Since Luis Diaz made the move to Bayern Munich last summer, his form has sparked plenty of debate over Liverpool’s decision to let him go.
Liverpool have certainly felt his absence this season, but was the sale really as costly as it now appears?
The Reds sold Diaz to the German side for £65 million during the summer window. Since then, he’s posted 14 goals and 10 assists in 24 Bundesliga appearances and is making a case as one of Europe’s most in-form forwards.
But Steve Nicol isn’t buying that narrative. He thinks it only looks bad with hindsight.
Was selling Luis Diaz a mistake for Liverpool?
Nicol has always been wary about taking a reactionary view based on what happens after a player leaves. At the time, he understood why some fans were unhappy with Diaz being sold, but thought there were justifiable reasons behind it.
The Reds were dealing with plenty of changes at that time, beyond just his exit from Anfield. Not all of those bets have paid off, but selling Diaz for big money helped fund other moves — including their midfield rebuild.
Steve Nicol defends Liverpool’s decision to sell Luis Diaz
When it comes to forwards, you can’t predict how things will turn out. Liverpool chose not to extend Diaz and instead gave Salah another two years, a move that wouldn’t have raised many eyebrows at the time but looks different now.
Nicol explained on ESPN: “I think you’re spending the money on Isak. You’re spending the money on Wirtz. You have Gakpo, and you’re getting offered what? Nearly 70 million for a guy who’s 29 years old”.
“I mean hindsight’s dead easy isn’t it. I’m thinking now, Diaz doing what he’s doing not just for Liverpool last year but what he’s doing for Bayern, but at the time it seemed like a very sensible and great business deal to get 70 million for a 29-year-old when you already have Gakpo, and then you bring in Wirtz and Isak”.
“So now there weren’t too many people complaining, let me put it that way. All the so-called experts, nobody said Liverpool are crazy, Liverpool are mad. Why are they doing this? Nobody said that at all.”
At the time of Diaz’s departure for that fee and with Wirtz incoming — not to mention strong links to Alexander Isak — few doubted the decision. Now, with Gakpo struggling to fill the void this season, it appears questionable in retrospect.
Liverpool fans were buzzing over Florian Wirtz signing up while Hugo Ekitike was being heavily linked as well.
Steve Nicol says Rio Ngumoha should have started for Liverpool before Wolves
Ngumoha put in an outstanding performance against Wolves, making the most of a rare start under Arne Slot. He made a real impact, and now there’s genuine competition for Gakpo’s spot in the starting lineup. Nicol, however, believes that the change should have already been made before the match even kicked off.
“I would have done it before today’s game. I would have played Ekitike through the middle, and I would have played Ngumoha on the left-hand side, and Gakpo would have sat. That’s what I would have done”, he told ESPN.
It seems unlikely that Ngumoha will get another start away to Galatasaray, given how tough that atmosphere can be.
But Slot’s decision for next weekend’s clash with Spurs could give us a clearer idea of how he views Ngumoha moving forward this season.
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