Diaz proves transfer truth
Debate over who is the best January transfer window signing in Liverpool’s history normally begins and ends with Virgil van Dijk, with honourable mentions for Luis Suarez and Phillipe Coutinho.
Now, though, there’s another name firmly in contention for the accolade. What else to think after Luis Diaz gave another stirring justification of his £50million transfer from Porto earlier this year?
The Colombian alone couldn’t steady Liverpool when he was thrown on at the start of the second half for Diogo Jota. But the manner in which Diaz dazzled from his very first involvement set the tone for the rest of his team-mates and was the catalyst for the Reds’ remarkable transformation.
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Diaz had caused Villarreal problems in the first leg, not least right-back Juan Foyth who, after the game, had a visible disagreement with the winger.
That may well have contributed to Diaz destroying Foyth after his introduction here, his willingness to run at the defender – and, just as importantly, ability to keep the ball – poking holes in the home rearguard and stretching the Spaniards.
He’d already had one shot deflected wide and failed with an overly acrobatic bicycle kick when he again broke through the Villarreal backline to reach Trent Alexander-Arnold’s left-footed cross and head the visitors level on the night.
It continued Diaz’s remarkable impact since his arrival, a signing that already is going down in the Anfield annals. Imagine what he’ll be like when he gets his feet under the table.
Keita deserves credit
If, years from now, people want a concise summary of Naby Keita’s Liverpool career, they need only show them this match.
A snapshot of the midfielder’s traumatic first half came when he stood near the centre circle, head in his hands after a misguided backpass almost resulted in a goal for Giovani Lo Celso, the Villarreal man denied by a smothering save from Alisson Becker that, in the context of the game, ultimately proved crucial. Had he timed it wrong, there’s every chance the goalkeeper would have been dismissed.
Keita was far from the only Liverpool player to struggle before the break, but, after being chosen ahead of captain Jordan Henderson, that he became lost in Villarreal whirlwind didn’t pass unnoticed.
Few would have been surprised had the Guinean been hooked. Klopp, though, pointed out last week Keita is often involved in the very biggest games when fit, and wasn’t going to give up on the player that easily.
The decision was vindicated, the midfielder deserving huge credit for showing the mental fortitude to banish the opening 45 minutes from his memory and help Liverpool control midfield, involved in the build-up to Fabinho’s game-changing strike.
And rather than his first-half blunder, the one Keita pass everyone will remember from this game is the perfectly-weighted one that sent Sadio Mane haring away to score the match-winning third.
Ten of the best
Four may be the number occupying the minds of Liverpool supporters right now. But there’s another which can now be embraced with a sense of pride.
Progress here means the Reds are through to their 10th European Cup final – only the fourth team to reach double figures in such showpiece appearances
They join Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bayern Munich in such rarefied company, a further indication of how Liverpool’s place among Europe’s elite has been solidified under Jurgen Klopp. No other English team comes close, the total double that of their nearest challengers Manchester United.
Real, of course, could yet increase their final outings to an astonishing 17 should they overturn a 4-3 deficit at home to Manchester City tonight. Liverpool will be able to put their feet up and watch the two teams scrap it out for the right to face them in Paris on May 28.
There won’t be much time to relax, though, with thoughts swiftly turning to visit of Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening as they again look to leapfrog City – at least temporarily – in the race for the Premier League title.
So continues a remarkable, riveting end to the season for Liverpool. The quadruple remains very much on.
