View: 100% Luis Diaz could be perfect solution to ongoing Liverpool concern
Arne Slot shocked Anfield with his Liverpool team selection as Luis Diaz was named the spearhead of his attack for the 4-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen.
The 27-year-old rewarded the risk by scoring his first hattrick for the club on Tuesday [5 November] to secure a statement victory in the Champions League.
Since Diogo Jota sustained another injury setback in the 2-1 win against Chelsea, Darwin Nunez has filled the void as the number nine but has continued his Anfield struggles under the new manager.
However, Cody Gakpo and Diaz have competed blow-for-blow for a starting berth on the flank, and Slot may very well have found the solution for his problems, all while fitting two of his in-form forwards into the starting lineup.
Luis Diaz change makes perfect sense for Liverpool
Nunez is looking increasingly likely he will never live up to the promise of his club-record acquisition from Benfica and Jota has continued his long history of injury woes this season.
The long-term future of who will lead the line for Slot’s Liverpool is becoming increasingly uncertain but, rather than forking out a multi-million-pound outlay on a new centre forward, a tried and tested solution already lies on Merseyside.
While Gakpo was considered through the middle under Jurgen Klopp, it is apparent he is best utilised on the flanks – and until Tuesday, the thought of introducing Diaz through the middle has never entered the frame of discussion.
However, the Colombian showed all the attributes of a world-class striker, recording three shots on target resulting in three goals for a 100 per cent shot conversion rate from an xG of 1.64 [Sofascore].
Furthermore, he completed 88 per cent of his 25 passes with one key pass and completed 100 per cent of his long ball attempts.
His slim frame in comparison with the traditional profile of a striker threw off the Leverkusen defence and his exquisite ball control and ability to weave past defenders drew five fouls against dumbfounded opposition.
Diaz not only produced a world-class performance against Champions League opposition, he single-handedly bestowed Xabi Alonso his third loss across all competitions since the start of last season.
It is time Liverpool supporters begin to accept Nunez is not the answer, the 25-year-old has recorded five shots in the Premier League this year for the bottom 15 percentile of all forwards and has only 19 touches in the opposition box for the 21 percentile [Fotmob].
A new direction is needed at Anfield, if Slot decides a big-money striker is needed at the end of the campaign then so be it, but for now, Diaz should be handed the reins to lead the attack – a front three of Gakpo, Diaz and Mohamed Salah could flourish.
In other Liverpool news, the Reds are in contact to sign Real Madrid star who once rejected a move to Anfield.
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