It's little wonder Luis Diaz’s return is being compared to the cavalry arriving just in time for Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s team are adrift of the Champions League places by seven points after a shocking - by their standards - Premier League campaign so far, and face Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea over the next nine days.
To say it is a defining period is an understatement with at least two victories required to keep them in the top four argument, and given their form this season then Diaz’s presence in the first team squad after a five month injury absence is huge.
He is the player who this time last year totally transformed the Reds into a history-chasing team. When he arrived they were adrift of Manchester City by 14 points and in the sort of form they are experiencing now, after poor results over the Christmas period.
Yet his electrifying arrival sparked an incredible run of just two defeats in their final 33 matches, which so very nearly delivered an unprecedented quadruple.
Without him, Liverpool have looked toothless up front for so much of this season. It has almost been forgotten that he was on fire at the start of the campaign, cutting City apart - again - in the Community Shield, and producing seven goal involvements in 11 matches.
Klopp’s side have floundered since then. They are on course to post their WORST-EVER goals tally under the German coach, and that even WITH 16 goals in two matches against Bournemouth and Manchester United.
Should Jurgen Klopp throw Luis Diaz straight in against Man City? Have your say in the comments below
Take those games out of the equation, and they have scored barely a goal a game in the top flight. Consider that in all but one of Klopp’s full seasons at Anfield Liverpool have scored well over two goals a game, and the difference is astonishing.
Last season, with Diaz as inspiration, they scored 2.5 goals per game. No wonder that the clamour for the Colombia forward to return is huge ahead of the visit to the Etihad on Saturday, and it doesn’t just come from the fans.
Anfield scoring legend Robbie Fowler is one of them. He believes Klopp should gamble by throwing him in against City. “In the two games he’s started against City, he’s terrorised them,” the Reds hero explained.
“His pace and trickery has caused a massive problem against them, but I think it’s bigger than that - Liverpool have missed him more than people realise.
“This has been a season of transition with the front three as they’ve tried to fit both Nunez and Gakpo in alongside Mo Salah, with Mane leaving and Firmino out injured for long periods.
“I think Diaz’s presence would have offered more continuity from last season - he clicked straight away, and made a huge difference, so that’s a huge miss with Mane leaving and Firmino out.”
Klopp has hinted he won’t rush Diaz back with all six senior strikers now fit and available for the first time. But when he looks at the bare goals stats, he may have no choice. Champions League football is a must if he wants to attract star names in the summer.
