Arne Slot was asked about Luis Diaz, the former Liverpool forward now in fantastic form for Bayern Munich, in the embargoed section of his Liverpool press conference
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates with Liverpool's Luis Diaz during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 27, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Arne Slot celebrates with Luis Diaz after the Champions League match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield on November 27, 2024(Image: Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Arne Slot believes it is unfair to pass judgement on Liverpool's revamped forward line given the lengthy absence for much of the season of British record signing Alexander Isak. Despite notching 21 times in their last seven games in all competitions, the Reds have overall struggled to match their goal-laden form of last season's Premier League when they were top scorers on the way to the title.
Their tally of 40 from 25 top-flight games is 20 fewer than they had managed at this stage last term, with five other clubs having netted more times in the top flight this campaign.
While £79million Hugo Ekitike has impressed with 15 goals in 33 outings, Isak has been limited to just three in 16 appearances having suffered a number of fitness concerns, the most recent of which saw him break his leg at Tottenham Hotspur before Christmas.
Mohamed Salah has experienced an alarming drop in output with a mere six goals this season, only one of which has come since November, while Cody Gakpo has struggled to make a consistent impact on the left.
Gakpo's form has prompted several observers to question the £65.5m summer sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, where the Colombian winger has managed 18 goals and 14 assists in 30 games having delivered 25 goal contributions for Liverpool last season.
And asked if Liverpool were missing Diaz, Slot said: "You always miss good football players. He was so important for us last season, but he wasn’t the only one.
"There were more players that were influential in our results. But I think we have replaced them with very good players as well.
"It is maybe more fair to say that if Alex had been fit, would we have spoken about it then as well?"
Slot added: "Luis Diaz is another example of how this club is run. If this club gets for a 28-year-old an offer like that then this club, because it is built on sustainability, chooses to sell a player and we are an exception in the Premier League, especially at the top of the Premier League, for that.
"But that is why it is also so nice that we are able to achieve the things we have achieved in the last few years with that model.
"But he is doing very well at Bayern and that is not a surprise to me."