Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has claimed that he was amazed by Luis Diaz’s speed when playing against him for Liverpool last year.
Speaking to LFCTV after day two of Liverpool’s pre-season schedule, Oxlade-Chamberlain was asked about new signing Darwin Nunez. After praising the 23-year-old, Ox then compared him to Liverpool’s speedy Colombian.
“Darwin, we played against and saw him first hand,” he said. “I think everything we saw in those games he reminded me a little bit of Luis (Diaz) when we played against him when he was at Porto. He’s (Diaz) that sort of player you know what you’re going to get from, the athleticism, the speed, the strength, the power, it was the same with him (Nunez).
“I remember having to chase Luis back at Anfield at one point, he made he stick it into fifth gear and then try and find sixth to keep up with him, and you sort of remember those things. When he walked through the door that was the first thing I remembered – don’t try to get in a race with him if I’m expected to win!”
Ox is no slouch once he gets going, but not many can live with the sheer pace of Liverpool’s number 23.
From rivals in Portugal to teammates at Anfield
The thought of Diaz and Nunez linking up for Liverpool is a hugely exciting one.
For fans in Portugal, it may be a little strange. Having been on opposite sides of perhaps the most intense rivalry in the country, they’re now teammates.
That may take some getting used to for fans of Benfica and Porto. For Liverpool supporters though, the two players linking up can’t come soon enough.
Between them they scored 56 goals last season. If they can translate that into working in tandem, then Liverpool are absolutely onto a winner.
The earliest opportunity to see the two working together will be next Tuesday as The Reds take on Manchester United. Diaz is certain to feature having returned to the AXA Training Centre at the start of this week.
We may have to wait a little longer for Darwin, though. The Uruguayan isn’t scheduled to arrive in Liverpool until this weekend.
There’s no need for Jurgen Klopp to throw him in immediately, although the sooner he can start getting used to his new teammates, the better.
It’s been a summer of change for Liverpool this year. For so long, we’d got used to seeing the same faces make up the Reds attack.
With new signings comes a degree of uncertainty, but Ox’s testament goes to show the expectation that Diaz and Nunez are set for a big season at Anfield.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
