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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor Dunn

Jurgen Klopp admits Xherdan Shaqiri substitution mistake as Liverpool boss dismisses doubts about attacker

Jurgen Klopp has admitted he made a mistake in substituting Xherdan Shaqiri during Liverpool's ruthless 7-2 domination of Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup.

The Switzerland international opened the scoring for the Reds after whipping a cracking free-kick home into the top left-hand corner.

He put in an excellent performance on the night too in a slightly deeper-lying position in midfield, linking the play excellently and taking a number of superb set-pieces.

In the 75th minute, Klopp decided to bring Naby Keita into the game in place of Shaqiri - believing that the powerful midfielder may have had an injury after twisting his ankle and bending down to touch it on two occasions following.

Listen to our Lincoln City 2 Liverpool 7 Post-Game podcast HERE

However, when he came off Shaqiri explained that there was nothing wrong but the manager believes it may have been a good time to introduce Keita to the game anyway with the Reds having pressed to score their seventh after the switch.

"He [Shaqiri] had a super game," Klopp said.

"A super game in a not quite unfamiliar position but slightly deeper in midfield - he did really, really well.

"It was my fault [he was substituted] - I was afraid he twisted his ankle slightly but he was completely fine it was absolutely nothing - he just touched it twice but I think it was good then to take him off.

"But he played a really, really good game. The set pieces were outstanding - especially the free-kick he scored, what a goal that was!

"There is no doubt about Shaqi's quality - there was never.

"At the moment everything looks really good and looks really promising, so we will see."

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