Former Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez has backed Luis Diaz to find the the net in the Champions League final this weekend.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Gonzalez predicted a goal from Liverpool’s flying Colombian against Real Madrid.
“I think he’s going to score!” claimed the Chilean. “He has been showing lately that he’s the kind of player that always has opportunities during a game. I have faith that he can score in the final.”
It would be a fantastic story if Diaz could score for Liverpool on Saturday. His arrival has prompted a brilliant run of form for Liverpool, of which he has played a massive part. A goal in the finale would be a great way to underline that.
Diaz the game-changer
Since arriving in England for a fee of up to £50m in January, Diaz has been truly phenomenal. But if there can be one criticism of his game, it’s perhaps that he hasn’t scored enough.
That might sound harsh. Six goals in 25 games whilst acclimatising to a new country isn’t a bad record. Given the chaos he causes in-front of goal though, it could be so much more.
Diaz always looks to be on the cusp of scoring whenever he gets the ball. The 25-year-old frightens the life out of defenders and things tend to happen when he darts towards goal.
It’s not so much that he has missed big chances, more that he looks so threatening whenever he comes forward. More often that not that has led to opportunities for Liverpool, but not regularly enough has it brought a goal for Diaz.
Nevertheless, he has still come up big when Liverpool have needed him.
His equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur didn’t save The Reds in the title race in the end, but it was a big goal at the time.
Diaz also struck at a crucial time away at Benfica to give The Reds an unassailable 3-1 lead.
The 25-year-old scored openers against Manchester United and Brighton as well as the go-ahead goal away to Villarreal.
Diaz looks set to start in Paris. It’s true that he doesn’t need to be scoring to have a game-changing impact on matches. If he could get one on Saturday though, he would cement his already burgeoning status as a Kop favourite.