Luis Diaz lights up Copa America but Liverpool star set for early return

Luis Diaz’s future remains the subject of speculation as he continues to be heavily linked with a move to Barcelona.

The forward has insisted he is happy at Liverpool, though, while his future won’t be decided one way or the other until after Copa America with his current focus only on the Colombia national team.

“I am very happy there in Liverpool, it is a great team and club,” Diaz said to Gol Caracol earlier this month. “I always wanted to play there, so I am very happy and calm.

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“I’m not thinking about anything else, I’m thinking about the Colombian national team, which is where we are.”

Colombia are in sensational form coming into Copa America, having not lost a game since February 2022. Winning 2-1 in their opening match against Paraguay on Monday, they have now won their last nine games and are unbeaten for 24 matches in total.

Diaz scored his 100th career goal for club and country in their final warm-up match before Copa America, registering a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win over Bolivia. And while he was unable to trouble the scoresheet against the Paraguayans, he was in impressive form once again.

Early in the encounter, he showcased his dazzling dribbling skills as he evaded three defenders with mesmeric quick feet to work his way out of trouble in the corner before whipping in a dangerous cross to the far post.

He would then emulate former Liverpool star Sadio Mane in amusing fashion after Daniel Munoz opened the scoring by jumping in the air and copying the Crystal Palace’s man celebration.

And Diaz was unfortunate not to make it 3-1 late on as a smart touch in the box took him away from a defender, only to lash the ball into the side-netting from an acute angle.

Colombian media were suitably impressed as El Espectador lauded Diaz as “impossible to control,” as the Paraguayans failed in their heavy-handed efforts to contain him.

El Tiempo would forgive him for trying too hard, and missing his shooting opportunity, but Semana praised him for a selfless display, saying: “Luis Diaz, as usual with both the Colombian National Team and Liverpool in the Premier League, stood out for his individual plays, which went viral and stood out in the match against the Paraguay squad.

“But despite this, Luis Diaz was seen to have sacrificed much more for the team.”

Barcelona might continue to watch on with interest in Diaz’s direction, but so too will Liverpool following a lively start to the Copa America. Time will tell if the Catalans are to test the Reds' resolve when it comes to keeping the attacker at Anfield.

Colombia’s victory leaves them top of Group D after Brazil were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Costa Rica.

Alisson Becker kept a clean sheet, but had little to do as Brazil floundered in front of goal. Globo Esporte would concede he was ‘a mere spectator,’ on a night where he was not required to make a single save.

Colombia and Brazil face Costa Rica and Paraguay respectively in their second group games on June 28, before locking horns themselves on July 2.

With Darwin Nunez’s Uruguay currently top of Group C after the Liverpool striker scored in their opening 3-1 victory over Panama, he will likely lock horns with one of his club team-mates in the round-of-16 on July 6.

The winners of Group C will face the runners-up in Group D and vice-versa, with one Red star in line for a premature exit from the tournament as a result.