Michael Owen was told that Luis Diaz clicked at Liverpool ‘within seconds’ of his first training session. The Colombian is making waves.
Luis Diaz has been endlessly impressive since joining Liverpool in January. The winger appears to only be around right now because Tottenham Hotspur wanted him – the Reds seemingly wanted to wait for the summer.
Thank God for Spurs, then. Liverpool brought in Diaz early and he’s already playing a key role in their trophy hunt. He’s already got one – the EFL Cup – and is in the starting XI as the Reds chase the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
It’s remarkable, really. Liverpool are one of the strongest teams in the world and a notoriously difficult one to adapt to. The likes of Fabinho and Andy Robertson took months before clicking with the side. Naby Keita, arguably, still hasn’t found his best rhythm within the team.
Yet Diaz has been a wonderful fit since he arrived. In fact, he’s apparently been a good fit since the very first seconds of training with Liverpool. That’s according to Michael Owen, who discussed Diaz with Liverpool vice-captain James Milner.
“I was talking to James Milner about the new lad, Diaz,” Owen told BT Sport. “He said within seconds, he was just up to speed.
“He watched and looked around, as soon as he was down in training he was up and closing down. [Milner] says he was just a Liverpool player, straight away. From the first training session.”
Luis Diaz at Liverpool
It was apparent before Diaz arrived at Liverpool that he was a top player. We bought into the hype, anyway, and always hoped he’d arrive at the club.
We couldn’t possibly predict how seamlessly he’d integrate into the front-three, however. Diaz has been a revelation there, offering the pressing and wing-play that the Reds crave. That’s allowed Sadio Mané to play centrally with wonderful effect.
And the best part? Diaz should only improve with time. We might see an even better version of the Colombian next season after he’s had a full pre-season with Liverpool. A scary thought.