It could be a fortnightly prevalence in 2024 however the scene is a shocked Outdated Trafford final month. Luis Diaz had simply scored two objectives in seven minutes to place Liverpool firmly in charge of Arne Slot’s first journey to bitter rivals Manchester United, leaving residence followers speechless once more.
Up within the away nook, those that made the quick jaunt to Manchester from Merseyside have been starting a journey by way of the complete repertoire of chants from the Kop songbook. No anthem was belted out with extra ferocity than their ode to Diaz.
‘His title is Lucho, he got here from Porto,’ it goes, to the tune of Bella Ciao, the people tune devoted to the partisans of the Italian resistance. ‘He got here to attain, got here to attain… got here to attain, rating, rating. He’s Luis Diaz, he’s from Barrancas… and he performs for Liverpool.’
It’s the form of catchy, toe-tapping chant that can stick in followers’ heads for the remainder of the day, the type you end up by accident singing alongside to beneath your breath when strolling round the home.
And the way Liverpool supporters have cause to sing about their boy from Barrancas thus far this season. With 5 objectives in six Premier League video games beneath Arne Slot, the Colombian ahead is simply three away from matching final time period’s tally – with 32 matches to spare.
Luis Diaz shocked Outdated Trafford final month with a first-half brace to place Liverpool in management towards their bitter rivals
Reds followers recurrently serenade the 27-year-old Colombian with a catchy tune to the tune of Bella Ciao
Diaz is simply three objectives away from matching his tally within the 2023-24 Premier league marketing campaign
It’s nonetheless very early days this season – Liverpool will play 41 extra matches a minimum of – so allow us to not bounce the gun too early, particularly noting that Diaz has proven these glimpses of kind earlier than. However this time feels totally different and the 27-year-old seems to be on the most popular streak of his Anfield profession.
New head coach Arne Slot is a humble man and infrequently singles out gamers for reward in public however the Dutchman might be delighted with the early indicators from Diaz, who was one of many gamers he earmarked for enchancment when taking the job from Jurgen Klopp.
Except for Liverpool’s A-listers – Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson and, arguably, Alexis Mac Allister – many big-money stars have been solely displaying their best possible stage on an inconsistent foundation within the final two seasons.
One of many primary issues on Slot’s CV was his potential and monitor report to deliver out these ranges and Diaz was clearly one who may gain advantage, alongside Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch. All have been revelations within the early weeks of the marketing campaign.
Though it sounds simplistic, one of many primary issues Slot and his trusted lieutenants have launched is an excessive consideration to element. Day by day is a faculty day on the coaching floor, with common group and particular person conferences.
Final 12 months, Diaz was maybe Liverpool’s most irritating participant – a clearly uber-talented winger who would usually skip previous defenders at will and put in a usually pleasing efficiency solely to finish up with nothing to point out for it by way of objectives or assists.
He was weighed down by followers craving for a Sadio Mane substitute. After the Senegal worldwide departed in 2022, it felt like Liverpool had missed a prolific ahead on the left to complement Salah’s strikes from the proper. Mane scored 120 Reds objectives throughout six seasons.
Diaz has registered 41 objectives or assists since his transfer from Porto – an enormous 66 fewer than Salah in the identical interval. The Colombian has had accidents and off-the-pitch points however he clearly had room for enchancment along with his finish product.
Slot has proven a capability to enhance gamers that he works with and he seems to be to be doing the identical with Diaz and others
Followers followers usually grew annoyed with Diaz, with considerably unfair comparisons to Sadio Mane, who left the membership in 2022
Six league video games will not be a large enough pattern dimension to counsel Diaz has taken a magic potion to out of the blue make him as deadly as Mane in entrance of purpose, however he’s clearly on an upward trajectory. His off-the-ball motion, decision-making and ending have all markedly improved.
‘He is aware of how vital the numbers are,’ mentioned team-mate and good good friend Mac Allister on Tuesday. ‘I’m very joyful he’s getting objectives and assists, he has been superb. And he can nonetheless enhance. Consistency is essential, hopefully he can present throughout the 12 months how incredible he’s.’
One in every of Slot’s assistants, former Everton defender Johnny Heitinga, has been key to those particular person classes. It’s believed the Dutchman speaks good Spanish – little doubt an element within the resolution to rent him – which helps in classes with the likes of Diaz and his South American pals, although his English is sound regardless of not often being assured sufficient to do interviews.
Slot spent a variety of time in pre-season engaged on his playbook of attacking strikes and was very hands-on by way of shifting gamers round like chess items, engaged on how wingers should transfer off the ball to reach in the proper areas to create and convert possibilities.
Though Diaz missed the tour of america, he was in kind as Colombia reached the Copa America remaining – overwhelmed by Lionel Messi and Mac Allister’s Argentina – and continued in a similar way when again in England, scoring in his solely pre-season outing.
Watching clips again from Slot’s video games, it’s clear Liverpool have been engaged on the angles at which wingers obtain the ball. As a substitute of sq. passes from the complete again – leaving them with work to do to beat their man – they’re now receiving the ball side-on.
This enables Diaz and Co to assault central areas and touch-maps from his video games – plus Cody Gakpo’s outings on the left wing – present they’re greater up the pitch and never as extensive when on the ball. When team-mates are in possession, Diaz is attacking central areas extra usually.
Slot’s system promotes a extra regular, affected person build-up which permits Diaz to get on the ball in additional harmful areas slightly than receiving it deep or from diagonal passes. Objectives towards Brentford and Bournemouth have come from his devastating runs on the blindside of defenders.
Former Everton defender Johnny Heitinga has been key to particular person classes with Diaz and different South American gamers at Anfield
Liverpool have been working to get Diaz the ball in additional harmful conditions the place he can use his tempo and trickery to make significant contributions
Diaz’s strike towards Brentford confirmed how devastating he will be when working off the ball
Trent Alexander-Arnold famous final week that Diaz seems to be ‘hungrier’ to attain objectives this season
Competitors for locations is now fierce with the arrival of Federico Chiesa which means Liverpool have six top-quality forwards, with Gakpo placing in star performances in cup competitions this season when Diaz has been rested.
Vice-captain Alexander-Arnold agrees with this and mentioned final week: ‘Luis seems to be hungrier to attain objectives. Perhaps getting new gamers form of lights a fireplace beneath you to ensure you’re working onerous on your spot. He’s getting himself into the proper areas and he’s making the proper selections.’
Earlier than a ball was kicked, this season felt slightly decisive for Diaz’s legacy at Anfield – might he kick on to be a prolific ahead or would his up-and-down kind proceed to plague how he’s seen within the fanbase?
Not per week glided by with out the Spanish press reporting curiosity in Diaz from Barcelona, whereas Paris Saint-Germain have been additionally cited to be retaining tabs on his state of affairs. However the ahead by no means expressed any want to depart, nor did Liverpool need that to occur.
Even Manchester Metropolis have been talked about as a possible vacation spot for Diaz this summer season by one report. None of those tales had a lot – if any – substance, nevertheless it made one marvel if somebody was enjoying a little bit of skullduggery behind the scenes.
Diaz himself in all probability felt a robust dose of loyalty to Liverpool after the way in which they handled him when his father, Luis Manuel Diaz, was kidnapped by the Nationwide Liberation Military (ELN) and held hostage for 12 days in Colombia’s mountain vary.
Liverpool have been extraordinarily supportive all through and following that horrific ordeal – with membership officers recurrently checking in. Additionally they invited and paid for Diaz’s shut household to spend Christmas on Merseyside.
In hindsight, that tough interval maybe understandably affected Diaz’s on-pitch kind for an prolonged interval final season – he scored simply as soon as within the 10 league video games after his return from compassionate depart and likewise had a few minor accidents to halt his probabilities of kind.
The winger handled appreciable private turmoil final season when he father was kidnapped by a terror group and held hostage for 12 days
However Diaz is simply trying ahead now. With 1.24 purpose contributions per recreation this season in comparison with 0.44 final time period, it feels just like the Colombian – plus Gakpo kicking his heels in reserve – are lastly filling the sizeable footwear left behind by prolific scorer Mane two years in the past.
As for the Bella Ciao chant, for which Diaz personally thanked the native musician Andy Hodgson in a video name, the lyrics are beginning to come true. ‘He got here to attain, got here to attain, got here to attain, rating, rating…’
