The secret behind Luis Diaz's incredible start to the season REVEALED
Luis Diaz has arguably been Liverpool’s best player so far this season.
The Colombian has already netted five goals in the first five Premier League games, steamrolling towards his previous Premier League-highest tally of eight. This includes an opening brace in the 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Right foot, left foot, headers - the winger has emerged into this season as seemingly the total package. Many have been wondering just how much new manager Arne Slot has had to do with this fast-paced growth.
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Asked about anything specific he has been working on with Diaz in today’s pre-match press conference ahead of a trip to Molineux to face Wolves, Slot answered:
“No I don’t think so, not particularly with him. We train on a daily basis trying to get them as best as we can in certain situations and help them in the best possible way. How to position themselves and what to do in certain situations.”
“But it’s mainly, in the last third of the pitch, the quality of the player and the finishing he has” Slot continued, “I think he always had this, and how many goals did he score last season? For me, he was always someone who could score a goal and eight is for his quality, not of his standards.”
“I think he’s just come back to his ‘normal’ situation - maybe he was just a bit unlucky last season. But a player of his quality will always score a lot of goals in every season."
It’s a humble and subdued answer this is increasingly becoming a hallmark of the new Dutchman at the helm. He simultaneously heaps praise on the player, attributing everything to them, whilst saying that there is a focus on positioning and scenario-based work happening on the training ground. There is incredible excitement in the idea that Diaz has taken on the confidence and advice so quickly without any specific hard work needing to be done. It points to a player who can emerge as a top-level star for this Liverpool team going forward.
Slot’s pedigree as a manager is becoming self-evident. His breakdown of how he analysed Manchester United’s system post-game live on Sky Sports indicated the type of brain the manager has. It’s not just Diaz who has shown immediate progression either - Ryan Gravenberch has shot out of the gates in defensive midfield, Alexis Mac Allister is showing aggression not previously seen, and Trent Alexander-Arnold started the year in mid-season form.
Whatever Slot’s doing it’s working. Whilst it’s bound to slow down, Diaz’s going rate of a goal a game will surely result in his best season on Merseyside so far. We just have to hope it continues.