When people are asked to name someone who typifies being a Jurgen Klopp player at Liverpool the most, the answer usually comes back the same - Roberto Firmino.
Ever since Klopp arrived at Anfield in 2015, the Brazilian has been the symbol of what the new Liverpool are all about. Pressing from the front, selfless in and out of possession, and not being afraid to be brave and cheeky in the tough moments.
All of these attributes and more are what have endeared Firmino into the hearts of Kopites more than most players over the last decade. And the thought of finding a replacement at one time seemed unthinkable, if not impossible.
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Then Liverpool brought in Diogo Jota from Wolves in 2020. At the time there were plenty of raised eyebrows at the idea of shelling out £41million - potentially rising to £45m - for a player who was not necessarily going to be a guaranteed starter, especially with the talented forwards already at the club.
Even before Jota had made his first appearance for the Reds, he had already been eulogised by assistant manager Pep Lijnders. Klopp’s right-hand man labelled the Portuguese international as a “pressing monster”, which is something that the No.20 has often been referred to ever since.
Being able to press in the final third and win the ball back high up the pitch is a key trait necessary for any forward who wants to play for Liverpool under Klopp. Firmino has it, Jota has it and the club's latest recruit, Luis Diaz, is already showing signs that he is in the same mould.
When it was confirmed the Reds had agreed a £49m deal to sign Diaz from Porto in January, most people had a rough idea of the player that the club would be getting. A pacy winger with an eye for goal, that can compete with the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in the wide areas, right?
Not many would have thought that Diaz’s arrival could see him being moulded into a player that has the role Firmino had become renowned for. One that Jota had arguably been primarily brought to Anfield for, too.
Pressing.
Anyone who has watched Diaz since he arrived for Liverpool will have noticed how much he has already responded well to Klopp’s tactics and his new responsibilities. His four goals and two assists in his first 17 appearances don’t even come close to telling the full story.
What Klopp, Lijnders and Co may be more impressed with in regards to Diaz than his goals is the effort he’s putting in when out of possession - winning the ball in key areas allowing his team-mates to capitalise and launch attacks from a closer position to the opponent's goal.
Diaz has successfully completed 40.3% of the attempted pressures that he’s made this season ( FbRef ). This number is only bettered by one player who has played at least 10 times for Liverpool this season - and that’s Joel Matip (41.2%).
In terms of pressing in the final third, Diaz is also showing signs that he’s doing exactly what’s expected of him, if not more. His numbers read 8.28 pressures in the final third per 90 minutes ( FBRef ).
He’s not ahead of the pack in this respective stat, with Salah (8.58), Firmino (9.55) and Jota (10.3) marginally ahead. Mane is slightly behind with 6.54 final third pressures per 90 minutes.
What this tells us, apart from Diaz listening perfectly to the instructions issued to him in training, is that he’s yet another perfect player for the way the club play. Firmino set the tone with his pressing in the early years of Klopp’s reign, and now Jota and Diaz are the next generation of forward talent that’s going to take the club forward.
What’s worth pointing out is that Firmino, Salah and Mane have been at Anfield for several years, and even Jota is closing in on two seasons at the club. Diaz has been a Liverpool player for less than three months but he’s already performing on a similar level to his more established team-mates.
Klopp will be delighted at the way Diaz has settled into life at Anfield but may be even more excited at the prospect of what is to come further down the line.
