Jack Grealish answer when asked to pick Luis Diaz or Gabriel Martinelli speaks volumes
Liverpool ace Luis Diaz has been one of the big winners under Arne Slot so far. Discussing some of the best wingers in the division, Jack Grealish was asked to pick between the Colombian and Gabriel Martinelli.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Grealish took part in the trending game where people are presented with a series of head-to-heads and asked to pick the superior player in a winner-stays-on format. As one of the form players in the Premier League, it's no surprise that Diaz was thrown into the mix.
And the Manchester City star was generous in his praise, even going as far as ranking Diaz above himself. Having first picked himself over Gabby Agbonlahor, Grealish was then put up against Diaz. He was quick to choose the Liverpool star: "I like Luis Diaz," he revealed. "Yeah, Luis Diaz."
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Next up, Diaz was pitted against Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian has also shown some green shoots this season, having previously gone off the boil a little for Arsenal.
However, Grealish once again had no real hesitation. Without providing any further elaboration, he simply picked Diaz ahead of Martinelli straight away.
Grealish went on to pick the Liverpool man ahead of Milan star Rafael Leao in similarly decisive fashion. His first pause for thought came when Sadio Mane was thrown into the discussion.
"Sadio Mane was top," Grealish conceded. "But at the moment, Luis Diaz."
Son Heung-min was then finally the man to dethrone Diaz. Given his Premier League pedigree and unerring eye for goal, there wouldn't be too many arguments there, although the Liverpool man has probably started the season the brighter of the two.
Eden Hazard then had a long run, before Cristiano Ronaldo was crowned the eventual winner by Grealish. But the praise for Diaz in the mix certainly did not go unnoticed.
Liverpool.com says: It's great to hear Diaz getting the credit he deserves from Grealish. Although if Miguel Almiron is anything to go by, this is where Martinelli suddenly starts producing the form of his life for a few months!
From Liverpool's perspective, it would be wise to start thinking about a new deal for Diaz sooner rather than later. His current terms, the same ones he signed when arriving from Porto, are not reflective of his status in the side, and in the Premier League as a whole.
There's still no urgency in terms of when it expires, but Liverpool has three walking examples of why it's best to get things done nice and early. While focus will undoubtedly be on Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, it's crucial that renewals for other key players do not fall by the wayside.