Liverpool have on Monday officially announced that Xherdan Shaqiri will not be part of the squad to face Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday evening.
‘We want to go there and be focused 100 per cent on football’
Speaking to Liverpool’s official website about Shaqiri’s omission from the squad, Jurgen Klopp stated:
“It’s a situation where we will go to the fantastic city of Belgrade as a football team to play football.
“We have heard and read the speculation and talk about what kind of reception Shaq would receive. And although we have no idea what would happen, we want to go there and be focused 100 per cent on football and not have to think about anything else, that’s all.
“We are Liverpool FC, a big club, a football team but we don’t have any message further than that. We have no political message, absolutely not. We want the focus to be on a great game of football, free from anything else.
“We are keen to be respectful and keen to avoid any distractions that would take focus away from a 90-minute-plus contest. That is important for football and only football.
“So for that reason, Shaq is not involved and he accepts and understands this. Shaq is our player, we love him, and he will play for us a lot of times, but not on Tuesday.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool looks on prior to the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on September 18, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Liverpool vs Red Star
Liverpool head into Tuesday’s game with Red Star top of their Champions League group.
The Reds would win their first UCL game of the season 3-2 vs French giants, PSG.
However, Liverpool would then lose 1-0 to Napoli.
Liverpool’s last Champions League clash was at home to Red Star and saw Klopp’s men come away with a comfortable 4-0 win.
Given Liverpool’s remaining two UCL games will be both tough tests vs PSG and Napoli, a win on Tuesday is vital for the Reds.
Red Star are currently bottom of Group C having drawn one and lost two so far.
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