istanbul, but this one…this one was incredible,” Shaqiri said.
“To play against Barcelona with Messi and Suarez. Everybody thought that we were going out.
“We just believed. We believed in training, we believed before the game.
“The first thing was to make a good performance, and then step-by-step [we got back into it], and then it’s 2-0 and everybody believes.
“You have to believe in the end, and then you can achieve these kinds of things. If you never give up, nothing is impossible.
“The best thing also was after the game, singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ – it was a special, emotional moment.”
Shaqiri also said that he felt at home as a Liverpool player immediately, scoring an stunning overhead kick against Man United in pre-season in 2018.
“For me, to make the change to Liverpool and straight away in America, in my first game, to score this kind of goal…it was perfect,” he added.
“I think you know and you can see that in this moment that from the first day I was feeling at home, and that the fans liked me a lot.”
A squad player that Liverpool would love currently
As mentioned, Shaqiri was rarely a regular at Liverpool, due to the brilliance of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, but he still provided great quality from the bench.
The Switzerland legend bagged 17 goal contributions in 63 appearances – eight goals and nine assists – only 25 of which were starts, and he scored twice in a 3-1 win over United in 2018/19.
Liverpool have lacked depth in attacking wide areas throughout this season, and having a player of Shaqiri’s ilk to call upon would be ideal for Arne Slot.
He will always be appreciated by Reds supporters for his impact during those triumphant European and league runs, and 125 caps for his country further outlines his pedigree.