Xherdan Shaqiri could be forgiven for being surprised at still being a Liverpool player when the transfer window closed last Monday.
The Reds have never been shy about their willingness to let the Switzerland international move on this summer, while he was withdrawn from their squad to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup earlier this month as a result of interest in his services.
But with Liverpool demanding a minimum £20million to sell, no bid was forthcoming and the playmaker finds himself still a Reds player.
Today, celebrating his 29th birthday, his future appears clearer than ever and despite that stance, as one of the more versatile Liverpool players, could still have a big part to play for the Reds in the months ahead.
In truth, Shaqiri ’s Anfield career has been one of the most intriguing of any of the current players on the books of Jurgen Klopp ’s side.
Signed for a bargain £13.5m from Stoke City as Liverpool took advantage of his release clause following the Potters’ relegation from the Premier League, he wasted no time in making an impact with a stunning overhead kick against Manchester United on his uncompetitive debut.
And an impressive start to the season cemented his popularity among fans further as he claimed six goals and three assists, including a match-winning brace against the Red Devils, from his first 19 appearances during the first half of his maiden year with the club.
However, opportunities dried up for Shaqiri during the second half of the 2018/19 season as he was limited to just 11 outings, with Divock Origi’s emergence as the go-to man from the bench often leaving him unused with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino untouchable in attack.
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Yet he still contributed big moments despite his dwindling game-time, popping up with vital assists against Newcastle United and Barcelona as the Reds narrowly missed out on the Premier League title before famously winning the Champions League.
Looking to go again in 2019/20, an injury suffered with Switzerland at the Nations League finals derailed his campaign before it even began and ensured he stood no chance of convincing Klopp to reorganise his pecking order.
Limited to just 293 minutes of action across 11 appearances, he started three times and scored just once as Liverpool marched to the Premier League title in his absence.
Returning with a stunning free-kick against Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup last month, his performance marked only his second outing for the club since January, while from his 42 appearances for the club, only 23 have come since January 2019.
It is also his only matchday squad appearance so far this season, with Klopp seemingly hinting his future at the club was uncertain when praising Shaqiri for his performance against Lincoln.
"He [Shaqiri] had a super game," the German said. "A super game in a not quite unfamiliar position but slightly deeper in midfield - he did really, really well.
“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.”
While it is still possible for the playmaker to move to a Championship side, while the transfer windows remain open in Russia and Portugal until October 17 and October 25 respectively, the expectation is that Shaqiri will remain at Anfield until January at least.
And that quality is why he still has a role to play for the club in contrast to Marko Grujic, who was loaned out to Porto, and Harry Wilson, who looks likely to leave on loan after being left out of Liverpool's Champions League squad.
Hoping his injuries are now behind him, he’ll be keen to force his way back into Klopp’s thinking with EURO 2020 on the horizon next summer.
He could take those first steps for Switzerland in the Nations League against Spain on Saturday night before they face Germany on Tuesday, though is still waiting to be cleared after a positive Coronavirus test was later followed by a second negative result when reporting for international duty.
Following the arrivals of Takumi Minamino and Diogo Jota at Liverpool, Shaqiri knows competition for places in Klopp’s squad is stronger than ever.
But with a congested fixture list in a truncated campaign, opportunities will follow and his place alongside the aforementioned duo certainly makes for a deadly-looking reserve front three.
At 29 he is at his peak and in the same age group as Salah, Mane and Firmino, but, unlike the trio, facing a crossroads in his career and needs to choose his next move wisely.
Like Adam Lallana this summer, he can either move on in search of regular starting football when the opportunity arises or accept his place as a squad player as the Reds look to clinch silverware for a third-successive season.
A popular player amongst fans, they’ll certainly hope to see more of him this season even if he proves to be inside the final months of his Liverpool career.
Afterall, as Klopp has said, Shaqiri’s quality has never been in doubt.
