What will Luis Diaz's impact be on Liverpool?

02/04/2022 1977

Liverpool signed forward Luis Diaz from FC Porto ahead of the January transfer deadline for £37.5 million with add-ons likely to follow.

The move was a significant coup for the Anfielders. Seeking to reinforce their attacking options, Liverpool signed one of the highest-rated forwards in world football.

Nine points currently separate Liverpool from first-place Manchester City in the league standings. The Reds have a game in hand and must play City for a second time before the end of the campaign.

The title fight may not be over, but it will take some good fortune to overturn Manchester City’s lead.

Diaz could certainly help make the difference along with adding further attacking options to the Liverpool squad for next term.

Diaz gives Liverpool further options outside of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, and Roberto Firmino.

Jota’s arrival in 2020 completely changed the way Liverpool play. Some pundits have called Jota the best centre-forward in the Premier League thanks to his goal scoring.

It is difficult to argue with the assessment and Liverpool’s signing of Jota has turned out to be another masterstroke.

The Liverpool transfer team will hope Diaz’s arrival is another masterstroke. On paper, Diaz’s pace, ability to stretch defences, pressing, creativity, and goal scoring ability gives Klopp another strong player.

There is no doubt, Diaz has come from a weaker league playing for FC Porto. Still, the Colombian has excelled with 14 goals in 18 games on the domestic front. He also added five assists before signing for Liverpool.

Diaz scored two goals in six Champions League matches as FC Porto failed to qualify for the round of 16. He averaged a goal every 142 minutes in all competitions and a goal every 108 minutes in the Portuguese league.

Compared to Liverpool’s four stellar attackers, Diaz fits in well. Salah has bagged 16 league goals and nine assists. Jota has 10 goals and one assist, while Mane has added eight goals and one assist.

Firmino, who is more than a goal scorer, has four league goals and three assists.

Still, playing in a far weaker league than the Premier League shouldn’t be underestimated. It could take Diaz some time to bed-in to the squad.

Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to throw Diaz into the wolves. It is likely that Diaz will get a slow introduction to the side similar to what Jota and Fabinho received.

Perhaps Diaz’s biggest impact will be on the front three, but not on the pitch. Salah, Mane and Firmino are all out of contract in 2023. It is likely one of the three will be sold in the summer as each player will be 30-years old.

Firmino is the likely choice to be sold, but the Brazilian won’t fetch as much money as either Mane or Salah. Meanwhile Salah is trying to land the largest contract in Liverpool history to remain at the club.

The Egyptian will be 30 which could put the club off such a large deal. In addition, Liverpool’s transfer team will be well aware of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s drop off at Arsenal after receiving the biggest contract in Gunners’ history.

Diaz’s arrival could influence Salah to sign for less money. It could also show the Egyptian that a replacement can be found.