Liverpool fans have been pleading for Xherdan Shaqiri to not be used as a left-back in the future.
This comes after Liverpool journalist Sam McGuire shared a post on his official page that included an article on the Liverpool Echo’s website on Shaqiri’s suitability to play in the full-back position for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
This post then gathered a number of replies from Liverpool fans who were shocked by this possibility.
Here’s a sample of Liverpool fans not wanting Shaqiri to play as a left-back:
One fan even compared him to Stewart Downing who certainly didn’t enjoy his time as a left-back at Anfield.
Stewart Downing 2.0
— Vedant J (@vedantj18) November 20, 2019
Another fan stated that playing Shaqiri at left-back would be the equivalent of signing former Anfield man Alberto Moreno, who grew unhappy at Anfield after struggling to prove himself.
This would be the equivalent of resigning Alberto Moreno
— Matt Kirk-Ellis (@mattkirkellis) November 20, 2019
I’m not clicking and will assume it was just a typo. Have a nice day
— Taintless Red (@TaintlessRed) November 19, 2019
Have you been drinking sir?
— Dinesh Kumar (@DHardayal) November 19, 2019
Been on the ale Sam?
— James Creighton (@ThatFishCreigh) November 20, 2019
The winger has been out with a calf injury since September and has since missed eight games for his team (per Transfermarkt). But, he now appears to have returned to training.
Sadly, Shaqiri’s potential position change in the team has not gone down too well with some Liverpool fans who were quick to identify the winger’s weaknesses defensively.
A player who doesn’t like to defend or track back. I’ll leave it at that.
— Oliver (@OlioT20) November 20, 2019
He couldn’t tackle a cooked dinner. Leave it there
— Philip hares (@Toshack_10) November 20, 2019
Left back he barely runs as it is!
— Iain (@arrows100) November 19, 2019
What do we think?
If Klopp were to implement Shaqiri as a left-back, this would not be the first time a winger has been used in the full-back position. Some examples of this are Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia at Manchester United, as well as Jesus Navas at Manchester City. But Shaqiri’s defensive weaknesses as a winger haven’t filled many Liverpool fans with any confidence, so Klopp runs the risk of upsetting the fans if he opts to deploy him in an unfamiliar position.