Liverpool winger Luis Diaz is making a huge impact at Anfield – and Fabinho has admitted being impressed with him long before he even joined the Reds.
Tottenham Hotspur seemed to be favourites for Diaz in January until Liverpool swooped in and secured his signature.
Diaz has been outstanding in the early stages of his Liverpool career, causing problems with his direct style.
The goals and assists haven’t quite been flowing, but they will surely be on the horizon for Diaz if he keeps playing so well.
Injuries to Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota have accelerated Diaz’s rise into the starting lineup, making a quicker impact than many Liverpool signings under Klopp.
With questions over Sadio Mane’s long-term future – his contract expires in 2023 – it looks like Diaz could now be Liverpool’s long-term left-sided winger.
Liverpool’s recruitment team were clearly blown away after facing Diaz twice earlier this season, beating his Porto side twice in the Champions League group stage.
That goes for Liverpool players too, with Fabinho now opening up on his thoughts about the Colombian winger.
Speaking to Four Four Two (April 2022, p47), Fabinho has admitted being impressed when Diaz starred for Porto at Anfield.
Fabinho remembered Diaz’s excellence, praising him for causing Liverpool problems whilst being Porto’s main danger man.
Fabinho added that Diaz is an ‘extraordinary’ player, seemingly backing him to become a star at Liverpool for years to come.
“He’s another option with so much offensive quality,” said Fabinho. “We played against him twice in the Champions league group stage, and both times he was the Porto player who caused us most trouble. I kept his performance at Anfield in mind – that day, every time they recovered the ball and counter-attacked, they would pass it to him and expect him to do something dangerous.”
“He’s a player with extraordinary talent, for sure,” he added.
Fabinho and Diaz will be looking to start for Liverpool tonight as they take on Inter Milan in the Champions League, with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
With a Carabao Cup winner’s medal already under his belt, Diaz could add to a dream start to his Liverpool career tonight.
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