The highest scorer for the highest staff in Portugal. Greater than a objective or help each 90 minutes of league play. Two targets in the identical Champions League group because the staff eager to signal him and the Copa America’s joint-top scorer, together with a sure Lionel Messi.
It’s simple to see the broad strokes of the attacking play which have attracted Liverpool to Luis Diaz, with the Reds now hopeful of signing the FC Porto huge man earlier than Monday’s switch deadline.
There’s much more to his recreation although, and his persona, than mere goalscoring – nevertheless vital that issue would possibly ultimately be in one in all Europe’s prime groups outlaying huge cash for his companies.
Taking part in from the left of Porto’s assault as a rule, a mix of highly effective acceleration, direct operating and the capability to go together with each ft previous defenders make him tremendously troublesome to cease – and a thunderous end on the finish of his runs usually ensures all eyes are drawn his manner. Within the Liga NOS he ranks within the prime 10 amongst forwards and wingers for every of key passes per 90 minutes, profitable dribbles and pictures, whereas he’s outright prime for pictures contained in the penalty field. A sequence of spectacular targets and headline-writing switch rumours have made him an easy-to-watch participant for the previous couple of years, and his consistency has made it a worthwhile endeavour.
The same old caveats and questions surrounding star gamers in perceived weaker leagues shall be introduced up, so it’s price noting he has already scored towards each reigning champions Sporting CP and the perennial fourth-best staff in Portugal, Sporting Braga. He missed the league conflict with Benfica, however assisted towards them within the cup. Within the Champions League, too, Diaz has made his mark. In Group B this time period he was the staff’s greatest risk towards Liverpool themselves in two defeats and scored dwelling and away towards AC Milan.
On the worldwide scene, Diaz made his breakthrough after the final World Cup – debuting simply a few months after England’s penalty shoot-out win over Colombia. He shortly received a spot within the squad as an impression sub, taking part in thrice on the 2019 Copa America, totalling simply over 100 minutes. The scope of his enchancment within the three years since then is laid naked by the distinction in his standing within the staff on the similar match performed final summer time: 5 appearances, all 5 begins, one purple card, 4 targets. He has performed all eight World Cup qualifiers since then as properly, with La Tricolor at the moment in fifth, the play-off spot, as they give the impression of being to achieve the Qatar 2022 finals.
His profession is on an upward trajectory and his price of enchancment is definitely nonetheless accelerating – but it surely’s not true to say this can be a participant who has “gone from energy to energy”. The other is sort of true, for those who return far sufficient into his youth days: solely good talent-spotting and talent-nurturing have maybe allowed his abilities to flourish. He has, by measurable phrases, gone from weak point to energy.
It’s properly documented by now how Diaz got here from some of the impoverished areas of his nation, an space the place many kids are affected by malnutrition amongst these of Wayuu ethnicity. He wasn’t an exception and, after initially becoming a member of Barranquilla, he wanted a bulking-up eating regimen to deal with sporting rigours. Development did come although, on and off the pitch. It’s simple to see how the non-public willpower and enchancment on present would enchantment to a supervisor like Jurgen Klopp. A transfer to Porto as a substitute of Zenit in 2019 seems to be a well-thought-out path, too.
Diaz, who turned 25 earlier this month, is a rocket-fuel outlet for his staff, a decided determine on the ball and possessed of very clever motion throughout the entrance line. He scores his fair proportion of headers, normally with intelligent runs throughout the defender relatively than as a result of he’s aerially dominant, whereas his comparatively robust two-footedness means a harmful place contained in the field is an unpredictable second. He’s as prone to find yourself hitting the byline to fireside a tough, low cut-back into the six-yard field as he’s to chop inside onto his extra favoured proper foot, for a textbook-style, inside-forward’s effort on objective.
With particular regard to Liverpool, it’s not powerful to see the place he matches in properly.
In Group B this time period Diaz was the staff’s greatest risk towards Liverpool
(Getty)
Taking part in left in a four-man midfield, even for a dominant staff, has seen Diaz do the off-the-ball facet of the sport which he’ll have to enhance even additional at Liverpool.
He’s not essentially the most aggressive in tackling, however he does harass defenders – little else could possibly be anticipated below Sergio Conceicao, himself a former hard-working and gifted winger. Diaz additionally makes use of these events of getting to be deeper in defensive work to be a extra vital participant after transitions, along with his lightning tempo making him the staff’s major counter-attacking risk.
All these traits will match within the left-sided position normally occupied by Sadio Mane – who, like Mohamed Salah on the alternative facet and Roberto Firmino by way of the center, has solely simply over a 12 months left on his contract. Undoubtedly there shall be progress made in that regard with at the very least one of many trio, possibly extra, between now and the tip of the season.
However the signing of Diaz, if and when accomplished, will add one other layer of explosivity, longevity and renewal to an assault which has already lengthy been the envy of Europe.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
