[ad_pod ]Liverpool have allowed Manchester City back into the title race, having held a seven-point lead over them at one stage, but their fans should be worried about the flat performances on the pitch rather than what the table is saying with nine games still yet to play.The Reds’ campaign so far has been defined by attacking football, spearheaded by the prolific Mohamed Salah but kick-started by the composure and technical ability of Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk at the back.In recent weeks, however, which have seen Jurgen Klopp’s men drop points in four of their last six games, something seems off about their style of play. It seems hindered by nerves, static, and far more conservative than we’ve become accustomed to – it’s as if the Merseysiders are more fearful of conceding goals, rather than focused on scoring them.Are fan nerves to blame for Liverpool’s recent form? Pl>ymaker FC’s Tom Skinner discusses in the video below…A key aspect of this has been Klopp’s midfield choices. In Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner and Fabinho, the former Borussia Dortmund boss has far too many pragmatic work horses in his side, and little creativity apart from the underused Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri.It is the latter who must be trusted to start from the first whistle in the business end of the season. The Swiss international offers something that no other player in Klopp’s squad does, that ability to spot a killer through ball that even fans in the stand haven’t seen is on, and play it to perfection – for some reason, having featured quite often in the first half of the season, the 27-year-old has played just 210 league minutes since the turn of the year.

You only have to look at the fixture away to Huddersfield earlier in the season, in which a 0-0 draw looked the likely result before the former Bayern Munich man’s driving run and clever ball into Salah to nick a vital 1-0 win – that is what Shaqiri offers. He can be a match-winner, and must be trusted by Klopp.

He is also the only left-footed option in Liverpool’s midfield, and absolutely has to be deployed on the right of a three-man midfield where he can cut in on his stronger foot, pull the strings or go for goal himself with his impressive long-range shooting ability.

Almost every player in red looks scared on a matchday. The flamboyancy is drying up, the creativity is scarce, and Liverpool need to rediscover themselves if they truly want to win a maiden Premier League title for the club – the shackles need to come off, and Shaqiri’s introduction can be the catalyst for such an act.