Jamie Carragher feels Luis Diaz really needs to up his game or Liverpool could spend to replace him at the end of the season.
Liverpool hosted Arsenal on Saturday evening with both teams holding aspirations of winning the Premier League title this season.
Arsenal drew first blood early on as Gabriel Magalhaes found the net with Mohamed Salah firing Liverpool level.
Neither side could find a winner though, leaving Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta to settle for a point apiece in a 1-1 draw.
Jamie Carragher concerned about Liverpool winger Luis Diaz
Liverpool will be disappointed with a draw as their attack just couldn’t unlock Arsenal.
So much is falling on the shoulders of Salah right now and he didn’t have much help from Luis Diaz or Cody Gakpo against Arsenal.
Diaz managed just one key pass, one successful dribble and 10 passes against Arsenal, failing to register a shot on target or successful cross.
Pundit Jamie Carragher has now admitted his concerns about Diaz having been a little disappointed with him this season.
Carragher has told the Gary Neville Podcast that he thinks Diaz now looks a shadow of his former self.
Carragher understands what Diaz has been through in terms of his injuries and his personal situation having seen both of his parents kidnapped earlier this season.
The former Liverpool defender does though feel that Diaz really needs to ramp it up in the second half of the season – or Liverpool will sign somebody to replace him.
“Diaz just looks a shadow of himself since those knee injuries he had last season, obviously he had family problems this season,” said Carragher. “I really feel that Diaz especially on that left side has got to have a really big second half of the season or I’m sure Liverpool will be going into the market in the summer because it just feels that, with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino going, they haven’t really replaced them in terms of quality,” he added.
The Colombian was electric after joining from Porto in a deal worth up to £49million in January 2022.
Diaz suffered a knee injury in October of last year and then had to have surgery two months later having suffered a setback.
The 26-year-old has managed three goals in 17 Premier League games this season but hasn’t hit the heights from nearly two years ago.
Diaz picked up a knee issue against Arsenal on Saturday too, but the hope is that it’s just a minor knock.
Diaz looked distraught on the bench and it’s clear that both on-field form and off-field situations have been weighing on him.
We know how good Diaz can be at his best and we can only hope to see that again soon, as a flying Diaz is a menace for any Premier League full back to handle.
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