COMMENT: With connections to Barcelona and PSG, Liverpool will need to give this guy careful thought during the summer.
The 3-3 tie between Liverpool and Aston Villa was an odd game. Both sides believed they ought to have prevailed. They both believed they should have scored three, two, or one more goal. And from the standpoint of the away team, one player more than most summed it up.
Luis Diaz, full of energy, completed four crucial passes, leading the team. Before the break, however, he also misplayed a counterattack pass that would have put Mohamed Salah one on one to make the score 3-1.
His final output wasn’t up to par in other attacks either. That’s the reason he was let go after 75 minutes, even with his incredibly hardworking attitude.
It tells, in a way, the tale of his campaign; his two most well-known misses, which should have won the match against Manchester City at Anfield, were disappointing finishes.
Since arriving at Liverpool in January 2022, Diaz’s consistency in the final third has simply not improved enough. In 49 Games this season, he has returned 13 goals and five assists.
On the other hand, Sadio Mane, his predecessor, had the worst season in a Liverpool shirt during his debut, with 13 goals and seven assists. That was from just 29 Games prior to an early season-ending injury. In 48 Games during the 2020–21 season, he recorded his lowest season total of 16 goals and 8 assists.
Diaz’s overall output as a Liverpool player is 20 goals and nine assists from 97 appearances. While injury wrecked Diaz’s 2022-23 season just when he looked at his peak form, it is a fact that Mane equalled or bettered that tally of goal contributions (29) in a single season three times at Anfield.
He offered the same effort rate off the ball as the Colombian, but in the last third he was just far more reliable. Similarly to team-mate Darwin Nunez, there are question marks as to whether the Colombia international will ever become as reliable as Liverpool need him to be.
In spite of this, Klopp thinks highly of Diaz, the departing player. He’s a natural player, the German stated in May of last year. I adore him, truly adore him. It’s astounding. He moves in the appropriate places, defends naturally from his position, is quick, cheeky, and a goal threat. He is very smart about football. Extremely unique player.”
Yet for this refreshed Liverpool squad to take the next step and become serious Premier League and Champions League challengers – their forwards must be more consistent. Additionally, this summer, he is a player that could be traded.
The 27-year-old, who cost £37 million to sign when he left Porto, has been linked to PSG and Barcelona. The Reds would hope to receive a substantial return on their investment—possibly even twice what they paid for the South American.
According to the player, he only sees himself on Merseyside. To be honest, I’m thrilled to be here. I’m confident that the club will have many more successful years to come. Being here makes me happy and comfortable,” he remarked. That’s even though his father said watching his kid play for Barcelona would be a dream come true.
However, Liverpool will give any serious offer for Diaz careful thought. The manager who will succeed Klopp, Arne Slot, prefers dynamic wingers who can isolate his full-back in a one-on-one situation and are adept dribblers. Diaz is capable of that.
But in order for the team as a whole to advance, his output must undoubtedly increase. If an offer close to £75 million is made, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes will have to decide. They may conclude that, considering his inconsistent final product and contract circumstances, it makes sense to sell.
