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Xherdan Shaqiri: What Jurgen Klopp said to me before first Liverpool goal
XHERDAN SHAQIRI has revealed how Jurgen Klopp inspired him to his first Liverpool goal - by telling him to enjoy his game.
Jurgen Klopp admits it is 'difficult' to leave players on the bench
The summer signing from Stoke opened his Reds account in the 4-1 over Cardiff at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front after ten minutes and Sadio Mane made it 2-0 in the 66th minute.
Callum Paterson pulled one back for the visitors on 77 minutes before Shaqiri made it 3-1 with a classy finish in the 84th minute and Mane sealed the victory with his second goal of the game late on.
And Shaqiri said his boss inspired him with his words before sending him on from the bench in place of Adam Lallana on the hour mark.
"I was very pleased to score, I was waiting a few games for this,” he said.
“I am proud to score my first goal here in front of the fans and hope I can keep doing this.
"The manager told me to go and enjoy the game, to help the team, to play my game.
"I try to do my best all the time, so today was good for me.
"We are a top team, to be successful we have to win these games.
“They are tough, not always nice to play.
"It is the beginning of the season, so we have to keep going like this, if we do we are going to have a successful year."
Shaqiri appears to be striking up an excellent partnership with team-mate Salah.
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The Egyptian got the assist for Shaqiri’s strike against Cardiff, while his team-mate did likewise in recent victories over Huddersfield and Red Star Belgrade.
Mane is also enjoying a rich vein of form, with three goals in his last two games.
And the Senegal star said he was happy to help his side, who are now top of the Premier League, to another victory.
“(I’m) Happy for the result and the performance of the team,” he said.
“(It was) A little tight in the second half but at the end we controlled the game, tried to push on and scored twice to make it easier.
"A team like this are never easy to play, sometimes you have to be patient, try not to lose the ball. At the end we scored four goals and deserved to win.”