Liverpool’s performance last night can be separated into two parts. The first half, which was subpar, and then the second which was simply sublime. But there are reasons why not everything went according to plan in the first half against Bournemouth.
Jurgen Klopp fielded an experimental front three. And there was a debutant in the back line as well. Things were always going to take a bit of time to gel.
In the end, it was a few changes Jurgen Klopp made at half-time which reaped rewards for Liverpool. Including changing the position of a player who Klopp admits struggled in the first half.
Jurgen Klopp on Luis Diaz
In the first-half Klopp put Luis Diaz on the right-wing. But the Colombian struggled to make an impact on the game. And speaking in his post-match interview as per the club’s official website, Klopp admitted the Colombian didn’t play well in the first half.
“Lucho [Luis Diaz] struggled slightly on the right wing and Diogo played an OK game, I think, but we had not a lot of moments there, to be honest,” Klopp said.
“So, we had to make a decision [to] bring Darwin in his position and bring Lucho in his position and ask Diogo to do the job there. Diogo is, how I said, they can all play [on] the right wing, and he did before, but on top of that [he’s] a really smart player, but in general we just started playing better [in the] midfield as well.”
In the end, those changes were what made the difference for Liverpool and what turned the Reds’ performance into a sublime one. For Liverpool’s first goal it was notable that Jota set-up the chance from the right, Diaz drew out the opposition on the left, and Nunez finished it off through the middle.
Once all three were playing in their preferred roles, things just clicked into gear for Liverpool. Diaz himself looked a lot more lively, and threatening. Liverpool’s £37m (as per Sky Sports) acquisition is very much still a key player for the club.
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