Liverpool took another step closer to Premier League glory, after defeating Newcastle 2-0 at Anfield.
Despite Arne Slot being absent from the touchline, the Reds were still able to make light work of the Magpies, in what was an early insight as to how the Carabao Cup final could play out in two weeks time.
Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring in the first half before Alexis Mac Allister doubled Liverpool’s lead after half-time.
Szoboszlai’s ‘outstanding’ display caught the headlines for Liverpool, but Danny Murphy believes there is another Reds star who also deserves praise for his display versus the Magpies – namely Luis Diaz.
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Danny Murphy hails Luis Diaz’s performance against Newcastle
With Cody Gakpo still not fit enough for 90 minutes, Slot would hand the Colombian international a start on the left flank, with fans impressed by Diaz versus Newcastle.
Murphy has since echoed this praise, claiming the Liverpool man’s impact is starting to become slightly underrated at Anfield. Featuring on Match of the Day, the former midfielder said:
“I’ve picked out Diaz because I think he’s gone under the radar a little bit with all the plaudits a lot of the players are getting.
“He’s a got a wonderful work ethic and attitude to the game wherever he’s asked to play. A lot of the time this season he’s been asked to play that centre-forward role. He was more out wide because Jota played tonight and the first real impact he made was that beautiful pick out for Szoboszlai to relax everyone and then his confidence was up and he was beating people.
“Livramento’s a good full-back, it’s not an easy thing to do, but he was sharp. Loves running in behind without the ball, which we don’t see enough players do in my opinion.
“His close control, travelling up the pitch with the ball on counters when there’s space to break into, makes the right choices and he just looked back to his best.
“He epitomises everything good about this Liverpool team. The quality is there, obviously, but that work ethic that the manager is talking about, he sets the tone so many times. Always does his defensive work, gets back in, nicks the ball off people they don’t see him coming, he’s strong as well.”
Murphy says Diaz is a ‘great’ Sadio Mane replacement
Despite Diaz being linked with a Liverpool exit, the 28-year-old hasn’t let that affect his performances, with his Newcastle display the latest in a long list of impressive cameos.
Having featured on the left-wing instead of through the middle, Murphy believes the Colombian is best suited as a winger rather than a striker.
“For me, although he does a job centrally I think he always looks more comfortable on the left. Obviously with Gakpo having such a great season Slot’s been trying to fit them both in.”
Whilst singing the praises of Diaz, the BBC pundit would even go on to compare him to past great Liverpool wingers like Sadio Mane.
“He was a great replacement for Mane, maybe not quite up to the levels of Mane because he was such a wonderful talent. But he kind of seamlessly fitted into this Liverpool team.”
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