Luis Diaz hits the bottom working for Arne Slot in bid to lastly reply Liverpool query

For Arne Slot, the landmark got here in a primary, for a few his new prices, in centuries. As Slot marked his maiden competitive game at Anfield with a win, Virgil van Dijk introduced up 100 league appearances for Liverpool at house. Solely two have resulted in defeat and 82 in victory. “No matter occurs sooner or later, Anfield is a particular place in my coronary heart,” mentioned the defender, whose contract expires in the summer.

For Luis Diaz, the milestone got here within the type of a a centesimal recreation wherever for Liverpool. It was reached in type: a aim rifled in from a devastating counter-attack, a deft move releasing Mohamed Salah to attain the second, a man-of-the-match show. The Colombian was electrical; it feels he has been for a lot of of these 100 matches.

The aim was his twenty fifth, a ratio of 1 each 4 video games. Or roughly one each three begins, as he has begun 77 of these appearances.

Whichever manner it’s assessed, it feels respectable somewhat than outstanding for a Liverpool winger. It comes within the context of his predecessor’s somewhat extra prolific return. Sadio Mane scored 120 objectives in 269 video games, a mean of virtually one each two; as he ended up ending second within the Ballon d’Or vote, it’s powerful ask to emulate Mane. If his personal century – of objectives – mirrored the techniques of Jurgen Klopp, the place the wingers had been extra superior than the striker, that shifted after Darwin Nunez’s signing and, at this embryonic stage of Slot’s reign, it stays to be seen exactly what ought to be anticipated of his left winger.

However Diaz scored towards Brentford and had struck twice in an unofficial look at Anfield, the pre-season win over Sevilla. Is it an indication he will likely be stronger below Slot? One interpretation is that that is simply an annual swift begin: he has scored Liverpool’s opening aim at Anfield in three consecutive campaigns.

And for a lot of that point, it feels as if Liverpool have been ready for Diaz to turn into an actual goalscorer. “He is aware of as a striker, a winger, he wants to attain and help,” mentioned Alexis Mac Allister, serving as Diaz’s interpreter in a post-match interview. There are questions if he has been ruthless sufficient. “It’s about ensuring these gamers like Lucho, Mo, Cody [Gakpo], Darwin, Diogo [Jota], all of the attackers, we carry them as a lot as we are able to in good positions after which they’ll present their high quality,” mentioned Slot. Over his Liverpool profession, Diaz averages fewer pictures per 90 minutes than Nunez and Salah, although they’re shotaholics, however greater than many a ahead. However his likelihood conversion fee – 10.3 per cent within the Premier League – is underwhelming.

At occasions, Diaz has supplied every thing however the aim. After his arrival in January 2022, the Colombian’s preliminary impression was so startling that Mane ended his Liverpool profession as a centre-forward. But there was one thing symbolic in one in all his greatest early video games: Diaz was man of the match within the 2022 FA Cup closing but it surely completed 0-0.

When he started the 2022-23 season in scintillating kind, it got here with the sense he was about to turn into extra prolific. He scored 4 objectives in his opening eight video games. After damage intervened, nonetheless, his eventual return was 5 in 21. Final season, there was a extra traumatic interruption when his father was kidnapped. His general tally, although, was 13 in 51 video games, a much less spectacular eight in 37 within the Premier League.

And there appeared the likelihood that he wouldn’t carry up the century; or that if he did, it will be when demoted to a substitute. Liverpool’s summer time curiosity in Anthony Gordon was each intriguing and instructive. There have been recommendations Barcelona might beckon for Diaz; but Barcelona covet many a participant they can’t afford so it scarcely steered a windfall for Liverpool’s savvy merchants. Gordon is a Liverpudlian, a Liverpool fan and youthful. But would he have been an improve? Regardless of his wonderful season for Newcastle final yr, that felt doubtful, given Diaz’s efficiency stage over his time at Anfield.

In the meantime, Cody Gakpo’s wonderful Euro 2024 prompted recommendations he can be Slot’s most popular left winger, one with the potential to supply extra objectives. For now, Diaz’s kind would recommend he has a transparent benefit. It might go well with him that the remainder of Liverpool’s entrance three are Jota, their greatest finisher, and Salah, invariably their prime scorer. It means there’s much less reliance on the left winger to attain.

However his ratio of a aim each 4 video games is nearly equivalent to these of Luis Garcia, a scorer of nice objectives however not an important goalscorer, and Dirk Kuyt, a self-sacrificial paragon of selfless work. In a ahead who might electrify Anfield and one other who might run all day, there are widespread denominators. However, good as Diaz will be in different respects, Liverpool might need to see slightly extra of Mane in him.