Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has praised winger Luis Diaz after scoring in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final win over Fulham.
Liverpool saw Chelsea blitz past Middlesbrough on Tuesday night to book their place in the Carabao Cup final.
The Reds had to do their part on Wednesday and came into the second leg of their clash with Fulham leading 2-1 from the first leg.
Liverpool took an early lead through Luis Diaz and seemed to be coasting through before Issa Diop pulled one back.
Jurgen Klopp’s men had to dig in for the final 15 minutes and did their job, securing a 1-1 draw and a passage to the final against Chelsea.
Luis Diaz hailed by Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool win
Liverpool are now into yet another final under Klopp and the early goal from Diaz set the Reds on their path to Wembley.
Jarell Quansah’s diagonal pass found Diaz and he cut inside to squeeze a shot beyond Bernd Leno and into the net.
The Colombian will have been delighted to score and play a key role in the result having not been at his best a few days ago.
Diaz started down Liverpool’s right flank against Bournemouth on Sunday but it’s clear that he is better on the left side.
Klopp told Liverpool’s official website that he felt Diaz ‘struggled slightly’ at the Vitality Stadium, so it was no surprise to see him back in his natural left-sided position against Fulham.
Diaz made his impact felt early on and Klopp was delighted with his display.
Klopp has told Liverpool’s official website that he felt Diaz was ‘very good’ against Fulham and believes he is a simply ‘fantastic’ player.
Klopp praised the speed and power of Diaz along with his technique, branding him ‘absolutely outstanding’.
“Very good,” said Klopp. “He’s a fantastic player, absolutely. Absolutely no criticism but I wish he would’ve set up the second and scored the third because first half it was a fantastic football situation where he was in a similar situation like when he scored. But playing-wise, what a boy!”
“The speed, the power he can generate, the technique, the combination of all that… it is absolutely outstanding. I am really happy,” he added.
Diaz maybe hasn’t been at his absolute best since coming back from injury problems last season and that has piled the pressure on him.
Jamie Carragher has even suggested that Liverpool may look to replace Diaz if he doesn’t improve soon.
Diaz showed his quality against Fulham and Klopp will now be looking for him to really kick on and have a strong second half of the season.
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