Jan Aage Fjortoft has named two Liverpool players who are ‘fun to watch’ but fall short of being worthy of ‘top class’ billing.

The Reds’ recent games have been characterised by the profligacy of their forwards, with a succession of chances not converted in the 2-2 draw at Manchester United and 0-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.

Speaking on ESPN FC on Sunday night after the latter result, the ex-Middlesbrough striker picked out Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz as two examples of attackers who lack the true cold-blooded instinct of the world’s best players in that position.

Fjortoft said: “Against Manchester United, [Liverpool] had ten chances. Today against Crystal Palace, maybe not the best play, but they still created ten chances.

“Let’s be honest, Nunez is not a top, top class striker. Diaz is not a top class striker. They are great players, they are fun to watch, they’ve got energy when they’re on top of their game, but they’re not the goalscorer who you’d say ‘yeah, they’re will get 20-30 goals’. No chance.”

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The South American duo haven’t had a bad season by any means, with the Uruguayan netting 18 goals and the Colombian on 13 (Transfermarkt), but unfortunately the 24-year-old’s form has deserted him at the worst possible time for Liverpool.

Nunez has netted just once in his last six games, and even that was fortuitous one against Sheffield United. Diaz, to be fair, has two goals and an assist in his previous four Premier League outings, although it was concerning that he only took one shot during his 66 minutes on the pitch yesterday.

They can both be lethal when at their best, but neither has been at the top of their game recently. Hopefully they can enjoy a hot streak in the final five weeks of the campaign and send an emphatic message to their critics.

You can view Fjortoft’s comments below (from 4:59), via ESPN FC on YouTube:

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Neil Lennon was left suitably impressed by one ‘absolutely brilliant’ move that almost forced a Luis Diaz equaliser.

The Colombian (signed for £37m in January 2022) went for the sensational with a scissor kick that severely challenged opposing No.1 Dean Henderson in the Crystal Palace box.

“Absolutely brilliant football. What a save, what a move. Luis Diaz scissor kicks that in the air and it almost goes in, Henderson has to punch it away. It’s brilliant football,” the former Celtic boss spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live (via BBC Sport).

Eberechi Eze, sadly, was the man to break the deadlock after some lax defending in the Reds’ box.

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Liverpool not learning lessons

It’s difficult to come away from observing the first half of action at Anfield feeling as if lessons have been learned.

Once again, we’ve appeared too slack and lethargic in key defensive moments, whilst not capitalising on a bajillion scoring opportunities in the final third.

In the context of it being Jurgen Klopp’s final season at L4, not to mention one of the German’s three final home games, it’s especially disappointing.

This wasn’t the right time for everything to fall apart, Liverpool. This shouldn’t have been in the script.

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Liverpool are now understood to be actively considering handing an improved contract to in-form wide man Luis Diaz.

Pipe Sierra, the journalist who first reported on the Colombian’s move to Anfield in 2022, shared the update in question on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday.

This comes amid reported interest from European competitors like Luis Enrique’s PSG.

The 27-year-old’s current terms are set to expire in the summer of 2027.

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Luis Diaz to sign a new contract at Liverpool?

With his contract not expiring for another three years, we’d imagine the former FC Porto star to be a little lower down the priority list.

Bear in mind Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah are all contracts set to run out in 2025 – we’d very much expect this to be the core focus of any pre-summer talks.

That said, we’d be far from opposed to further protecting our 13-goal winger’s value and keeping him happy at a club he’s once again found form for.

Who are the interested parties?

PSG, for one, have been touted as potential suitors this summer ahead of Kylian Mbappe’s impending exit.

Diaz’s father, Luis Manuel Diaz Jimenez, has spoken very publicly of his and his son’s dream of playing in Spain.

The likely option in this case would, one imagine, be Barcelona. However, the financial difficulties that continue to plague the Catalaonia-based outfit will likely preclude them from making any kind of deal.

Barring a truly exceptional offer elsewhere from a side meeting the Barrancas-born attacker’s ambitions, we just can’t see him leaving Liverpool this summer.

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Liverpool fans love a new chant and in Luis Diaz, we have the name behind the latest tune that is growing in momentum on the terraces.

After his goal at Old Trafford, the travelling Kop were belting out his name and the club have now shared the lyrics to the newest entry to our songbook.

READ MORE: (Video) How Klopp reacted to abuse from Old Trafford crowd was perfect

The words: “Luis Diaz, he’s from Barrancas, and he plays for Liverpool…”  were shared on the club’s social media account.

There is a verse that precedes this which hasn’t been sung as loud yet, so it will be interesting to see which version takes off in the coming weeks.

You can watch the lyrics to the new Diaz song via @LFC on X:

"Luis Diaz, he's from Barrancas, and he plays for Liverpool…" pic.twitter.com/B5pDchE3IG

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 8, 2024

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Liverpool were ultimately left frustrated by their 2-2 draw against Manchester United on Sunday, but one moment in particular had the away support bouncing at Old Trafford.

The visitors struck first through Luis Diaz in the 23rd minute, with the Colombian turning the ball home from close range after Darwin Nunez’s flick-on header from a Reds corner.

The away end inevitably erupted when that goal went in, gleefully belting out the boisterous chant in the 27-year-old’s name in response to him giving us the lead against our eternal rivals.

Unfortunately the mood wasn’t as jubilant at full-time, but we can only imagine how euphoric it must’ve been in that corner of Old Trafford straight after Lucho found the net!

You can view the Diaz chant below, via @TheAnfieldWrap on X:

Luis Diaz, He’s from Barracas, and he plays for Liverpool…

The Luis Diaz song in our end yesterday pic.twitter.com/EMeB6Ux39A

— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) April 8, 2024

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Our draw against Manchester United could be hugely costly to our chances of winning the Premier League and will likely mean that many Liverpool fans don’t even watch the game back.

However, that doesn’t mean that some positive parts should be applauded and one such moment came from Luis Diaz at the end of the match.

READ MORE: (Video) Liverpool’s missed Old Trafford chances make for tough watching

With the game in the 97th minute, our No.7 never gave up and kept the ball on the pitch before driving at the Old Trafford defence.

This then led to the Colombian winning a free-kick and we should all applaud the desire from the winger.

You can watch Diaz’s run courtesy of Sky Sports (via @REALBURNAR on X):

pic.twitter.com/5qBBw7RR0M

— . (@REALBURNAR) April 7, 2024

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Liverpool have been looking for their statement win on their way to a potential second league title under Jurgen Klopp.

Luis Diaz may have put the visitors on the way to an important victory at Old Trafford with a superb first-time finish in the United box.

Darwin Nunez had set up his Colombian teammate with a cute flick-on from a corner.

How many goal contributions for the duo now this season?

You can catch the clip below, courtesy of Sky Sports:

Liverpool draw first blood through Luis Diaz 🩸 pic.twitter.com/U6kbaO0nPZ

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 7, 2024

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Luis Diaz is enjoying the form of his life at Liverpool at the minute.

The Colombian international has been the Reds’ gamechanger since the turn of the year, contributing incredible work ethic and goal contributions on the pitch.

The former FC Porto man has yet to get on the scoresheet just yet in our meeting with Sheffield United, though that hasn’t stopped him from terrorising the opposition with his dribbling ability.

You can catch the clip below, courtesy of @HMz290:

pic.twitter.com/JCrZGJ7LcU

— – (@Hmz290) April 4, 2024

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Jamie Carragher’s latest comments on Liverpool’s Luis Diaz could yet divide the fanbase ahead of the summer.

The Champions League-winning ex-defender posited the question as to whether the arrival of a new manager at Anfield would see the Colombian shipped off in the summer.

The Merseysiders are poised for fresh blood and fresh ideas in the managerial hotseat following Jurgen Klopp’s decision to set an earlier end date to his time at L4.

“I’d be really interested in summer. With Liverpool getting a new manager, would that be a position that Liverpool could look at in the summer? Wide left,” the former Red spoke on The Overlap. “I think Diaz is good, I don’t think he’s great.”

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Will Liverpool sell Luis Diaz this summer?

If you’d asked that question prior to the turn of the year, you might have had a few takers.

However, with the greatest of respect to Carragher, we personally reckon he’s got this one wrong.

Since the turn of the year – earlier if you ask Neil Jones – the 27-year-old has been in phenomenal form.

It’s a particularly significant change of pace for the forward given we were effectively reliant on his goal contributions in a period spanning the end of January and early March. The same period, mind, when Mo Salah was spending a great deal of time on the treatment table.

Papa Diaz throws a spanner into the works

Yes, Diaz’s father has made it clear more than once that his son would like an opportunity to play in La Liga at some point in his career.

It wouldn’t be the first time Liverpool have had to navigate the challenge of Spain’s gravitational pull for South American players.

That said, if the former FC Porto winger isn’t pushing for an exit, we should be doing everything we can to keep him at the club.

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Luis Diaz’s form has not gone unnoticed by Neil Jones following a productive 2024 for the Colombian international.

The former GOAL journalist credited the 27-year-old with being a particularly influential presence for Liverpool since their December victory over Burnley.

“He scores goals that you’d want from your forward players. It’s all well and good cutting in and smacking goals in from 25 yards. You might be able to do that once in a blue moon, but it’s the other goals that pay the rent,” the Covering Liverpool reporter shared in his latest EOTK Insider column.

“I thought Diaz was excellent! How unlucky was he to not have another one with that offside decision that was a hair’s breadth at the back post? What an assist that would have been from Salah too!

“I think Diaz, to be fair, has been excellent since coming off the bench on Boxing Day at Burnley and setting up a goal for Diogo Jota. Since then, I feel he’s rediscovered his mojo and he’s kept on getting better.

“If Liverpool do go on to win the league and Europa League, you’ll have to say Luis Diaz has made a huge contribution to that. When they were short of bodies, he certainly stepped up.”

The ex-FC Porto wide man has registered nine goal contributions since the turn of the year (in 16 appearances across all competitions).

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Luis Diaz is a gamechanger for Liverpool

It’s worth pointing out that Jurgen Klopp was without chief goalscorer Mo Salah for a significant chunk of games between mid-January and early March.

In the six league fixtures the Egyptian spent in the treatment room, Diaz registered five goal contributions to help us through a packed schedule.

If there were any doubts over what our January 2022 £37m signing brings to this side and whether he can genuinely impact games when required – they’ve been since firmly dispelled following his return from injury.

Luis is a bona fide game-changer at Anfield and we’re all here for it.

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Liverpool fans enjoyed a great day on Easter Sunday and Jurgen Klopp was as delighted as supporters with the result but also wanted to credit the performance of some players individually.

Speaking after the game, the boss said: “We need all the boys. Darwin [Nunez] opened up so many spaces for us, Lucho [Diaz] was incredible, so they all were really good today.”

READ MORE: (Video) Joe Gomez floors Brighton opponent with embarrassing ease

Darwin Nunez had a proper No.9 performance where he kept the Brighton defence busy but it was also great to hear such praise for Luis Diaz.

The 27-year-old has been in fine form of late and his goal-scoring impact was just part of an all-round great display for the Reds.

You can watch Klopp’s comments on Nunez and Diaz (from 6:22) via Liverpool FC on YouTube:

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One single word from Darwin Nunez perfectly captured the mood of triumph among the Liverpool squad in the immediate aftermath of the 2-1 win over Brighton today.

Yet again the Reds had to do it the hard way, falling behind to a Danny Welbeck goal inside two minutes before Luis Diaz and Mo Salah turned things around to send Jurgen Klopp’s side top of the table for a few hours at least.

LFC’s social media team uploaded footage of the players making their way back to the dressing room just after full-time, with the Uruguayan particularly exultant.

As Nunez passed the camera, he screamed ‘VAMOS!’ in a clear and succinct expression of his delight with the result, which Liverpool had to earn after a nervy conclusion to the game.

It’s exactly that kind of passion and spirit which encapsulates why Reds fans adore the 24-year-old, who’ll hopefully be bellowing that word of triumph a few more times before the season ends.

You can view the footage of Nunez and his teammates below, via @LFC on X:

Vamos pic.twitter.com/SrKvS3a1zp

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 31, 2024

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Leon Osman was full of praise for one ‘lively’ Liverpool player during the Reds’ 2-1 win over Brighton at Anfield on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s side fought back from conceding in the first two minutes to prevail over the Seagulls, and while Mo Salah netted the winner, Luis Diaz got the all-important equaliser shortly before the half-hour mark.

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Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the former Everton midfielder was hugely impressed by the Colombian’s performance today.

Osman gushed: “Luis Diaz has been lively since scoring his goal in the first half. He’s really enjoyed being out there and has had a really good game.”

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Aside from restoring parity for Liverpool after that nightmare start, Diaz was indeed instrumental to the Reds coming out on top today.

As per Sofascore, the 27-year-old completed 34 of his 37 passes (92% success), played two key passes, created two big chances, won four duels and took four shots on total during his 89 minutes on the pitch.

The Liverpool Echo‘s Ian Doyle gave the Colombian a 7/10 in his post-match player ratings, noting how our number 7 ‘grew in confidence’ after the equaliser and put in a ‘proper shift’ during the second half.

Diaz now has four goals and three assists in his last eight Premier League games (Transfermarkt), and he’s showing dynamic form at the perfect time for LFC, who remain firmly in the title hunt after today’s hard-fought win over Brighton.

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Luis Diaz showed his predatory instincts to equalise for Liverpool against Brighton this afternoon.

The Reds recovered from the shock of conceding to a Danny Welbeck goal inside two minutes to draw level shortly before the half-hour mark.

A corner kick from the home side led to Joel Veltman botching his attempted clearance and the Colombian forward being alive to the loose ball to steer it past Bart Verbruggen from close range.

Brighton players shouted for offside but a brief VAR check confirmed the goal for Diaz.

You can view Lucho’s equaliser below, via @SkySportsPL on X:

Luis Díaz pounces and Liverpool are LEVEL! pic.twitter.com/CUdpsZcpUX

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 31, 2024

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Liverpool players are preparing for our game with Brighton but it doesn’t seem that Mo Salah has been best pleased with two of his teammates.

Thanks to a video from inside the training ground, we can hear our No.11 telling off Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz for playing football in the gym.

READ MORE: Paul Joyce names the two candidates in line to take Liverpool job after Alonso blow

We know that our Egyptian King is a big fan of preparing for a game with and without a ball and clearly wants to keep both sides of this seperate!

You can view the video of Salah, Szoboszlai and Diaz courtesy of LFC TV:

Mo Salah telling off Szoboszlai and Diaz off for playing football in the gym. pic.twitter.com/slDFB4Ihwo

— Samuel (@SamueILFC) March 28, 2024

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