In the just-concluded key Round 7 match of the Premier League, Liverpool was beaten 1-2 by Chelsea at away after a last-gasp goal, suffering a second consecutive league defeat. Regarding the Reds' performance this season, former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge expressed deep regret over Luis Díaz's departure.
Sturridge said: “Díaz's departure is a huge loss for Liverpool. Looking back at the team's performance last season and its past high-intensity pressing system, he was always an indispensable part of the frontline pressing system – just as Dominik Szoboszlai does in the midfield with his physical attributes and running ability.”
“Not only does Díaz have excellent ball retention skills, but more importantly, he always maintains a desire to win back possession for the team. The qualities he brought to Liverpool are exactly what the current squad is lacking. Of course, I am not questioning the efforts of players like Hugo Ékitiké, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz; their efficiency and quality are beyond doubt.”
“But it should be pointed out that these players are essentially offensively oriented. However, Díaz was willing to make sacrifices defensively – and this is exactly the problem Liverpool urgently needs to solve: one of the front three must take the initiative to say 'I won't chase personal stats'. Currently, Cody Gakpo is scoring goals in abundance, while Mohamed Salah is stuck in a goal drought, and the new signings are also eager to prove themselves. This situation has disrupted the offensive balance in the final third.”
“The key lies in clarifying the role distribution among the three: who needs to make sacrifices, who can play freely, and who needs to balance both aspects. As things stand now, I'm not even sure if the coaching staff has figured out how to make that choice.”
“Looking at Arne Slot's management last season, that was one of the most incredible managerial performances. To some extent, there were clear reasons behind it – they actually didn't sign any new players. This year, he has a different set of players and is trying to complete squad integration quickly. However, the integration into the tactical system hasn't gone as he hoped. Isak needs time, Ékitiké also needs time. I originally thought everything would fit perfectly, but that's not the case.”
