When Brighton and Hove Albion began the perfect workforce on this Premier League sport on a sunny however energetic afternoon on the AMEX Stadium, Luis Diaz misplaced the ball in a strong deal with earlier than Tariq Lamptey and Sully Marsh rushed to assault Liverpool’s left flank.
The problem occurred proper in entrance of Jurgen Klopp, however as an alternative of odious referee Mike Dean – questioning the referee would come later, as soon as his aspect secured the 2-0 win – the Liverpool boss as an alternative targeted on a light reprimand from Diaz, urging to indicate extra preventing and chasing after the duo Brighton.
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Diaz responded to that recommendation after which some; Lower than 10 minutes later, he confirmed super bravery to interrupt by the Brighton protection and met Joel Matip’s very good go with a pointy header break up second earlier than Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez overcame it.
Because the 25-year-old was mendacity on the grass, the video assistant referee (VAR) checked the collision however Sanchez’s pink card many speculated was to not the aspect. It wasn’t even reserved; It was the problem that has propelled Klopp after the match down a well-known path describing the phrase “clear and clear” as a “actual drawback” and ” instance of the problems we’ve” in figuring out when the VAR intervenes.
He stated earlier than asking: “Everybody requested me in the present day – I did not begin the dialog – about whether or not it was a pink card or not, and in case you get these conditions, most individuals suppose it was a pink card.” If everybody thought it was a pink card, why could not it’s a pink card? “
Arguably Diaz is not going to get a greater instance of English soccer’s health, one thing that’s historically stated to take a number of months, and even longer, for international gamers to adapt to. Nonetheless, Diaz, a £37.5m January deal from FC Porto, was instantly thrown into the deep finish. With Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane collaborating within the Africa Cup of Nations, the Colombia worldwide has not been given a sluggish introduction to assist him cope.
Saturday’s outing on the south coast was Diaz’s tenth look within the six weeks since Liverpool pounced on his signing and Tottenham thought they have been within the strategy of finalizing a switch take care of Porto. Klopp had designated Diaz as a summer season signing however the membership needed to transfer rapidly as Tottenham held superior talks, and it could possibly be a defining second in Liverpool’s season.
“He is an excellent participant, let me put it that method,” Klopp stated. “We do not have teams in our squad however we’ve just a few gamers who converse Spanish and Portuguese. That helps Luis lots, they usually take him beneath their wing. General he is a very nice child.
“As for the participant, we will solely inform once we have been taking a look at him… It isn’t very straightforward to convey a participant within the winter with none sort of pre-season however Luis was attention-grabbing as a result of the best way he performed in Porto is strictly the best way we wished him to play right here. He nonetheless has to adapt, particularly defensively. However he can carry the ball actually quick, and his dribbling is not unhealthy. I do not suppose we have actually seen his full vary of taking pictures expertise. There’s numerous room for enchancment however he is participant.”
Diaz has now began 5 of Liverpool’s six league video games since becoming a member of the membership, and has settled remarkably rapidly into Klopp’s attacking hat-trick, in addition to his want to work off the ball and his power on it. Since his league debut on February 10, Diaz is fifth in pictures on purpose (19), sixth in pictures on purpose (6) and joint tenth for probabilities created (11).
Diaz’s form additionally helps masks a slight however noticeable dip in Salah’s medical contact. Al-Masry scored his twentieth league purpose this season – Liverpool’s 2000th Premier League purpose – with a penalty kick within the 61st minute that determined the match as a contest after Yves Bisoma touched Naby Keita’s shot. Nonetheless, this was an event the place Salah’s lasting impression targeted on the possibilities he missed slightly than the penalty he transformed.
The 29-year-old has made his method into speaking about the perfect participant on the planet proper now, however this case comes with intense scrutiny of any waste in entrance of purpose, and any drop within the spectacular requirements he has set.
After a shot from the sting of the penalty space after half an hour and denied a purpose after a fast run with Sanchez’s sensible save simply earlier than the top of the primary half, Salah got here nearer after the beginning of the primary half. He cleverly labored in house for his shot within the penalty space, and his try within the 57th minute hit Brighton defender Louis Dunk and hit the crossbar earlier than lacking his greatest probability ever after simply 60 seconds. Diaz lunged ahead on the left and brilliantly minimize the ball in Salah’s method, arriving with time and house to place a shot into his favourite left foot. He can solely pull the ball large.
These can solely be thought of minor criticisms, on condition that Salah’s menace continues with fixed regularity, and Liverpool stay heading in the right direction of their pursuit of an unprecedented quartet. However the time is especially opportune – if not remotely deliberate – for Diaz to breathe new life into their multi-faceted problem, even perhaps offering just a little cowl for the persevering with delay in Salah’s dedication to his future for the membership with Klopp acknowledging this week that Liverpool “can do no extra” in negotiations along with his representatives.
Salah walked off limping 25 minutes earlier than the sport right here, and Klopp then defined that he had “strained his foot” however “thought he can be tremendous” with Arsenal subsequent Wednesday.
Considering that Salah had been absent for any time period would have precipitated panic for Liverpool. Diaz has an extended strategy to go to succeed in Salah’s degree, however his mere presence as of late boosts Klopp’s squad endlessly.
