SHAQ’S GOT EXTRA EDGE

‘We must have mentality to win titles’

XHERDAN SHAQIRI has sounded a Kop battle-cry, claiming “nothing is impossible” for Liverpool this season.

And the Swiss playmaker – grabbed for a bargain £13million from relegated Stoke – reckons the world is Liverpool’s oyster, in terms of winning titles, with a squad built to succeed.

Shaqiri was a surprise summer signing, with Jurgen Klopp splashing the cash to try and close the gap on Manchester City.

And, along with RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, versatile Monaco star Fabinho and Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson, Shaqiri (right) is aiming to give Liverpool an extra dimension.

And, from what he’s seen in a nearperfect pre-season for Klopp’s stars, Liverpool have more weapons than ever to mount a genuine title bid.

“For me, nothing is impossible.

We can be everything we want to be,” said Shaqiri, who has already become a huge hit with Liverpool supporters.

The 26-year-old forward instantly won over fans, scoring a spectacular overhead kick in the 4-1 defeat of Manchester United on his debut in America last month.

And he is predicting bigger achievements ahead.

“We beat Manchester City in the Premier League and the Champions League last season, so I think we can win everything.

“It has to be our ambition to compete with the best and to go on the field against whoever we play trying to win and dominate the game.

“Our aim is to win as many titles as possible. That is the goal of the club now and we are looking forward to the season.”

Shaqiri knows what it takes to be a winner after collecting two Bundesliga titles and the Champions League during three seasons at Bayern Munich.

Before that, he won three Swiss league titles with Basel – and he wants to feel the same euphoria at Anfield. “At Bayern Munich and Basel, there was a winning mentality and I have come here to try to win titles,” he added.

“I think this club needs to have the ambition to win titles, to play for titles, to be one of the best teams in the world.

“So we try to do that on the pitch now. I think they had a very good season last time, but didn’t win a title.

“Now, it is important to again be very good and to try to go a step further.”

Shaqiri is already hugely impressed with Klopp and can feel his determination to smash that title jinx.

“I think, when Jurgen Klopp arrived here, the club was totally different to what it is now,” he said.

“He has done a very good job and you can see that the people have a lot of respect for him and his work.

“The progress of this club and this team is getting higher every year. Liverpool is one of the best teams in the world – everybody can see that.

“But now we have to do it on the pitch. Everybody is very focused on that and, with the transfers the manager has done, you can see that he wants to go forward and to make more progress.

“He wants to compete with the best teams in the world and he is going in the right way.

“I think that, with the players who have come in, we now have the quality, a very good team, a talented team who can play to win titles. It has to be our goal to try to be the best in the league.

“We have a big team and a lot of players with quality, so I think the coach can rotate every time and still have quality on the pitch.

“I hope we are going to kick on this Sunday with the first win against West Ham and try to give the fans what they deserve – titles.

“That’s why our goal is to try and win every game.”