Liverpool players to have left Anfield in recent times have often struggled. For a while, Xherdan Shaqiri looked to be just another victim of this curse, but his latest move has rejuvenated his club career.
Understandably, Shaqiri never managed to dislodge a front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino while at Liverpool. But he provided Jurgen Klopp with something truly different, and is remembered fondly for a surprising number of important contributions.
When he left for Lyon in 2021, he seemed destined to become the main man, a role he occupied for the Swiss national team for well over a decade. I’ve said it for a long time, but someone who only ever watched international tournaments would assume Shaqiri was right up there with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, the move to Ligue 1 did not work out at all. Shaqiri made just 11 league appearances, scoring twice, and appeared destined to fade into obscurity.
But he called time on that spell promptly, moving to Chicago Fire in MLS. He had his moments there, but ultimately ended his contract early by mutual agreement.
That takes us to last summer, when Shaqiri agreed an emotional return to FC Basel, the club where he began his youth career way back in 2001. Most were no doubt expecting a low-key swansong, but the former Liverpool star has conjured up some of the form of his life back in Switzerland.
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It’s a long way from the Champions League stage where Shaqiri registered an assist in the immortal Liverpool comeback against Barcelona. But the Swiss top flight undoubtedly presents its own challenges, and the maverick playmaker is on course to potentially drive Basel to its first title since 2017.
That could even book a ticket back to the Champions League for Shaqiri and Basel. Last season’s Swiss champions Young Boys made it to the league phase via a playoff round, albeit finishing dead last with zero points.
Basel currently sits second in the Swiss Super League, two points behind leader Servette. In line with the Scottish model, the league will shortly split into Championship and Relegation groups, presenting Shaqiri’s side with another chance to take on Servette and overcome the points deficit directly.
Basel’s hopes of doing so pretty much rest on Shaqiri, who has become a central figure. He has 20 goal involvements in just 22 league appearances, made up of nine goals and 11 assists.
Three of those goals came in a hattrick against none other than Servette last November, in a 3-1 win. Just how important that might be at the end of the campaign remains to be seen.
Basel will also have the chande to go for the Swiss Cup, having advanced to the semi-finals in that competition. Shaqiri has two goals and an assist in three appearances.
However the season concludes, it’s delightful to see Shaqiri thriving once more — especially since he called time on his sparkling international career last summer. A last hurrah with Basel is fairytale stuff, and the Swiss side can count on the support of plenty of Liverpool fans for the remainder of the campaign.
