Arne Slot’s Impact Evident as He identifies Liverpool Star With Potential for Improvement
The Dutchman has begun his tenure with an ideal record, achieving three wins out of three. However, there is a significant possibility that things could have turned out differently if he hadn’t made a critical decision regarding one of his key players.
Arne Slot’s impact is already evident, particularly in his recognition of Liverpool star Luis Diaz as a player he could collaborate with and develop further.
Since arriving at Anfield, the Dutchman has performed impressively, leading the Reds to three consecutive victories, which has positioned them joint-top in the Premier League, second only to Manchester City based on goal difference.
Liverpool secured back-to-back 2-0 victories against Ipswich and Brentford, followed by a commanding 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. In that match, one player, in particular, shone with his continued excellent form, and it wasn’t Mohamed Salah.
Colombian forward Luis Diaz scored two goals in the first half of the Northwest derby, demonstrating his knack for being in the right place at the right time. His contributions helped Liverpool take a two-goal lead by halftime, bringing his season tally to three goals in three matches, along with one assist.
However, the situation could have unfolded quite differently if Slot hadn’t stepped in and concentrated on refining the 27-year-old’s game after his arrival on Merseyside this summer. The Daily Mail reports that the former Feyenoord manager identified Diaz as a player with potential for improvement.
Diaz, who hails from Colombia, was always a talented player, but he may not have reached the expected level of goals and assists under Klopp.
Slot, through one-on-one sessions that emphasized off-the-ball positioning, timing of runs, and decision-making on whether to pass or shoot, has helped transform Diaz into one of Liverpool’s standout performers this season.
This was evident in Sunday’s victory over Manchester United, where Diaz found himself in the right spot at the right moment twice, capitalizing on the opportunities to score.
In the first instance, he positioned himself perfectly in space at the far post to head in Salah’s cross, having cleverly delayed his run to stay unmarked.
In the second instance, Diaz regained possession from Casemiro, then spotted Salah wide on the wing. After passing to Salah, he continued his run into the box, receiving an accurate pass that he converted with a first-time finish at the near post.
Both Salah and Diaz now have three goals each after the first three games of the new season. Yet, these outcomes might have been different if Slot hadn’t taken the initiative to identify areas for Diaz’s improvement and diligently worked on them.
Diaz played a crucial role in both of Liverpool’s goals against Brentford, contributing with a goal and an assist, and was pivotal in Sunday’s win over Manchester United by scoring two of the three goals.
Altogether, Diaz has been involved in four of Liverpool’s seven goals this season, accounting for more than half of their total. While it’s still early in the season, it’s thrilling to consider what the former Porto player might achieve if he continues to perform at this level in front of goal.
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