Liverpool have been handed a boost after Xherdan Shaqiri returned a negative test result for coronavirus.
The Swiss attacker had previously been forced into self-isolation after testing positive when linking up for international duty earlier this week, become the third Reds player to recently contract the virus following Thiago Alcantara and Sadio Mane.
However, the Switzerland FA have since confirmed that the 28-year-old has taken a fresh test and now recorded a negative result.
In a statement, they revealed a decision is still to be made regarding whether the playmaker can feature in their Nations League clash with Spain on Saturday but he is travelling as planned.
“On Thursday morning (October 8th, 2020) the Swiss Football Association received the written results of the Covid-19 tests of the A national team, which had also been carried out the day before with all players and staff members,” they confirmed.
"Only Manuel Akanji tested positive. All other results were negative, including that of Xherdan Shaqiri. So there is currently a positive corona test in the A national team.
“Manuel Akanji is in isolation and continues to show no symptoms. Further medical investigations will take place. All other players and staff members of the A national team are flying to Spain this afternoon, where the UEFA Nations League game against the group A leader will take place in Madrid on Saturday.
“After Xherdan Shaqiri's negative Covid-19 test, the UEFA health committee must now decide on eligibility to play on Saturday. Until when this decision will be made is still unclear. Shaqiri is flying to Spain as planned.”
According to a report from Blick, cited by the Mirror, a blood test showed a negative-positive had been recorded for Shaqiri because of ‘fragments of an old infection’.
The Swiss FA said: “In this regard, the SFV received the information that Shaqiri's positive test result is probably due to a previous infection and that he is therefore not infectious.
“This resulted from an additional blood test carried out with reliable detection of antibodies.”
After facing Spain on Saturday, Switzerland take on Germany next Tuesday with Shaqiri then eligible to play for Liverpool against Everton in the Merseyside derby on October 17.
