Jurgen Klopp Says It Was 'Common Sense' to Omit Xherdan Shaqiri from UCL Squad

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said it was "common sense" to leave Xherdan Shaqiri out of the squad for the UEFA Champions League showdown with Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday.

Shaqiri is an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo. In 1999, military intervention from NATO was needed after Serbia sought to crack down on the number of Albanian separatists in Kosovo. Serbia have not recognised Kosovo's independence since it was declared in 2008.

Ahead of the away game, Klopp has explained his reasoning for leaving the 27-year-old out of the contest, saying he felt it was the most sensible decision, per Andy Hunter of the Guardian.

"I'm absolutely not aware of any security issues," he said. "The only thing I can say about it was that it was common sense. It was common sense to make the decision and not to force anything. We come here wanting to play football. We have to concentrate on football. We have to focus on football."

Shaqiri, who plays for Switzerland, scored against Serbia at the FIFA World Cup and made a gesture associated with the Albanian flag. Per BBC Sport, he was fined £7,632 for his actions by FIFA.

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Klopp added that there are clear political factors to consider when it comes to the decision the club has made. 

"Politics always has influence on life, on the life I live at least, and that's how it is," he continued. "But we are not here for that; we are here to play football."

Here's more of what the former Borussia Dortmund coach said:

Football journalist James Montague doesn't believe Liverpool have made the right call in this instance:

Liverpool and Red Star met in their previous Champions League outing, with the Premier League side running out as comfortable 4-0 winners. In that fixture, the visitors did not have any travelling supporters in attendance.

Red Star fans are renowned for producing hostile atmospheres and the presence of Shaqiri would've definitely added an edge to the game.

BT Sport provided an insight into what the Liverpool players can expect when they walk out at the Rajko Mitic Stadium:

Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson has said the squad is ready for the white-hot environment that awaits them:

Shaqiri has been impressive in the early weeks of his Liverpool career. Whether starting matches or being introduced as a substitute, his quality on the ball, dynamism and versatility have given the Reds something different in the final third.

Liverpool have taken six points from nine available in the Champions League thanks to wins over Red Star and Paris Saint-Germain. While there was a clear chasm in quality between the Reds and their upcoming opponents last time out, on home soil the Serbian side are likely to be a much more challenging proposition.