Shaqiri left Mourinho raging and confirmed Man United’s worst fears

Jurgen Klopp admitted it wasn’t normal.

But for Xherdan Shaqiri, it was the dream start to his Liverpool career.

The Swiss playmaker had been training with the Reds for just four days after making a £13m move from Stoke City.

So it’s fair to say he would have been forgiven if he eased his way into life at Liverpool when making his debut for the Reds in front of a 101,254-strong crowd at the Michigan Stadium during a summer tour of the USA.

But with Liverpool’s bitter rivals Manchester United as opponents, Shaqiri was set on making a statement.

And boy did he do that.

With eight minutes left on the clock, Shaqiri capped a promising performance in attacking midfield with a goal dreams are made of.

Ben Woodburn picked him out in the penalty area and Shaqiri produced an extraordinary overhead kick to cap an emphatic 4-1 victory.

He knew it was good.

“It’s a beautiful goal and it’s amazing to play with this great team. I’m really happy,” he said after the game.

“I think I’m used to doing it! I love bicycle kicks, the ball was perfect, I tried and it was a very beautiful goal.

“I want to help this team go forward and today was a good friendly for us.

“I’m really glad and happy to score in front of so many fans.”

Klopp took a different view.

“That’s not normal after 4 days – adapting so quickly to our style of play,” said the Liverpool boss, still in a state of shock from what he’d witnessed.

He wasn’t the only one.

It was a goal that left United boss Jose Mourinho raging and in hindsight, it was clear to see why.

Shaqiri’s goal was exceptional, but it represented something bigger.

Klopp’s promising young side was motoring its way past a stale and uninspired United, and Mourinho knew it.

Reporters inside the world’s second-largest stadium could have played Mourinho bingo in the following press conference as players, owners and the referee were all thrown under the bus.

He even told fans they shouldn’t have bothered turning up.

“The atmosphere is good but if I was them I wouldn’t come,” he said.

“I wouldn’t spend my money to see these teams.”

Liverpool supporters weren’t complaining, they were getting a glimpse of things to come.

For Shaqiri, it was the perfect way to announce himself.

Dismissed as “unprofessional” by Gary Neville for his efforts at Stoke, he arrived on Merseyside as a footnote in an exciting summer.

Fabinho, Alisson Becker and Naby Keita had all signed for fees that dwarfed the £13m Liverpool had paid the relegated Potters.

And if Shaqiri’s brilliant goal silenced early doubters, he’d ram home the point in his first six months at Anfield.

Indeed, he’d even get another chance to stick it to the Nevilles with a brace against United in December of that year,…