To show he finally belongs in big time

Manchester United but, just like at Bayern, he knew he would be up against some formidable opposition for a place in the starting line-up in the shape of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Injury worries over Naby Keita, Adam Lallana, James Milner and Jordan Henderson mean his early-season patience has been rewarded however and, playing on the right-hand side of midfield, he has been a revelation in Liverpool’s last two games. At Huddersfield on Saturday his precision through-ball set up the winner for Salah and last night he was heavily involved in the two first-half goals that kept Liverpool on track for a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Maybe it was his KosovanAlbanian parentage that gave him some extra motivation against the Serbian champions but whatever it was Shaqiri looked the part and the Anfield crowd warmed to his efforts. It was his beautifully weighted pass that sent Andy Robertson scampering away down the left flank before pulling the ball back for Firmino to score the first. Then he produced a delightfully cushioned lay-off from Georginio Wijnaldum’s pass to set up Salah for the second.

Liverpool had started in lacklustre style but Shaqiri shook them out of it against a Red Star team whose physical approach cost them the third goal when skipper Filip Stojkovic threw an outstretched arm into Mane’s neck to give away a penalty that Salah crashed home.

Shaqiri received a standing ovation from the fans and a bear hug from his manager when Klopp decided to give Lallana a run-out after 68 minutes.

But by then the little man had more than made his mark on another glorious European night at Anfield.