Jurgen Klopp insists Xherdan Shaqiri will be ready to make an impact when he gets his first taste of the Merseyside derby on Sunday.
The Swiss international is in contention to return to the starting lineup having been limited to a place on the bench during Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Shaqiri has rather swiftly defied doubts over his starting potential at Anfield to assert himself as a valuable source of creativity behind Liverpool’s front three.
His sparkling impression is expected to see Klopp revert to a 4-2-3-1 system against Everton as a means of reintroducing the summer signing.
Discussing the former Stoke City man’s bright start, Klopp told the Echo: “That’s something you do always, when the new boys are in they are so much better than all the others.”
“I don’t get the word ‘relish’ actually, but yes I think he will enjoy it a lot and he will be ready for it as well. We have to see how we play and which line up we will choose.”
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Shaqiri has supplied two goals and two assists for the Reds so far this season to market himself as something of a makeshift solution to the team’s central playmaker void.
His influence between the lines has been key in affording his frontmen the freedom to remain high up the pitch, particularly a Roberto Firmino still in search of some form.
Far too often has the Brazilian been required to drop deep in search of the ball due to the absence of a no.10 figure.
Whilst Firmino’s use as a creator has evidently been by design on Klopp’s part, Liverpool would perhaps benefit more from deploying him with the same responsibilities that saw him shine last season.