Luis Diaz: Do Liverpool Miss Him?

By Abdullah Mamaniyat

Where there is a blip in form for any elite team, there comes a wave of what-if in the media. For Liverpool, it feels unusual to be speaking of such a thing. The club’s success over the last decade, both on the pitch and in the transfer market, have left little room for desire.

Yet this season, there is a sense that much of that is being tested, and even more will be during the 2025/26 campaign. Following a seismic summer overhaul, three key players departed: Darwin Núñez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Díaz.

The Colombian spent three and a half seasons at Anfield, winning the FA Cup, two EFL Cups, and the Premier League title in his final act. Across 148 appearances for the Reds, he scored 41 goals and provided 23 assists. 

In his farewell message, when Díaz described his time at the club as a “feeling of duty fulfilled”, few fans could argue otherwise. South Americans are often said to struggle adapting to the Premier League, yet Díaz’s output reflects a remarkably effective spell in a relatively short time.

On paper, Liverpool appeared well equipped for life after him. Cody Gakpo has assumed Díaz’s former role on the left, while Hugo Ekitike can also offer quality and versatility there. Yet a slow start from Gakpo has hinted that Liverpool do, in fact, miss Díaz’s presence - both in end product and intensity.

That feeling is only amplified by Díaz’s lightning start in Germany. Eyebrows were raised when Bayern Munich paid £65.5 million for the winger, making him the club’s third most expensive signing after Harry Kane and Lucas Hernandez. So far, the move looks like money well spent.

Díaz by the Numbers

The rotary quartet of Díaz, Kane, Serge Gnabry, and Michael Olise has gelled superbly under Vincent Kompany this season. Last season at Liverpool, Díaz recorded 13 goals and seven assists in 36 league matches - his best return in a red shirt. 

Averaging around 0.6 goal involvements per 90 minutes, he showed real consistency under Arne Slot, frequently rotating between the left wing and centre-forward role when Slot opted to bench Núñez. 

Díaz remained both a potent attacking outlet and a tireless presser, setting the tone for Liverpool’s off-ball aggression as a continuation of the Klopp era.

At Bayern this season, he looks even sharper. In just seven Bundesliga appearances, Díaz has already produced five goals and four assists, averaging more than one goal involvement per 90 minutes. 

His xG and xA numbers suggest this is no purple patch either. He is consistently finding better positions and linking fluidly within Bayern’s dynamic front line.

‘Something Missing’ After Díaz’s Departure

A few weeks ago, former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge explained why Díaz’s absence continues to be felt:

“Luis Díaz is a massive miss for me. When you look at Liverpool last year and how they used to press, I think arguably he was the one who would set the press in the front three.

He brought something to Liverpool that they are now missing. I think Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz work hard - I’m not saying they don’t. We can’t question their work rate or their quality.

But what I will say is that they’re attack-minded players. I think Díaz would sacrifice himself defensively. That’s what they’ve got to figure out now - who in that attack is going to give themselves up a little bit.”

It’s hard to disagree. In Díaz, Liverpool lost not only a skilful winger but a player who embodied their high-energy, selfless ethos. 

As Bayern reap the rewards of his resurgence, Liverpool’s challenge is clear: finding the balance of showcasing the money spent this summer whilst filling the gap that Diaz left with his selfless work and attacking output.