Michael Owen says ‘electric’ Luis Diaz slotted in at Liverpool like Nicolas Anelka

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Michael Owen sees a real comparison between Luis Diaz and Nicolas Anelka at Liverpool. The Colombian is already making waves.

Luis Diaz arrived at Liverpool with a lot of hype – hype we considered entirely justified. After all, Diaz was scoring for fun from the left-wing at FC Porto and shined wonderfully for Colombia at Copa America last year.

But as with any signing, you’ve got to limit your expectations. Will they adjust to a new country, club and management team? Will they fit in with their new teammates? And, in Diaz’s case, could he shine as Liverpool’s third-best attacking option, rather than being the main man?

Well, a little over a month in, the answers are ‘Yes, ‘Yes’ and ‘Yes’. Diaz looks like a sensational signing and Liverpool appear to have a new star in the making.

Michael Owen certainly believes that’s the case. In fact, he’s seen an immediate impact like this before – and that gets him very excited.

“We all know he’s got talent, when he runs with the ball he’s electric, he can score goals, he can do a lot,” Owen told Goal about Diaz. “But as soon as Liverpool lost the ball, it was like ‘wow’. I’d seen it before, from Salah, Mane, Firmino, Jota. 

“He just seems to fit like a glove. He looks like the definition of a Liverpool player. That red shirt suits him, for sure.

“Sometimes a player comes in and you just know right away that they belong. I remember [Nicolas] Anelka coming in [in 2001], and thinking ‘wow, this lad can play!’ He’s the one that stands out from my career, as making a big first impression, but Diaz has certainly done that.”

Luis Diaz impresses at Liverpool

Well, thank God Diaz is already here permanently, then. Anelka, of course, shone in Red but only on loan – and then Liverpool failed to make the deal permanent. Instead, they signed El-Hadji Diouf in one of the biggest transfer blunders in the club’s history.

But as Owen says, it’s always nice when a player can slot right in like this. Anelka did it and Diaz is certainly the latest example – and that immediately improves Liverpool.

This was already a side that fancied their chances in the Premier League and Champions League. With Diaz impressing already, those chances only improve.