When Luis Diaz made his Liverpool debut in the FA Cup last season, it took him just 10 minutes to make his presence felt.
Brought on against Cardiff City in place of Curtis Jones just short of the hour-mark, it was his persistence to win possession in the Bluebirds box and cutback that set up the Reds’ second goal for Takumi Minamino in a 3-1 win. And while Opta might not have credited the Colombian with the assist, given his pass squirmed through Diogo Jota’s legs before falling to the Japan international, Anfield knew who the true creator was.
Fast forward a year and there have already been plenty of comparisons between the former Porto winger and Liverpool’s latest January signing - Cody Gakpo. And not just because the Reds parted with almost identical fees to opportunistically bring in both players mid-season under the noses of their rivals.
