The Colombian forward came on as a second half substitute in the FA Cup win over Cardiff, but he was given a Premier League bow by Jurgen Klopp against Leicester
Luis Diaz’s first Liverpool start left Michael Owen “drooling”, and it was clear to see exactly why the Reds have brought in the Colombian against Leicester.
It was Diogo Jota who took the goal scoring honors with both strikes in the 2-0 win at Anfield, but Diaz’s display was dynamic on a night when Liverpool earned an important three points.
Diaz showed no inclination of bedding himself into the game from the start, and he sprang past the Leicester defenders within the opening minute as he burst onto a ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
If anything that was where we could detect his room for improvement though, as he opted not to shoot with his left foot and cut inside to his right only to be snuffed out.
Diaz was making his first start for the Reds
That little run he’d make outside of James Justin was soon to be seen again though, and it was from one of Joel Matip’s now trademark wanders out from the back that we saw it next.
This time Diaz did go on the outside, but his cut back across wasn’t able to find Matip as he’d taken his place inside the box.
Diaz was looking sharp, and it was clear that Liverpool were looking to get him both into the game and in combination with Andy Robertson, who has enjoyed such a fruitful partnership with Sadio Mane down that left flank over the years.
In the moments following Diogo Jota’s poacher’s goal opener, the Colombian was happy to drift across the attack.
Starting from the right isn’t something which overly suits Liverpool’s double goalscorer, but Diaz showed that he had no issues out there as he linked up with Thiago and then Alexander-Arnold and caused danger.
In the BT Sport studio, Owen reached a conclusion that many watching on did about Diaz’s first Premier League 45 minutes.
“We were just drooling over him,” said Owen.
Diaz came close to scoring on a number of occasions
“Don’t get me wrong, he hasn’t done anything in particular where you think, ‘wow he’s created an unbelievable chance,’ but I love his sharpness.
“He looks quick, he looks lively, he looks like he presses the ball, doesn’t mind running at players and beating them.
“I think he looks like a Liverpool player, he really does look like he’s going to fit into this team like a glove. Brilliant player. Already in the short fleeting appearance so far, he looks like he suits that red shirt.”
‘Looking like a Liverpool player’ is something that has taken some a while to achieve in the Jurgen Klopp era, with the likes of Andy Robertson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabinho all famously being left on the sidelines for months after they joined.
