Tony Pulis praised Luis Diaz on BBC Radio 5 Live (12/3, 12:53) after Jurgen Klopp’s January transfer scored a ‘fabulous’ goal to break the deadlock for Liverpool away to Brighton.
The Reds travelled to the south coast on Saturday afternoon looking to keep pressure on Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side entered the weekend with a six-point lead over the Anfield natives. But the Merseysiders hold a game in hand over the Etihad Stadium outfit.
Klopp knows Liverpool need to keep racking up the wins to keep the pressure on Guardiola ahead of facing City. The German takes his squad to Manchester for a possible title decider on April 10. But the Reds are without a win over their last four meetings with the Citizens.
Diaz gave Klopp and Liverpool the perfect start at Brighton on Saturday as the £37.5m ace opened the scoring. The winter arrival from Porto broke the deadlock on 21-minutes after latching on to a terrific ball forward from Joel Matip, for his second Premier League strike.
The Colombian had opened his Reds account in last month’s 3-1 win at home to Norwich City. He has started five of six possible Premier League matches since moving to Anfield. Klopp only elected to rest the 25-year-old at Burnley during a narrow 1-0 win on the road.
Tony Pulis in awe of Luis Diaz after ‘fabulous’ goal for Liverpool at Brighton
Diaz had to be brave to break the deadlock for Liverpool at Brighton as Robert Sanchez charged out of goal. He just got to the ball ahead of the goalkeeper, who clattered through the 31-cap international and left him requiring treatment whilst VAR checked the incident.
Sanchez, controversially, avoided a red card and both were able to play on. While former Stoke City manager Pulis lauded Diaz for the quality he produced to put Liverpool ahead.
“Luis Diaz doesn’t take his eye off the ball,” Pulis said. “He doesn’t know the goalkeeper’s coming until the last second. It’s a fabulous header, a great run between the centre-halves and a great pass. It’s a fabulous goal.”
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