Liverpool's clutch forward in title run-in has NOT been Mohamed Salah

Much of the Liverpool media focus over the last few days has been on Mohamed Salah and his new contract. The Egyptian King is now signed up until 2027 and as expected he has been commanding the attention and grabbing the headlines.

But as the season is drawing to a close and Liverpool close in on their first Premier League title since 2020, there is another forward player outperforming Salah - and everyone else - in the run-in.

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32-year-old Salah has got two goals - both penalties against Southampton - and two assists in his last five Premier League games. And by his own lofty standards, Salah has been enduring a little bit of a cold spell.

By contrast, like him or not, Luis Diaz has become Liverpool’s clutch player over the last number of weeks.

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The overall team performances have been less flowing than they were back in the autumn when a huge table-topping lead. But the one consistent factor of late has been the decisiveness of Diaz.

Diaz steps up for Arne Slot

The 28-year-old has scored in each of his last two league matches and added three assists in each of the three games before that.

Overall the Reds No7 has got five goal contributions in his last five league games, not to mention his stellar performances in the recent international window for Colombia.

In March he scored in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification defeat against Brazil before helping himself to a goal and assist against Paraguay.

It might well be the richest vein of form he’s hit since joining the Reds and certainly strengthens his hand in any prospective contract negotiations.

Out of contract in 2027, Diaz has been locked in a standoff with the club of late. He is reported to earn £55,000 per week - a tiny fraction of the £350,000 per week that Salah makes - and would like a substantial pay rise in order to renew.

But Liverpool have so far failed to meet Diaz’s requirements for a new deal, meaning an impasse has been reached. It leads to a situation where Diaz could well be considered for a sale this summer, with two years left on his contract and his value high.

Can Diaz improve consistency?

However, the sums the club might bank in the transfer market for Diaz must be weighed against his impact on the field this season. He’s got 11 goals and five assists and won two penalties for Arne Slot’s side as they charge towards the title.

For a player often criticised for his “end product” those numbers are pretty impressive.

There is no doubt that Diaz could do with improving his streakiness. Five of his 11 goals came in the first five games of the season while two have come in the last two.

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In between there has admittedly been quite a barren spell. But Diaz has got the quality and at a time when other attackers are failing to step up, he is the one helping the Reds to title.