Luis Díaz Claims Man of the Match as Liverpool Cruise to 3-0 Win

It is amazing to consider that during much of last season and for the duration of the summer, the sale of Lucho was very much a strong possibility up until his brilliantly orchestrated start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

As the links to Anthony Gordon failed to dissipate in either June, July, or August, so did the notion that the reds Columbian flyer could land at Barcelona in the recent summer months. Luckily for a delighted Liverpool fanbase, the situation righted itself and a new contract appears likely to be engineered in the coming months.

As we approach October and with five games now completed in the English top tier, there is a  viable argument to say that Luis Díaz has been Arne Slot’s most successful player so far this season. With a slightly altered role that allows the Colombian flyer to drift into central areas, we are now seeing the tantalising specimen which once blossomed in his first half season at Anfield.

The player that was purchased in the winter of 2022 (for £38m) carried over his previous Porto form, where the jet heeled wide man had terrorised defenders in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. Unfortunately, that player became sporadic, yet this past two month spell has seen that form well and truly revived.

Today at a sunshine bathed Anfield, the Merseyside support witnessed their electric no.23 score goals number four and five for the season, to solidify his elite level status under new leadership.

The first goal was due to a rather hopeful punt forward by the superb Ibou, however, the movement, energy, and opportunistic bravery of the eventual scorer, allowed him to take multiple opponents out of that passage of play (including a bewildered Kepa), before calmly entering the 18-yard box and slotting home. The second goal was about patience and movement, before a clinical strike under the oncoming visiting keeper.

Ultimately, there is a very valid reason by the reds new Sporting CEO, Michael Edwards, made the surprise decsion to name Arne Slot as the successor to a legendary German manager.

The skillset of the current players and variety in their performances needed an elite level coach to oversee and facilitate the successful regeneration. Mass overhaul was never desired, therefore, certain elements that may have struggled under the ‘street football’ of their predecessor, appear jubilant at the arrival of new ideas.

Darwin Núñez was powerful and directed, Alexis Mac Allister sublime and controlled, Ryan Gravenberch impressive once more, whereas Ibrahima Konaté was towering in his defensive work. So many players are playing well, though the overwhelming man of the match was undoubtedly Luis Díaz, who could well take this entire season by storm.

Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction:

Liverpool 2 – 0 Bournemouth