Xherdan Shaqiri has admitted he would never have joined Liverpool if Stoke City had not been relegated from the Premier League in 2018. The 35-year-old, who spent three seasons with the Potters, said he felt "at home" at the club and would have stayed had they remained in the top flight.
Stoke's demotion to the Championship triggered a £13.5m relegation release clause in Shaqiri's contract, allowing Liverpool to sign the former Switzerland international. He went on to make 63 appearances for the Reds over three seasons, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists, and was part of the squad that won the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup under Jurgen Klopp.
Shaqiri's regret over Stoke relegation
Shaqiri scored eight goals and registered seven assists in 36 Premier League appearances in his final season at Stoke, but could not prevent the club from dropping to the Championship. He described the experience as devastating, saying it was his first relegation and a difficult time for him.
"For sure, (I would have stayed). For sure," he said. "For me, I felt very very well. I had a good season. If we stayed up, I would love to stay because I felt after three years, I felt like home."
He added: "I was devastated. I tried my best, I gave everything but in the end something was not right and we got relegated."
Klopp's call and the decision to leave
Shaqiri conceded that he could not stay in the Championship, as his goal was to play at a higher level. He said Jurgen Klopp called him, and he ultimately believed it was the right choice, especially after winning everything with Liverpool.
"Obviously I was devastated to go down, but on the other side, one other door opens," he said. "For me it was not simple, but I couldn't stay in the Championship. It was not my goal, because I wanted to play higher."
Shaqiri also revealed he had wanted to join Liverpool in 2014 while at Bayern Munich, but the Bavarians blocked his exit. He eventually left for Internazionale in January 2015 and signed for Stoke six months later.
Barcelona comeback highlight
One of the highlights of Shaqiri's Anfield career was the 4-0 comeback victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. With Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino injured, he played in a front three alongside Sadio Mane and Divock Origi, and assisted Gini Wijnaldum's equalising goal.
"It was one of the best comebacks I ever saw and I was in it!" he said. "It was crazy, also for the Liverpool fans, probably one of the most important and best games in their life."
He added: "I think it was one of the best days ever in my life, too, because after with the fans, it was something really special where I have not experienced my whole life."
