Liverpool fans were treated to rather unexpected yet heartening news in the final days of the January transfer window earlier this year when the Reds confirmed the arrival of Columbia international Luis Diaz.
The 25-year-old made the move to Anfield from FC Porto in a big-money deal with Liverpool shelling out a fee in the region of £37 million to land a name that had long been on Klopp’s radar.
Diaz’s addition to the attacking ranks in the Liverpool camp provides them with much-needed young blood as the star-studded trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino turn 30 over the course of this campaign.
Also Read – Anfield hero Ian Rush excited by the arrival of Liverpool’s new recruit Luis Diaz
Luis Díaz’s Premier League debut vs. Leicester by numbers:
91% pass accuracy
68 touches
9 touches in opp. box
8 duels won
5 take-ons completed
4 crosses
4 shots
2 shots on target
1 chance createdLiverpool have a gem. 💎 pic.twitter.com/i2LpOgCyqo
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 10, 2022
A 2-0 win over Leicester City on Thursday night at Anfield was Diaz’s debut outing in England’s top flight for his new colours and the Columbian winger came off the pitch in the dying embers of the game to a round of overwhelming ovation from the home supporters as Takumi Minamino came on to replace him.
Diaz had been one of the most influential figures on the Porto team sheet prior to his Premier League switch and his goalscoring numbers so far this season, 14 league goals and two in the Champions League, are testament to his ability going forward.
With the new recruit, Klopp, despite failing to land the coveted signature of Fulham teenage talent Fabio Carvalho on deadline day, has bolstered his forward lineup which had both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane away at the recent Africa Cup of Nations for a near month-long period.
Diogo Jota’s return to red hot form in front of the goal was evident with the Portugal international netting twice in the midweek win against Leicester and with the ever-present Firmino, Klopp’s men have an abundance of firepower to draft in the final third of the pitch.
In midfield, Thiago Alcantara is back from a lengthy spell out on the sidelines and also returning is Liverpool’s highly promising teenager Harvey Elliott who, on the back of an exciting start to the campaign had to sit out on-field action for almost five months following a freak ankle injury.
Both returnees give Liverpool the required flair and creativity in the centre of the park which had gone missing towards the backend of last year with Naby Keita, like Salah and Mane, jetting off to the AFCON to represent his country.
Klopp had already shored up his backline last summer in the only piece of transfer business for the Merseysiders in that window as the young French central defender Ibrahima Konate made the move from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Konate has adapted well to the Premier League and is now behind only Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip in the pecking order with the England international Joe Gomez, following his recurring injury troubles, struggling to obtain regular game time under his belt.
Also Read – Should Liverpool be open to parting ways with the in-demand Joe Gomez?
Liverpool look better than ever before in recent times with first-team regulars returning from injuries and international commitments and big-name signings proving to be the shot in the arm for the Reds who aim to keep pace with the league leaders Manchester City as we head towards the business end of the campaign.
