Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Xherdan Shaqiri will not be part of clubs 21-man squad that will travel to face Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Shaqiri was born in Kosovo, a state whose independence is not recognized by the Serbian government, and he made a point by celebrating his heritage during the World Cup, wearing the Kosovan flag on his boot while playing for Switzerland.
Liverpool are keen to avoid any distractions for the match and are wary of the hostile reception Shaqiri would receive if he plays, so have left him out of the squad, though Naby Keita and Dejan Lovren have returned.
Klopp told Liverpool’s website: “It’s a situation where we will go to the fantastic city of Belgrade as a football team to play football.
“We have heard and read the speculation and talk about what kind of reception Shaq would receive and although we have no idea what would happen, we want to go there and be focused 100 per cent on football and not have to think about anything else, that’s all.
“We are Liverpool FC, a big club, a football team but we don’t have any message further than that. We have no political message, absolutely not. We want the focus to be on a great game of football, free from anything else.
“We are keen to be respectful and keen to avoid any distractions that would take the focus away from a 90-minute-plus contest that is important for football and only football.
‘So for that reason, Shaq is not involved and he accepts and understands this. Shaq is our player, we love him, and he will play for us a lot of times, but not on Tuesday.
“I have heard so many wonderful things about the city of Belgrade, and the country of Serbia as a whole, from friends and colleagues who’ve visited before, so now I’m really looking forward to taking Liverpool there for a great game of Champions League football.”
Klopp has also confirmed that Lovren and Keita are fit and available again, though Nathaniel Clyne is ill and Jordan Henderson will remain at Melwood as he gets back to full match fitness.
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