Luis Diaz has been one of Europe’s form players since joining Bayern Munich last summer, and it has led to plenty of questions about Liverpool’s decision to sell.
It’s fair to say Liverpool have missed Diaz this season, but was selling him as egregious an error as some suggest?
FSG cashed in on the Colombian in the summer window, receiving £65 million from the German champions. He has gone on to notch 14 goals and 10 assists in 24 Bundesliga outings and has an argument for hottest attacker in Europe right now.
But Steve Nicol isn’t accepting of the idea that this was a huge blunder from the Reds. Rather, he thinks hindsight makes it seem that way.
If Gakpo and Salah aren’t to blame for their poor form, then who is? 🤔
Slot was quick to move any blame away from Gakpo after being asked about one goal in nine games…
Cody Gakpo before Leeds United v Liverpool - Premier League
Credit: Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Steve Nicol explains why Liverpool were right to sell Luis Diaz
You never know what the immediate future will look like with a player, especially a forward.
Liverpool decided not to extend Diaz, but to lock down Mohamed Salah for another two years. That now looks like the wrong choice, but that would have been an unpopular opinion at the end of last season.
As Nicol explains on ESPN: “I think you’re spending the money on Isak. You’re spending the money on Wirtz. You have Gakpo, and you’re getting offered what? Nearly 70 million for a guy who’s 29 years old.
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“I mean hindsight’s dead easy isn’t it. I’m thinking now, Diaz doing what he’s doing not just for Liverpool last year but what he’s doing for Bayern, but at the time it seemed like a very sensible and great business deal to get 70 million for a 29-year-old when you already have Gakpo, and then you bring in Wirtz and Isak.
Luis Diaz of Liverpool FC celebrate with Cody Gakpo after scoring opening goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
“So now there weren’t too many people complaining, let me put it that way. All the so-called experts, nobody said Liverpool are crazy, Liverpool are mad. Why are they doing this? Nobody said that at all.”
Nicol is undeniably correct. When the Diaz fee emerged, it looked a fantastic bit of business. Liverpool fans were already giddy over the arrival of Wirtz and the links to Isak — not forgetting Hugo Ekitike.
It now looks a serious fumble, especially with how Gakpo has struggled in the starting role this season, but it feels incredibly harsh to put that on FSG. Sometimes, that’s just how it goes.
Nicol thinks Rio Ngumoha should have been starting already
Ngumoha impressed massively against Wolves, getting a rare start from Arne Slot.
He grabbed the opportunity with both hands, and is now putting pressure on Gakpo for the starting berth.
But Nicol thinks he should have been given that responsibility already.
He remarks: “I would have done it before today’s game. I would have played Ekitike through the middle, and I would have played Ngumoha on the left-hand side, and Gakpo would have sat. That’s what I would have done.”
It feels obvious that Ngumoha isn’t going to be starting against Galatasaray — one of the most hostile atmospheres in Europe.
Discuss: Arne Slot will NOT start Rio Ngumoha against Tottenham… ❌
Arne Slot and Rio Ngumoha during Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
Credit: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images
Exactly what Slot decides for Spurs next weekend, though, will tell us a lot about his intentions with the teenager for the rest of the season.
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