Hindsight is a wonderful thing, everybody an expert at predicting what should have happened a long time after the initial events in question. Such is the case for some Liverpool supporters with the last summer’s exit of Luis Diaz.
With the Reds having struggled to find a consistently impressive performer on the left flank this season, the sight of the Colombian tearing his way through the Paris Saint-Germain defence on Tuesday night would have made the fans in question angry. Very angry indeed.
Diaz won a penalty and scored a goal to keep Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final by restricting the holders to a 5-4 first leg win during the compellingly knockabout clash in France.
Hence the renewed outcry at Liverpool’s decision to allow Diaz to leave in a £65million deal last year. The reality is the attacker had long been open to a departure, and with the Reds – having already agreed deals with thirtysomethings Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah – making little headway in contract talks with Diaz, the offer from the Bundesliga side to make a large profit on a player approaching his 29th birthday was simply too good to turn down.
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However, sound business decisions don’t always equate to sound footballing ones. And with there no doubt Liverpool’s loss has been very much Bayern’s gain, the Anfield hierarchy may be compelled to consider more carefully any future such situations.
That said, the yearning for Diaz from a section of the Liverpool fanbase is a little curious given it was less than two years ago they wanted to wash their hands of the winger due to what they perceived as a lack of numbers in terms of goals and assists.
One year later, Diaz had 20 goal contributions in 36 Premier League games in helping the Reds romp to a record-equalling 20th championship although the player, rather than being exclusively on the left flank, was used for more than a third of the campaign as the central striker.
If there’s one quality Liverpool have missed following Diaz’s departure it is his ability to run forward with the ball quickly and either relieve pressure on the defence or spark a counter-attack. The Reds have simply been unable to get up the pitch fast enough this season and both the rearguard and forward line have suffered as a consequence.
That will no doubt come into Liverpool’s thinking this summer when they assess the make-up of a forward line that will see Salah depart, Federico Chiesa potentially follow and be without the injured Hugo Ekitike for a sizeable chunk of next season.
While teenage winger Rio Ngumoha can expect significantly more minutes, Liverpool will be mindful not to place too much burden on the 17-year-old.
Cody Gakpo can again expect to play an important role regardless of whether down the left or the middle, but lacks the natural attributes the Reds are missing. A fresh face or two is needed, hence the strong links with RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande. Others are being assessed.
There were of course other reasons for regret for some Reds fans watching the Parc des Princes goalfest.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, long linked with Liverpool, has blossomed into one of the world’s best wingers, while Michael Olise put on a performance that has undoubtedly bumped up his asking price beyond the means of almost every club.
Nearly a year on, Liverpool still haven’t found a suitable Diaz replacement. Finding one will be an imperative for the recruitment team this coming transfer window.
