Xherdan Shaqiri tipped to become the new Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool

Former Liverpool star Neil Mellor says that Xherdan Shaqiri can fill the void left behind by Philippe Coutinho.

Shaqiri made the move to Anfield in the summer from Championship side Stoke City for a reported £13 million and has made a good impression so far this season.

The Swiss forward put in a great shift midweek during Liverpool’s 4-0 thrashing of Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, setting up Mohamed Salah’s first goal and pulling the strings in midfield as his side romped comfortably to victory.

“Shaqiri? What a bargain”

Shaqiri has impressed Mellor this season and the former Liverpool man thinks the 27-year-old Swiss International is a bargain.

“I really like Shaqiri. What a bargain he seems like when you think what Liverpool bought him for in the summer from Stoke,” Mellor said, according to Talk Sport.

“He has that creative ability in the final third to open up defences. Again at the weekend against Huddersfield with his assist for the goal and again in the second half with a lovely little through ball.”

Mellor thinks Shaqiri’s creative talent could make up for the departure of Coutinho, who left for Barcelona in January for £145m, and Adam Lallana’s frequent injury woes.

Mellor added: “Not since Coutinho have Liverpool had that sort of creative player in the midfield three. We know about the front three and they’re going to score plenty of goals.

“But if you’ve got someone with that creative influence just in behind he could well make a big difference.

“Adam Lallana has been that player but unfortunately injuries have limited his game time. So Shaqiri could be a big difference in games where teams are going to set up and say ‘come and break us down’.

“Someone like Shaqiri could be the answer in those tighter games.”

Shaqiri has played five times for Liverpool in the Premier League this season. Despite his stellar performance in the Champions League during midweek, he was started on the bench on Saturday against Cardiff City, though he did replace Lallana and scored his first competitive goal for his new club.

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