Liverpool were far from their best during a tough Champions League evening in Girona.
The Reds headed into the game in a superb position, having won all five of their previous fixtures in this year’s competition.
Having lost four out of their five of their matches so far, Girona were at the opposite end of the Champions League table and badly needed a win.
The Spanish side started as though they needed the points, too. Alisson Becker was called into action plenty of times as the Brazilian made his first start in over two months.
Ultimately, the game’s pivotal moment came, as it often does, at the left boot of Mohamed Salah.
But before Salah dispatched his penalty, Luis Diaz played a key role for Liverpool. It was the Colombian who drew a clumsy challenge from Donny van de Beek It wasn’t all good from Diaz, though, with Arne Slot spotted delivering a strong message from the side line in the second-half.
(THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Luis Diaz of Liverpool reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Girona F...
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Luis Diaz told to cool down at Girona
Liverpool were not great against Girona. However, their added quality over their opponents eventually told.
Part of that was down to Diaz, who did well to nip in front of Van de Beek and win Liverpool a penalty.
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It was the high point of what was a frustrating night for the £50m man, though.
He picked up a booking for a needless foul and after being denied a free-kick at 1-0 up, Diaz went mad at the referee, in what could easily have been a second bookable offence. From the touchline, Slot urged him to calm down.
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“Arne Slot shouting ‘Lucho’ and pointing at his head, telling Luis Diaz to compose himself after he just gave the ref a rollocking for not giving a foul on him,” journalist Lewis Steele reported on X.
“He’s on a yellow so needs to be a wee bit careful like.”
Liverpool come through frustrating Champions League night
Although Liverpool ultimately got the job done against Girona, Diaz’s reaction in the second-half more or less summed the night up.
It was a struggle at times and there was little fluidity to their play on the night.
Diaz was a bright spark on occasion, showing some attacking intent down the Liverpool left.
However, his frustration at the referee was likely to do with the No.7’s inability to truly get the better of the Girona defence.
Slot took Diaz off shortly after this moment, with Cody Gakpo doing more in his few minutes on the pitch than the Colombian managed.
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