Luis Diaz admits Liverpool "have to improve" after their challenging start to the season reached a new low with a dismal loss at Napoli.
The Reds were dismantled in southern Italy on Wednesday night, falling to a 4-1 defeat to kick off their Champions League campaign in the worst possible fashion. Piotr Zielinski gave Napoli an early lead from the penalty spot before Andre-Frank Anguissa and Giovanni Simeone put the hosts in control at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Any hopes Liverpool had of a second-half, Istanbul-esque comeback were dashed as Zielinski grabbed his second of the evening just seconds after the interval. Napoli routinely carved through their woeful visitors on the break and Diaz was one of the very few bright sparks for Jurgen Klopp's out-of-sorts side.
The Colombian winger was tireless with and without the ball throughout the group-stage clash and struck in the 49th minute, curling into the far corner from the edge of the area. Diaz's goal was a fair reward for his hard work and desire to make things happen, and it made him Liverpool's top scorer for the season with four.
However, it did little to make the scoreline more respectable and the 25-year-old lamented his fine effort as a "worthless" goal in a downbeat post-match interview. "The goal I scored was worthless. It would have been important if it helped the team more," Gol Caracol report Diaz saying on ESPN.
Liverpool's crushing defeat by the Serie A hopefuls follows a poor start to the Premier League campaign which has left them seventh after six games. Draws have been all too common and there are concerns all over the pitch, especially in defence.
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Despite the mounting pressure on Liverpool manager Klopp, Diaz insists the squad remains unified and has no doubt there will be an upturn in form before long. He added: "We have to improve and look at what is being done for what is coming, which is much more important. We are in this together and I know that this will change.
"After I scored the goal, I felt much better emotionally and it was easier. I had that confidence, that desire to get the team going and try to turn the result around. But it was complicated because they were already many goals ahead."
Liverpool have the chance to return to winning ways and restore some pride when they host Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. The Molineux club have scored just three goals in their six league games this season, so the Reds will be hopeful of recording a rare clean sheet and building on that platform.
