'He's very important for us' - Klopp welcomes Shaqiri back to fitness

Xherdan Shaqiri has been told he has a future at Liverpool – and can expect to play a key role over the coming weeks.

With Liverpool embarking on a hectic run of fixtures over the next two months – starting with the Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday – Jurgen Klopp has said Shaqiri will be given opportunities in the coming weeks.

“He has been really long injured, I think five weeks, so to get the match fitness again that takes time,” said the Reds boss.

“He trained this week and we gave him some different things to do but that's it, apart from that he should be completely fine.

“There is no reason to rush it but it's nice to have him back. We saw a lot of really nice things in training this week but it is intense for him and he needs to get used to the intensity again and everything will be fine.”

Klopp added: “Yes, he offers an option in attack, but he needs to be fit for that.

"That is all we are concerned about at the moment. He was out long and he trained and was really good in moments and in other moments it was different to the rehab stuff he did before.

“All good, the most intense period is coming so he will be ready for that hopefully if nothing happens again and you will see him on the pitch, 100%.”

“Why should I talk about something which is absolutely not interesting for us,” said the Liverpool manager.

“He was five weeks injured and that is a period when he is not seen as a player. Before that we spoke about him not having as many games as he wanted to but that was pretty much all.

“When I am with him he is completely happy and fine here and speculation is speculation, it is nothing we can change. I have no idea what I could say about that.

“Of course he has a future but we speak about the future always until the season ends and then maybe a player is coming to me or not but no-one thinks about that. This season he is a very important player for us.”