Xherdan Shaqiri substitution explained

Jurgen Klopp has explained why he took off Xherdan Shaqiri at half-time, despite the Swiss international putting in a terrific performance in the opening 45 minutes.

Those sitting inside Anfield came to the conclusion that Shaqiri must have been injured, but that was not the case.

“He is not injured but I wanted to control the game and go back to our normal formation and that helped,” said Klopp, as quoted by The Liverpool Echo.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Xherdan Shaqiri of Liverpool celebrates with teammte Sadio Mane after he provides the assist for Liverpool’s first goal, an own goal by Wesley Hoedt of Southampton during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Southampton FC at Anfield on September 22, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

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“It wasn’t easy (to substitute him). It’s my job sometimes to deliver news they don’t want to hear. But he’s a fantastic boy and I explained the substitution to him.

“I said to Shaq at half time that I’d never taken a player off at half time after such an influential half. Usually I don’t explain substitutions at half-time but today that made a bit of sense.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com