The sight of Luis Diaz’s name in Liverpool’s initial 33-man travelling squad for their mid-season training camp in Dubai was a most-welcome one - but fans will now be keeping their fingers crossed following his latest setback.
The Colombian has certainly been missed since limping off against Arsenal, and his return can’t come soon enough.
Signed for an initial £37m in January, the winger has been a revelation ever since he first stepped through the door at Anfield and while Mohamed Salah is looking to win the Fans' Footballer of the Year award for a third time, Diaz deserves a maiden success. Certainly, you’d imagine it won’t be long before club bosses are having to sign off on that full £49m transfer fee with activated add-ons.
VOTE: Make your decision on Liverpool's Fans' Footballer of the Year
It’s easy to forget that the Reds’ Premier League title challenge had seemingly died back in January when the club opportunistically moved for Diaz, snatching him from under Tottenham’s noses to sign him a transfer window earlier than planned.
Jurgen Klopp’s men might have claimed back-to-back Premier League wins over Brentford and Crystal Palace since damaging draws with Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea and defeat at Leicester City over the festive period, but they still trailed league-leaders Man City by nine points as January turned to February.
It would admittedly be simplistic to suggest that Diaz’s arrival was the sole difference-maker as Liverpool came within a whisker of winning an unprecedented quadruple. But it can’t be disputed that the winger gave them a welcome shot to the arm that they were able to ride home off the back of until May.
An assist within 10 minutes of coming off the bench for his debut against Cardiff City, despite what Opta might pedantically claim otherwise, the 25-year-old hasn’t looked back since.
And with Anfield bosses well-aware that a Sadio Mane summer exit was imminent, Diaz has already established himself as a perfect replacement for the Senegalese.He returned six goals and five assists during his first half-season at Anfield, shining in the League Cup final and delivering memorable goals against the likes of Benfica, Villarreal and Manchester United.
Throw in his efforts before injury this season and he now has 10 goals and eight assists from 38 appearances in Red.
Yet Diaz is only getting started. He made a massive difference for Liverpool in 2022 and will only get better. Further silverware is certain to follow with the Colombian in Klopp’s new-look attacking trio, and, having played such a crucial, exciting role for the Reds this calendar year, I can’t look beyond him as my Fans' Footballer of the Year.
Do you agree with Theo? Which Liverpool player gets your vote for the Fans' Footballer of the Year award? You can make your choice by filling in the form above or clicking here.
