Shaqiri's brilliant dig at Gary and Phil Neville will go a long way to winning Liverpool fans over

Gary Neville had a go at "unprofessional" Shaqiri during the World Cup... [Photo: Courtesy]

If Xherdan Shaqiri deals with opponents as well as he dispatches critics, he is set for a fine career with Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp’s signing of the Switzerland playmaker from Stoke for a bargain £13million has been questioned because of his supposedly suspect character.

ITV World Cup pundit Gary Neville branded him “unprofessional”, while his brother Phil, who covered the finals for the BBC, called him a “disgrace”.

...and if he changed channel, you could catch Phil singing from the same hymnbook [Photo: Courtesy]

Shaqiri laughed when those accusations were put to him before, dismissing them as sweetly as a Roger Federer winner.

“They were Manchester United players,” he said. “Maybe they don’t like Liverpool. I don’t know, it could be. Some people like you, some people don’t.”

Shaqiri also refuted former teammate Charlie Adam’s claim that he went missing last season as Stoke were relegated.

He insisted his conscience was clear and pointed to his return of eight Premier League goals and seven assists as proof that he was the Potters’ best player.

“I think everyone knows that,” said Shaqiri. “I think my record speaks for itself. “I was the top scorer in the team with goals and assists.

“I’ve played three years already in the Premier League. I have proved I can play in this league. I can score goals and give assists. I know the league well, I have a lot of experience.

“For me, my conscience is clear and I don’t have to comment any more on this.

Shaqiri has joined Klopp [Photo: Courtesy]

Shaqiri cut short his post-Russia 2018 holiday to begin pre-season training this week.

Despite arriving bleary-eyed in New Jersey in the early hours of Wednesday after the team flight was delayed nearly eight hours, he thinks he will be ready to face Manchester United in front of 100,000 fans in Michigan on Saturday.

He is clearly thrilled to be back in the big time with Liverpool, especially as four years ago Bayern Munich rebuffed Brendan Rodgers’ attempt to sign him.

“I spoke to Brendan at that time before the World Cup,” he said. “He called me and I was interested. But Bayern said, ‘We want you to be here, you’re important for us’. Of course I was disappointed. Every player wants to play on the biggest stages in football.

“I’ve played for big teams, I know what it takes. I won many titles with Bayern Munich so I know how it is to be on the big stage. I’m really happy to have this opportunity.”

Shaqiri is happy to sign for Liverpool under Klopp [Photo: Courtesy]

Shaqiri has been reunited with Mo Salah.

The pair briefly overlapped at Basel in 2012, when the Egyptian was signed as his replacement.

They trained together a couple of times, although there was nothing to suggest Salah was a future superstar.

“He’s a very good player, but I’d be lying if I said he was right there when I saw him,” he said. “No one expected what he did last year. I hope he can do the same again this year.”

Shaqiri was attracted by the chance to play under Klopp, having been on the bench when Bayern beat his Borussia Dortmund side in the 2013 Champions League final.

He said: “I’ve admired him for a long time.”