As Luis Diaz continues to go from strength to strength at Bayern Munich, Liverpool’s decision to let him leave last summer has looked like a catastrophic mistake.
The Colombian underlined his status as one of the best wingers in the world with a sensational performance – and a brilliantly taken goal – in Tuesday’s pulsating Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
But while it is inarguable that Diaz has had a terrific campaign with Bayern, the rewriting of history about his three-and-a-half years with Liverpool is utterly baffling.
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Fernando Torres reacts during the Legends football match between Liverpool Legends and Ajax Legends at Anfield. Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino playing in a Europa League clash against Rangers.
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Yes, the Reds made a mistake in selling the 29-year-old without an adequate replacement last summer, but the fact of the matter is that Diaz‘s sale made absolutely perfect sense to Liverpool at the time. And though he is making many question it, that remains the case eight months on.
Diaz never displayed his Bayern form for Liverpool
Had Diaz been playing at his current level during the 2024/25 campaign, there is no question that he would have still been at the club right now.
However, while he was arguably Liverpool’s second-best attacker behind Mohamed Salah, it seems to have been quickly forgotten by some that the former Porto man went through an appalling run of one goal in 18 appearances during the crucial spring period.
He may have ended the campaign with a respectable 13 Premier League goals, but much of these strikes came while he was playing as an auxiliary number nine. As a threat from wide, Diaz was all too often non-existent. Hard-working, but ultimately ineffective and with an erratic end product.
Luis Diaz pictured in a Premier League game between Liverpool and Arsenal.
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Having initially made an explosive impact after signing in January 2022, injuries robbed Liverpool of the Diaz they thought they’d signed, and though he was still crucial to winning an impressive number of trophies for the Reds, he became more of a hard-working, but all-too often lacking in quality option.
Diaz has flourished in a lesser league
It can often be a fool’s errand to compare different players in different leagues, and there are always examples either way.
But for an attacker who thrives on having space on the pitch, moving to the Bundesliga has clearly helped Diaz.
Some will point to the fact that he is flourishing on the biggest stage having shone – and scored brilliantly – against Real Madrid and PSG this season, but that likely has plenty to do with the fact that, on a week to week basis, he is being given space and time to save his legs and get at his full-back in prime conditions.
Can anyone seriously say with a straight face that Diaz would have registered anything like the 26 goals 17 assists he has for Bayern had he stayed at Liverpool this season? Last year’s tally of 17 goals in all competitions was his best for the Reds, while he never registered more than five assists.
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Playing for a team expected to comfortably win every week has distorted his numbers. While that shouldn’t take away from Diaz’s season, it does reframe the argument that Liverpool should not have sold him.
He was out of his depth trying to change games for Liverpool against teams who would not let him have space or time. Diaz has found a better level for himself, and that is absolutely fine.
Liverpool can still sign an improvement on Diaz
Despite the current desire to paint Liverpool as inept in their decision to let Diaz leave, there was a feeling last summer that it was the right timing for everybody.
Part of the thinking from Liverpool’s side appears to have been that they had a prodigious talent coming through in Rio Ngumoha, and did not want to block his pathway.
Although many supporters feel he should have been used more this season, Ngumoha would surely have played even less had Diaz been around.
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Whatever fans’ think of Slot’s use of his 17-year-old gem, it is clear that the exposure to first-team games has been excellent for his longer term development. That would not have happened had Diaz stayed.
Moreover, Liverpool are all set to finally replace Diaz during this summer’s transfer window.
Though they would do well to find somebody who can replicate the numbers he has posted for Bayern this season, Liverpool can surely find a younger model who can, in time, be just as effective in a much more competitive environment.
Given the respective form of Diaz and his former club this season, it is easy to point to his sale as being a significant factor in Liverpool’s decline, but this is far too simplistic. From every way you look at it, selling him for £65.5m was a good deal for everyone involved. It is time to let this one go, and instead look ahead to who Liverpool can bring in to make the argument redundant once and for all this summer.
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