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I've seen 3 Liverpool players change their fortunes as Arne Slot prediction comes true

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and Colombian forward Luis Diaz.
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)


It might not be the case by the time the full weekend of Premier League fixtures has concluded, but Liverpool is top of the pile as things stand. After the dismal defeat to Nottingham Forest, a second-half stroll against Bournemouth.

It was Luis Diaz who set the Reds on their way in the first period. "That [first Diaz goal] and also the third one from Darwin [Nunez] is a lovely strike and that’s the reason they are playing here for Liverpool," Andoni Iraola admitted post-match.

Diaz, it must be said, has improved dramatically in front of goal since Slot has arrived. Whether it is because of the demands being placed on him have changed and the way he interprets the role altered, or simply because he is in a good vein of form, Diaz has scored five goals already this season in the Premier League.

Arne Slot proven right once more about $47m Liverpool gem as 'special talent' shines again Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Bournemouth as Luis Diaz and 2 more excellent

Only Manchester City's Erling Haaland has scored more than him so far and Diaz only notched eight in the top flight in the whole of the last campaign. He will better that tally this year; he could even do so before the October international break.

If we were to hand out a Most Improved award for the first few games of the new Liverpool era post-Jurgen Klopp, Diaz's name would be in contention. Indeed, the only player stopping him from winning it would be Ryan Gravenberch.

The Dutch midfielder was excellent again as Liverpool beat Bournemouth. He started slowly but warmed up into the match, and by the time he came off the field at the end, was the best of the midfield trio.

Gravenberch's effortless gliding past opponents is becoming a theme of Liverpool matches these days and his long legs are increasingly picking up the Fabinho trait of snapping up possession and stopping attacks with every attack. He wasn't considered a number six heading into the summer but a few games into the new campaign, it would be hard to identify a better alternative.

Luis Diaz has been a standout performer for Liverpool so far this season
Luis Diaz has been a standout performer for Liverpool so far this season

Darwin Nunez, too, was very good, and not just because of his goal. The pressure was on him to perform given that he has only come off the bench sporadically under Slot so far, but the manager's pre-match words were proven true.

Slot insisted that Nunez was in a confident mood when he previewed the match Friday, and the Uruguayan then looked in good shape. He was sharp considering the length of time he has been out of the team, proving Slot's prediction that he would thrive when handed an opportunity to be correct.

The likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have multiple gears still to hit on their performances while Mohamed Salah was improved on his Nottingham Forest showing but still relatively poor. As long as a couple of players are playing well, though, Liverpool, especially at Anfield, will have too much for almost every opponent.

On this occasion, it was Diaz, Gravenberch and Nunez taking the headlines. The former two, in particular, have been the standout pair of Liverpool's season so far.