Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-4 win over Bayern Munich was captivating. For Liverpool supporters, though, it was also a painful reminder of what could have been.
The Reds had been linked with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Michael Olise before their respective moves to Parc des Princes and the Allianz Arena. Luis Diaz was a Liverpool player just last season, a key component in their Premier League title triumph before being allowed to join Bayern in July for €75 million.
At the time, it looked like decent money for Diaz – but not anymore. And not just because the Colombian is shining on the club game’s grandest stage.
Gakpo Struggles as Díaz Excels
Diaz’s dazzling displays hit so hard at Anfield because they make for such a stark contrast to the poor performances his intended replacement, Cody Gakpo, is putting in on an almost weekly basis for Liverpool.
The expectation at Anfield obviously was that Gakpo would help fill the void left by Diaz – and there were certainly grounds for optimism in that regard.
Cody Gakpo is under huge pressure to prove he can be the kind of winger Liverpool need after Luis Diaz’s latest masterclass in the art of dribbling for Bayern Munich.
Liverpool’s Transfer Strategy Under Scrutiny
Arne Slot made it very clear from the start that Diaz’s departure was a business decision. There have since been rumours that it was one the coach argued against making, which certainly sounded feasible. The Dutchman held the versatile winger in the highest esteem, both as a player and a person.
“He always came out for every training session and gave it everything, with a smile on his face,” Slot said last summer. However, he also insinuated that his hands were tied; that sacrifices had to be made after a historic £450m ($600m) spending spree on the likes of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.
“This is also who we are as a club,” the former Feyenoord coach said. “We are making big signings, we have done that over the past few years. But this club also needs to recoup funds to get these transfers that we already did over the line.”
Díaz’s Perspective on Liverpool Exit
It should not be forgotten, either, that Diaz wanted out. He had thoroughly enjoyed his time on Merseyside, and even praised Slot for the role he played in the most prolific season of his career (up until that point) with his “spectacular” coaching, but nonetheless felt that he’d reached the end of a “cycle” with “the feeling of a duty fulfilled”.
Slot’s Tactical Approach with Gakpo
Slot made a lot of astute moves during his first year in charge, but playing Gakpo almost exclusively on the left wing was unquestionably one of them.
“When the new manager came in, I had a talk with him and he said, ‘You have to focus on the left winger position – this is your position when you come on or when you start,'” Gakpo explained. “Because he said ‘Ther
Selling Diaz made sense for everyone concerned, so Liverpool’s mistake was not so much selling him, but failing to sign a direct replacement, another versatile and dynamic dribbler.