Luis Diaz ended his match against Leverkusen in the Champions League with the MVP title in hand. Last night at Anfield was one of the most memorable moments of the Colombian striker's career. This was the first time he scored a hat-trick since playing professionally. Since December 2017, with Philippe Coutinho's hat-trick in the Champions League against Spartak Moscow, Liverpool have seen another player of the team do the same.
The Liverpool - Leverkusen match should have focused on Xabi Alonso on his return to his old home country as defending German champions. However, Luis Diaz overshadowed his senior. It was a surprise when captain Arne Slot let Diaz play as a center forward (for the first time in his career). However, the results of the collection exceeded expectations.
Diaz has been called "number 9" many times but those were just based on situation on the pitch and he never started in this role. Arne Slot dared to do it, Luis Diaz dared to play and both of his players succeeded.
"I really like this position. The head coach has made it clear what he wants us to do and everything has gone smoothly. It's not easy for anyone to come here and replace Jurgen Klopp, the whole team needs to continue to maintain this form" - Diaz shared.
One of the reasons Liverpool chose Arne Slot to replace Jurgen Klopp was because when he was at Feyenoord, the Dutch strategist was famous for his ability to develop and improve players. In each tactical meeting at Melwood, he and his assistant team spend a lot of time discussing Diaz. The 27-year-old star benefited a lot from such meticulous coaches on the pitch.
Last season, Diaz scored 13 goals in all competitions after 278 minutes on the field. This season, the South American star has scored 9 goals in just 96 minutes. The tournaments are getting more and more tense and difficult to play, which is a testament to Diaz's remarkable rise.
All three goals against Leverkusen showed the 27-year-old's calmness and sharp attention to opportunities. Diaz's goals are scored in different ways, it also proves Liverpool's flexibility and constantly fluctuating under Slot.
Not only playing according to the formula, the Merseyside team also showed endless inspiration, such as the way Diaz shot into the opponent's net in an unpredictable style. Everything at Anfield is as beautiful as a dream and Diaz certainly does not want to wake up.
"What I feel excited about up to now is that the team still has a lot of potential to develop. We can continue to generate this energy and go further. Some of Liverpool's opponents are struggling to cope with the intensity we have created," said Arne Slot.
