Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool fans will have to wait before new signing Luis Diaz hits top form for the Reds.
The Colombian signed late in the January window to bolster the German’s frontline, which is currently without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane due to their Africa Cup of Nations campaigns.
It is unlikely that Diaz will feature against Cardiff in the FA Cup on Sunday, having not yet trained under Klopp when he faced the media on Friday morning.
The Liverpool boss said: “If he stepped on the pitch and was immediately at his absolute best and playing better than everyone else then it would be really strange.
“He needs time to adapt to it but that doesn't mean I speak about four or five months. I haven't even seen him yet at the training ground so maybe we should wait a little bit!
“We're really happy and excited with the signing, it's a really good sign that we work on all fronts to improve this team. We have to be successful now and in the future so he can help with both.”
Liverpool’s move for Diaz was hastened by Tottenham’s interest in his signature late in the January transfer window, but Klopp insisted that he was a long-term target before the quickfire deal.
“We signed him because we like pretty much everything about him,” said Klopp. “I have followed him for a while, not only since we played Porto twice [in the Champions League this season].
“He is an exceptional player. He has speed, the skillset and the character to have a really good career and we want him to have that career with us.
“Nowadays when you have 16 and 17 year olds playing at the highest level, he maybe is a bit of a late bloomer but they bloom exceptionally well very often.
“I'm really happy we could get him in now. It's a special story so far. We have some players with special stories behind them and I like that. He is one of us now.”
