Liverpool have suffered three consecutive defeats this season across competitions after a strong start.
Former Liverpool star points out one missing factor in Arne Slot's team originally appeared on The Sporting News
Liverpool were off to a flying start this season with five straight wins in Premier League and most fans were already claiming that the Reds are on course to defend the league title.
However, things changed drastically last weekend when Crystal Palace snatched a late winner as Liverpool suffered their first defeat of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
They followed it up with another defeat in Istanbul where they lost to Galatasaray 1-0 in the midweek Champions League clash.
Eventually, they were also undone by Chelsea as substitute Estevao Willian came up with a late winner to beat the defending champions 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool in these fixtures lacked creativity in attack as they hardly created any chances against Galatasaray and also played a dull first half against Chelsea.
Following the defeat, former Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge highlighted the primary missing factor in Arne Slot's squad.
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"Luis Diaz is a massive miss for me," the former striker told Sky Sports after Saturday’s game. “When we look at Liverpool last year and how they used to press, I think he was arguably the one who would set the press in the front three. Szoboszlai in midfield was that person, but for me Luis Diaz, how tenacious he is on the ball, hungry to get the ball back for his team, interceptions, he brought something to Liverpool Football Club that they are now missing."
"Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz, I’m not saying they don’t work hard, we can’t question Wirtz’s work rate or Isak and Ekitike’s quality. But they’re attack-minded players. I think Luis Diaz, he would sacrifice himself a little bit more defensively.
"That’s the one thing they have to figure out in attack, who’s going to give themselves up a little bit and say I’m maybe not searching for the numbers. There always has to be one guy in a front three who is not stats hungry.
"It’s important to understand which one is going to be our workhorse, which one is going to be our guy who we’re going to let do what he wants to do, and which one is going to be a hybrid of both. Right now I’m not sure the manager quite knows what he’s going to do with that."
Luis Diaz has had a terrific start to life at Bayern Munich
Diaz was Liverpool's biggest sale this summer as he moved to Bayern Munich for a reported transfer fee of €75 million, including add-ons.
Initially there was a lot of skepticism around his signing considering his age and the high transfer fee but the Colombian won everyone over with his exceptional performances for the Bavarians.
The 28-year-old has already netted six goals and four assists in the first 10 appearances for his new club and apart from his statistics it is his relentless pressing, tracking back and work ethic which has earned a lot of plaudits.
Diaz looks like an ideal fit in Vincent Kompany's system in Bavaria as they have won all of their first 10 games this season across competitions and the Colombian has played a major role in it.
On the other hand, all is not lost for Liverpool as they have only dropped to second position in the Premier League points table but these still early days into the new season.
However, in matches against Galatasaray and Chelsea, Slot missed someone with Diaz's guile and tenacity in attack to make things happen.
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Category: General Sports
