Arne Slot plan copied during international break as Liverpool star unleashed by new role

Luis Diaz has now made himself a central-attacking option for both club and country, it would seem. The forward is in the form of his Liverpool career at the moment, returning nine goals and two assists from just 11 starts.

Such a total includes a memorable second-half hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month as the Reds thrashed Xabi Alonso’s side 4-0 at Anfield. But what made the victory even more astounding was the fact that it was the Colombian’s first ever appearance upfront since joining Liverpool.

With Cody Gakpo predominantly playing in his favoured left-wing position under new head coach Arne Slot, Diaz has had to be versatile.

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The pair have shared the role for the majority, offering a like-for-like change. But when both selected in Slot’s starting XI, it is Diaz who has changed position - in contrast to former Jurgen Klopp previously fielding Gakpo as a centre-forward.

He was selected on the right-wing for the Reds’ 3-2 victory away at Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup, while he was brought on at number 10 against the Seagulls days later in the Premier League.

His hat-trick against Leverkusen then followed on November 5, while he moved upfront against Aston Villa when Gakpo was brought on in place of Darwin Nunez.

While fielded as a lone striker for Liverpool, he was again upfront on Friday night as Colombia lost 3-2 to Uruguay - though partnered by Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran. He has only previously played one game as a striker for his country, scoring a brace when selected alongside Rafael Borre for an historic 2-1 win over Brazil in November 2023.

According to Transfermarkt, Diaz has only ever started seven senior games upfront - the aforementioned three and four times when playing for Junior FC in Colombia.

When you consider his outing against Leverkusen was only his third ever start as a lone striker, it makes his hat-trick even more impressive. Meanwhile, he technically now boasts five goals from his last three starts upfront - albeit spaced across a 12-month period - following last night’s loss to Uruguay.

Slot previously admitted he was actually surprised by the impact of Diaz upfront against Bayer Leverkusen, with the Colombian in part only fielded in such a role due to ongoing injuries suffered by Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa.

“It depends on the availability of the players,” he told reporters when asked if Diaz could play upfront again. When we had Darwin and Diogo available we always played one of those two.

"The moment Diogo was no longer available and because we play so many games and Darwin didn't play in the first games it was too much for him, so that's why we started to come up with other ideas.

"To be honest I liked especially the last idea, I think every Liverpool supporter did with Lucho (Diaz) scoring three goals, two as a No.9 and one as a winger, so that is always interesting to see.

"But Lucho is also a very good left winger. At this moment we have four attackers available for three positions so we could come up with another idea again but if Diogo comes back and Darwin is back then we have two No.9s available again and at the beginning of the season I always chose one of these two.

"But Lucho did really well and if was, even for me, maybe a bit of a surprise to see how well he did. I played him there for a reason, I expected him to do good but that he played so well that was even a surprise for me.

"That's what we all see, that he has better numbers than last season. I have no clue why that is, the only thing I can come up with is the team provides a lot of chances for these players.

"If Diogo is playing he scores, if Darwin is playing he scores, if Lucho is playing as a left winger he scores but Cody (Gakpo) also scores if he is playing as a left winger.

"That tells me that the team is providing goals for these great individuals and these players all have the qualities, that's why they play for Liverpool.

"If they are in promising situations they can score a goal and that's what I make of it but it's difficult for me to compare it with last season, the only thing I can tell you is how I see it this season."

But while Slot might have been surprised by Diaz’s impact upfront, one former Liverpool star wasn’t. Former Reds record signing Dean Saunders is confident the Colombian has the attributes to be a success wherever he is needed.

“No I wasn’t surprised by his performance,” he exclusively told the ECHO, courtesy of 888sport. “He has great quality and has a passion for the game with huge enthusiasm and will to win.

“You can see the minute he steps on the pitch he is on it and ready to fight for the win. This is exactly what we want to see and he is proving again a top signing for Liverpool.

“The fans love the way he plays and performs. He is direct and has a great eye for goal and while in form, this is great.”

Before the international break, Slot revealed that he expected Chiesa to return to training before Liverpool’s return to club action away at Southampton. With Jota expected to remain side-lined until December, it remains to be seen if Diaz will be called upon to lead the line again.

But already well on his way to breaking his previous Reds season-best total of 13 goals, the in-form forward is certainly thriving under Slot regardless of which position he is played in.

Suggestions of him being sold in the summer and Liverpool replacing him with Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon are now nothing more than a distant memory. With Diaz now in the form of his Anfield career, everything has worked out for the best for the Reds.

And given Slot has overseen 15 wins from his first 17 matches, with his side topping both the Premier League and Champions League tables as a result, it would appear that everything he is touching is turning to gold at the moment, with Diaz’s surprise impact upfront proving to be only the latest example.