Luis Diaz has his sights set on achieving more in the Premier League, hinting at an extended stay with Liverpool. The 28-year-old forward has been instrumental in Liverpool’s commanding lead in the league this season, contributing to a 13-point advantage at the summit of the table.
With 13 goals across various competitions, Diaz has been versatile, playing on the left wing and centrally. His tireless work ethic and smart movement have complemented Mohamed Salah’s striking prowess perfectly. Despite rumors swirling about his future before the season and recent transfer links, Diaz, in a chat with Liverpool club media, shared his aspirations which suggest he’s not ready to leave Anfield just yet.
“Now and again, I find out about the stats when people post them on social media,” he commented on being the fourth-highest-scoring Colombian in Premier League history. “But how nice it is to be getting close to such great fellow Colombian players like Hugo [Rodallega] and all the others.
“It’s a real pleasure for me to be right there close behind them and I realize that maybe I will catch them at some point. You could say that it’s another one of those personal targets that I have. I know that things are going well for me and I’m in decent form.
“What I want the most is to keep making history and, first and foremost, that Colombians who come over to England to play really leave their mark. That’s key for us all now to give a positive image of our country, just like they all did. Now those of us here are trying to do just that. I’m very happy with that and we hope to continue doing the same things in future.”
Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel currently sits at the top of the scoring charts with 44 goals. Meanwhile, Diaz has netted 25 times for the Reds, trailing behind Rodallega (29) and Hamilton Ricard (31). Diaz also candidly discussed how Slot has handled the squad’s rotation, especially when it comes to the forward line.
(Image: Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images)
Even though Salah remains an ever-present figure, players such as Diaz himself, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, and Darwin Nunez have all seen a fair share of shuffling within the attacking formation. The Reds’ number seven recognizes the challenging decisions Slot faces.
He appreciates Slot’s skill in managing the team, stating: “He’s known just exactly how to manage the group and every single player that he has in the squad because it cannot be easy for any coach when he has two or three excellent alternatives for each position on the field to make decisions on who to play and who to leave out.”
According to Diaz, it’s a tough call, but Slot has risen to the challenge and instilled confidence in every player under his wing. In his debut season with the Reds, after arriving in January, Diaz came tantalizingly close to tasting success in both the league and Champions League, yet ultimately fell short. He did, however, celebrate victories in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
Liverpool.com says: Diaz has done well when filling in down the center but his best role is clearly off the left flank. If Jota can stay fit and Diaz and Gakpo can share the minutes on the wing, that could be a vital element in determining how the rest of the season goes and how many trophies Arne Slot wins in his debut campaign on Merseyside.
