Xherdan Shaqiri has opened up on his move to Liverpool from Stoke City in the summer of 2018

Xherdan Shaqiri has admitted he would never have joined Liverpool if Stoke City had not suffered relegation from the Premier League.

The 35-year-old enjoyed three successful seasons with the Potters, but was unable to stop them suffering relegation to the Championship in 2018 despite returning eight goals and seven assists from 36 Premier League appearances in his final year at the club.

Liverpool took advantage of Stoke’s demotion to the English second tier to snap up the former Switzerland international, activating a £13.5m relegation release clause in his contract.

Shaqiri would go on to thrive at Anfield, establishing himself as a firm fan-favourite as a member of the side that won the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup under Jurgen Klopp.

Making 63 appearances for the Reds over three seasons at Anfield, the Swiss returned eight goals and nine assists before leaving in search of starting opportunities.

And while he has no regrets about his choice to join Liverpool, insisting it was the right decision for him at the club, Shaqiri conceded his hand was forced to leave Stoke after they suffered relegation.

“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.

“I had a good season personally but I was really disappointed that we got relegated. This club deserves to be in the Premier League, 100%.

“(It hurt me) a lot, because I was used to winning. And then for the first time, I got relegated. It was something new for me, I was really disappointed and it was difficult for me at that time.

“I was devastated. I tried my best, I gave everything but in the end something was not right and we got relegated.”

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He continued: “Obviously I was devastated to go down, but on the other side, one other door opens.

“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.

“Jurgen Klopp called me and yeah, in the end, I think it was the right choice to do, because I won everything with Liverpool after and we had a successful time.”

Shaqiri also admitted he had previously wanted to join Liverpool in the summer of 2014 during his time at Bayern Munich, only for the Bavarians to block his exit. He would later depart for Internazionale in January 2015, only to sign for Stoke six months later.

“Yes, I could also go (to Liverpool) in 2014 before the World Cup,” he recalled to Stoke City’s Potters’ Pod. “They contacted me and I obviously wanted to go, but FC Bayern said no.

“So, in the end, a couple of years later I went to Liverpool. It was amazing. Amazing times.”

One of the highlights of Shaqiri’s Anfield career saw him play a crucial role in the famous 4-0 comeback victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals.

With both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmimo ruled out injured, the Swiss played in a front three alongside Sadio Mane and Divock Origi.

Assisting the Reds’ equalising goal with a pinpoint cross for Gini Wijnaldum, Shaqiri admits he considers beating Barcelona one of the best days of his life.

“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.

“And for me too, because this is something unbelievable, what we achieved together.

“After the first leg, we lost 3-0, we still believed. We had some players who were injured.

“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.”