Charlie Adam hits out at Xherdan Shaqiri following Liverpool move

Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam has criticised former teammate Xherdan Shaqiri shortly after making the switch to Premier League side Liverpool. The Switzerland international had been one of the Potters’ most influential performers over the past three seasons but Adam has put the blame on the attacker following the Potters’ relegation to the Championship.

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Adams said that Shaqiri was one of the players, who failed to show up for the Potters last term after they were pushed into a relegation battle, he said: “Was he one of them? Oh, definitely.When the chips are down you look at your big players, you want your big players to bring magic in one moment in the season, and at times we felt like the so-called big players in the squad never turned up for us and never performed.Yeah, everybody else could help, but for all the plaudits to so-called bigger players we getting from certain members of the management staff last season - they weren't producing.”

Shortly after the 2017/18 season, Shaqiri had been linked with several high-profile clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool but the latter managed to win the race for his signature with Jurgen Klopp playing a key role in the move. Nevertheless, the Swiss cannot expect a regular starting role from the off, considering Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah have already established themselves under Klopp.

Shaqiri is presently on a vacation after his World Cup exploits for Switzerland but he is expected to join his new teammates during the latter part of pre-season in preparation for the Premier League opener against West Ham United . The Reds have often not made the best of starts to a new league season but they have the opportunity to erase this feat with an easier-looking schedule before the first international break. Aside from West Ham, Liverpool face Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City in the first four games of the campaign.