There is no doubt that stabilizing and adapting to the English Premier League football, which is often known as the strongest tournament in the world, is not easy unless you are Luis Diaz, the new Liverpool player, who combines the advantages of the two stars of the team, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
Even with Liverpool already having a host of attacking talents, Colombian striker Diaz, who arrived from Porto in January, was able to handle the Premier League like a duck swimming in the water with ease.
Diaz is distinguished by combining the skills and speed of Salah, strength and courage of Mane, which made him quickly record his own numbers with the team and put his unique mark among the Premier League stars.
We're ready @LuisFDiaz19 😤 pic.twitter.com/Bqw8rnfWtS
— 𝗔 Creative Creative 🕷 (@lfcels) April 3, 2022
Ain Club expert
Diaz, from a rural coastal village on the Atlantic Ocean, was almost ignored as a young man due to his frail build, but after being pointed out by former Colombia captain Carlos Valderrama, Diaz sprinted and did not look back.
As usual, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp was the first to notice his talent and hurriedly join the team, and his first words to Diaz were the moment he arrived in Liverpool, when the Colombian player apologized for not being fluent in the English language, by hugging him and telling him, “It is not important.” The important thing about the German coach is the return that awaits him. From the up-and-coming player.
"He's a world-class player. He's a really big player. It's a pleasure working with Diaz every day. I'm more than I am happy about the decision to sign him last January.
What has impressed you most about Luis Díaz since his winter transfer❓@LFC |
#UCL pic.twitter.com/FyNJK67gHL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 8, 2022
Klopp insisted that Diaz "really looked like a Liverpool player" weeks after signing him, with the 25-year-old possessing a certain key trait that helped him feel at home.
👍#YNWA
The star last night, @LuisFDiaz19 😍 pic.twitter.com/UNKzJjSBVq
— Watch LFC (@Watch_LFC) Apr 6, 2022
— Liverpool 🇲🇾 (@myYNWAMalaysia) April 6, 2022
Diaz is the best at getting the ball
With Klopp's style of play characterized by strength, the role of the front line became important in putting pressure on the opponent.
And after another stunning display in Lisbon midweek, Diaz has pulled the ball in the final third of the field more (12 times) than any other player in the Champions League this season.
The harshness of the English Premier League could not prevent Diaz's defensive efforts, as he entered the top ten to extract the ball in the last third among the players who participated in more than 5 games.
📊 STAT: Luis Diaz is unbeaten in his career against Benfica so far, winning five and drawing two of seven matches.
#awlive [lfc]pic.twitter.com/w9DD3B4OtM
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) April 5, 2022
Characterized by strength and courage
He certainly does not lack courage in his performance, as evidenced by his head-down in the direction of Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez's lunge as
he exited his goal while Diaz headed the ball into the goal, which led to a powerful collision between the players.
It is also characterized by special strength, as this violent collision is difficult for any player to survive injury because of it (and may reach a concussion in the brain) unless it is very strong.
🚨 CONFIRMED: Luis Diaz has won the @LFC Goal of the Month for March.
#awlive [lfc]pic.twitter.com/lm3aL3FshI
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) April 1, 2022
"Since he joined the team, it has become clear how special he is," Andy Robertson, Liverpool defender, said of Diaz after the victory over Brighton.
The best at dribbling
The next step for Diaz is to exploit his superior skills, no player in Liverpool has dribbled more dribbly than Diaz in the league this season, scoring more goals and creating assists for his teammates.
And with the fact that Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino all average more goals per game than Diaz this season, it may confirm his absence from the starting line-up for the derby against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Sadio Mane interrupted Luis Diaz's interview to show him some love ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0W2o0S8t8X
— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) April 5, 2022
But Klopp is not shy about pushing the Colombian striker during the match, as he used to rely on him either from the beginning or as a substitute in important matches, despite the team already possessing prominent strikers and scorers during its quest to win four unprecedented titles this season.
Diaz's numbers and statistics indicate that he may be one of the best players not only in Liverpool, but also in the English Premier League and Europe in the coming seasons, after he integrates more with the team and his self-confidence multiplies more, which may make him outperform everyone.