Liverpool have a favourable run of fixtures to end their Premier League campaign, with West Brom, Burnley and Crystal Palace set to face the Reds in the coming weeks.
On paper, the schedule looks fairly easy but Jurgen Klopp's men have struggled against lesser opposition for most of the season, particularly when it comes to finding the back of the net.
Earlier in the year, Palace suffered a 7-0 loss against the Anfield outfit, but West Brom and Burnley managed to take a combined total of four points from the team at Christmas, with the latter side ending Liverpool 's remarkable unbeaten home run.
Each of the three outfits Liverpool will face should represent a similar brand of football; the Reds are likely to be tasked with breaking down a defensive block for the most part, and they could end up relying on an unlikely hero.
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Xherdan Shaqiri's time on Merseyside has been curious as he's rarely been presented with consistent minutes on the field, instead contributing to the team's fortunes every now and then, mostly as a substitute from the bench.
Despite his tendency to feature infrequently, the offensive numbers attached to his performances are strong and they suggest that he's well-suited to facing the likes of Burnley and West Brom.
The Swiss forward has played 2.9 key passes per 90 in the Premier League this season - with a key pass defined as one that directly leads to a shot - which places him behind only Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne.
Shaqiri has played considerably fewer minutes which likely benefits his average, but the very fact that he's third in England's top-flight is impressive, ahead of Bruno Fernandes in fourth and Mason Mount in fifth.
In addition to his ability to generate shots for his teammates, the 29-year-old is also highly effective when it comes to moving the ball into valuable areas.
No player averages more passes into the penalty box on a per-90 basis than Shaqiri - compared to peers who have amassed a total of at least 500 minutes - with De Bruyne placed second, followed by Callum Hudson-Odoi in third and Trent Alexander-Arnold in fourth.
His future at Anfield remains to be seen but between now and the end of the campaign, he could be wind up being crucial to Liverpool's bid for a place in next year's Champions League.
4-2-3-1 could be explored by Klopp as a new shape for the final set of games as a means of including Shaqiri, with the Swiss international also deployed as a midfielder at times in the go-to 4-3-3 system.
Regardless, he could be the man to provide the key to the door that the Reds will need in the coming weeks.
