Jurgen Klopp has revealed the extent of his admiration for Luis Diaz, with the Liverpool winger back to full fitness after being out injured for six months.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the Reds manager lauded the Colombian international having missed the majority of the campaign out on the treatment table, with Diaz returning to action last month against Leeds United and scoring in Liverpool’s 4-3 win against Tottenham.
The 26-year-old has started two of the last four Premier League games for the Anfield side, and there is an expectation that Diaz could be in Klopp’s starting XI to face Leicester City, a game Liverpool simply have to win to keep their top-four hopes alive.
Indeed, Diaz’s return has come at the perfect time for Liverpool, and for Klopp, he can’t help but feel a strong admiration for the winger’s abilities and the quality the former FC Porto man brings to his squad.
“He’s a natural player. I love him, absolutely love him. It’s unbelievable. He’s so football smart, moving in the right areas, naturally defending from his position, goal threat, speed, cheeky. Very, very special player, I have to say. We missed him a lot.”
Klopp knows Diaz will be key in Liverpool’s final Premier League fixtures
Diaz’s attacking influence cannot be understated, with the Colombian international signed as a long-term replacement for Sadio Mane in a transfer that has so far paid off well for Liverpool, and Klopp is aware of how key the forward will be in the coming weeks.
The 26-year-old has the quality to change any game in Liverpool’s favour, and Diaz staying fit and firing in the final three games of the season could be the difference between a top-four finish or an unwelcome return to the UEFA Europa League.
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