There are many players who Arne Slot is shining at the beginning of his stage as Liverpool manager. But, if there is one who is benefiting above the rest, that is a Luis Diaz that, after his last double against Bournemouthhas reconfirmed that The season has started with the ‘cyclone’ mode activated.
“They were very good shots, but it is also important where they came from. They were two good actions by Konaté and Alexander-Arnold that Luis Díaz finished perfectly“said the Dutch coach after a match that It left Liverpool in second position… and just one point behind Manchester City after their draw ‘in extremis’ against Arsenal.
There were two good actions by Konaté and Alexander-Arnold that Luis Díaz finished perfectly
After dazzling with Porto at the start of the 2021-22 Champions League in a group where Liverpool itself was also present, the ‘reds’ got ahead of Tottenham to secure his signing in exchange for 45 million euros, plus another 15 in variables. A fairly strong bet on a footballer who they saw as the replacement for Sadio Mané… despite being a winger with very different qualities back then.
He is a world-class player.
“He is a world-class player. For me, it is a pleasure to work with him every day. I couldn’t be happier to have signed him in January”Klopp even said weeks after the operation was undertaken.
Luis Díaz was (and continues to be) a much more ‘dribble-oriented’ winger. Proof of this is that it is found in the Top-10 in the Premier League in completed dribbles, transfers to the area and actions to create shots. However, the aggressiveness that is beginning to show in front of goal It is what is taking his football to the next level.
Sharpening the fang
Last year, he only signed eight goals in Premier and it was one of the five players with the worst expected goals ratio. “He’s a shadow of himself,” a ‘red’ legend like Jamie Carragher once said. Harsh words considering the ordeal that Luis Díaz experienced with the kidnapping of his parents.
It’s a shadow of itself
Now, At this start of the season the tables are turned and they have barely been enough for him eight shots on goal to mark your first five goals. That is to say, 2.5 more than expected which places him as the second top scorer of the championship only behind the ‘android’ Haaland.
“I don’t see any significant change. I continue to see that aggressiveness that has characterized this team in recent years. That is also what I am seeing with Luis Díaz”said Arne Slot about the Colombian’s form at the start of the season before facing West Ham in the Carabao Cup.
A few months after turning 28 years old, Luis Díaz is taking that step forward that has been demanded of him in terms of volume of figures. It is utopian to think that it can sustain this pace. Now, if it stabilizes at the 15 goals that Sadio Mané averaged in Premier during his six seasons at Anfield, Slot’s new Liverpool will be much closer to fighting for the title again.
