The possibilities seemed endless for Luis Diaz at Liverpool the last time Tottenham Hotspur travelled up the M6 to Anfield.
Almost 12 months ago, Diaz had cemented himself as one of the signings of the season, a rare case of a player arriving in the Premier League midway through a campaign and having an almost instantly devastating effect.
Diaz had already started the League Cup final win over Chelsea less than two months into his time at Liverpool, and was looking forward to an FA Cup date against the same opponents the following weekend having just days earlier come off the bench at half-time to turn the Champions League semi-final second leg in favour of the Reds and set up a showpiece with Real Madrid.
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There was also the small matter of a Premier League title race, with Diaz's subsequent deflected strike earning Liverpool a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Tottenham that kept the pressure on Manchester City, a battle which ultimately went down to the closing minutes of the season before the crown remained at the Etihad.
Of course, it was Tottenham's interest in Diaz that prompted Liverpool to bring forward a prospective summer move for the player by six months to ensure he wasn't snapped up by a near rival, with the two teams having been involved in close battles in recent years.
Neither, though, would ideally want to be scrapping over a probable Europa League berth, as will be the case when they clash for the latest occasion on Sunday afternoon. Champions League qualification, while not out of the question, appears unlikely.
Part of the reason for Liverpool being only on the brink of contention has been the absence for much of this season of Diaz. He was a rare highlight of a slow start to the campaign with four goals and three assists before he suffered a knee injury at Arsenal in October that was aggravated two months later and eventually saw him miss 31 games.
Diaz is now back, and appeared reasonably sharp during his 31 minutes from the bench in the 2-1 win at West Ham United on Wednesday. After two nine-minute outings against Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, it was a significant step forward.
However, the game time given to the Colombian over the remainder of the campaign could be compromised by Liverpool, having taken 10 points from 12, now eyeing a strong finish to the season with Europe at the forefront of their minds. There will be opportunities, yes, but the need for results - and understandable caution after such a serious injury - could mean Diaz is limited primarily to cameo roles from the bench.
The time it has taken Diogo Jota to get back to anything like his old self after a similar absence highlights it will almost certainly be next season when Liverpool see the best of Diaz once again.
Jurgen Klopp knows Diaz will have a part to play over the remaining six games, particularly in the next week when Liverpool play three times inside seven days. But Reds supporters may have to stay patient until the winger is fully released from his shackles.
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