One day before Liverpool face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final, Steven Gerrard watched former red Luis Diaz score for Bayern Munich in their tie with Real Madrid
Luis Diaz scoring against Real Madrid for Bayern Munich
A former Liverpool player earned the praise of Steven Gerrard this evening(Image: TNT Sport)
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Steven Gerrard rued Liverpool's decision to sell Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich after the former Red scored against Real Madrid. The Colombian forward departed Anfield to join the Bundesliga heavyweights in the summer.
While Arne Slot's side was spending unprecedented sums on Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and co, Diaz was flogged to Vincent Kompany's side for around £65.5million. He has been a revelation in Bavaria, contributing 23 goals and 18 assists in 39 appearances in all competitions.
Gerrard was in the best seat in the Bernabeu to watch Diaz slide Bayern into a 1-0 lead on the stroke of half time in their Champions League quarter-final clash. After Diaz's excellent finish, the ex-Liverpool skipper admitted he and his former side miss Diaz.
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When asked on TNT Sports if he believes his former side would appreciate having Diaz right now, he replied: "Oh yeah we do (miss him), we miss him a lot.
"He’s been quite quiet in this game, surprisingly. But you can’t sleep when Luis Diaz is about. The timing of his run, his speed, and the finish is exquisite.”
Diaz ghosted behind his former team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold before latching onto a through ball from Serge Gnabry and then firing a first time finish past Andriy Lunin. It could prove to be a huge goal in the context of the tie.
Luis Diaz of FC Bayern Munich scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern München at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 07, 2026 in Madrid, Spain
Gerrard admitted Liverpool miss Diaz in their attack(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Luis has outscored all of Liverpool's players this year, with Ekitike's 17 goal tally for the campaign coming closest to matching him. With Alexander Isak yet to recover from the broken leg he suffered just before Christmas, Diaz's absence will be felt amongst Liverpool fans.
However, Slot made it clear the club has no regrets when it comes to selling him. He said: "Luis Díaz is another example of how this club is run.
“If this club gets for a 28-year-old an offer like that, then, because it is built on sustainability, it chooses to sell a player. We are an exception in the Premier League, especially at the top of the Premier League for that.”
Arne Slot head coach of Liverpool with l0 during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield on December 01, 2024 in Liverpool, England
Slot defended the club's decision to sell Luis Diaz(Image: 2024 Liverpool FC)
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He also suggested Diaz may not have been mentioned has Isak not been absent for so long. The Dutchman added: "Forwards cannot be rotated in the way we would like. It is maybe more fair to say that if Alex had been fit would we have spoken about this as well?”
Slot will have all of his focus dedicated on PSG tomorrow evening. He challenged his side to play against the French side the same way they did in the first 35 minutes against Manchester City on the weekend, when they were on top of the Cityzens.
Slot said: "The first 35 minutes (against City) gives me a lot of confidence that we are able to go toe to toe against a team that, combined with Paris Saint-Germain, is for me one of the best – or the best – two teams in open play."