Liverpool transfer news: How Luis Diaz has proved pivotal to Liverpool’s quadruple dreams

The perfect big-game player 

Liverpool have earned a huge amount of praise for the manner in which they are still competing in every competition they entered this season. Jurgen Klopp’s side are set to take part in every single game that they could have possibly played and for the most part they still look remarkably fresh. 

Much of that will undoubtedly be due to the Anfield side putting their injury troubles from last season behind them. Jordan Henderson no longer needs to fill in at centre back, Fabinho can return to his midfield position and back-up striker Divock Origi has had very little to do. That much was clear for all to see as Liverpool brushed Villarreal aside to reach the Champions League final on Tuesday. 

However, while Klopp’s returning stars have been a significant boost to his team, one factor that has undoubtedly played just as big of a role in Liverpool’s fantastic end to the season is none other than Luis Diaz. Signed in the January transfer window from Porto for £40.5 million, the Colombian winger has hit the ground running at Anfield and become a big-game performer for Klopp’s team in no time at all. 

Luis Diaz has only been at Liverpool for four months…

But the Colombian winger has already become the club’s big-game player pic.twitter.com/co3bVoUbfu

— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news) May 4, 2022

Goals and assists in big game – Diaz’s fantastic Liverpool start

Although most football fans expected Diaz to take some time to adapt to English football, the former Porto star has wasted no time at all making his case for a starting role in Klopp’s first team. And he’s been making a compelling argument for the past four months. 

With five goals and three assists in 21 games, Diaz is currently averaging 0.56 goals or assists per 90 minutes. Although that’s not quite at the same level as Mohamed Salah, it’s not far off Sadio Mane’s average for this season of 0.62 per 90 or Diogo Jota’s average of 0.76 per 90. And most importantly, Diaz is making a habit of scoring or creating goals in the most important games. 

Whether it be the goal and assist he bagged in the first leg of Liverpool’s quarter-final withBenfica, the goal and assist he picked up in the 4-0 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League, the assist he then bagged five days later in the Merseyside derby against Everton or indeed his goal in the 3-2 win over Villarreal on Tuesday, Diaz may not be Liverpool’s best goal scorer or playmaker just yet, but he’s quickly become their best source for important contributions. 

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