DANIEL STURRIDGE reckons Liverpool’s form is suffering after the sale of Luis Diaz.
The ex-Anfield striker pinpointed the Colombian’s exit as a problem after Arne Slot’s men lost 2-1 to Chelsea on Saturday, a result that saw them surrender top spot in the Premier League to Arsenal.
Sturridge, speaking on Sky Sports, pointed the finger squarely at the decision to sell him to Bayern Munich over the summer for a reported £65million.
And with Diaz flying in Germany – netting five goals and bagging four assists in just six Bundesliga games – Sturridge says the winger’s absence is hurting Liverpool in more ways than one.
He said: “Luis Diaz is a massive miss for them.
“When we look at Liverpool last year and how they used to press, he was arguably the one who set the tone in the front three.”
The England international added: “Szoboszlai does a similar job in midfield with his power and dynamism but Diaz brought something unique up top.”
Known for his relentless work rate and energy, Diaz earned praise not just for his goals but for his graft off the ball, something Sturridge says Liverpool now badly lack.
Sturridge said: “He was tenacious.
“Off the ball, always trying to win it back, always pressing high. He made things happen even when he didn’t have the ball.”
While Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike were mentioned as examples of hard-working attackers, Sturridge said Diaz went a step further.
He added: “Ekitike and Isak do their bit defensively. But Diaz? He sacrificed himself more. He gave up personal glory for the team.”
Sturridge believes Liverpool’s current forward line lacks that one key player willing to do the dirty work – the kind of selfless role Diaz took on every week.
He explained: “In a front three, someone’s got to be the workhorse.
“You need balance, one to graft, one to create, one to finish. Right now, I don’t think Slot knows who’s who.”
The former striker warned that unless Slot finds that balance again, Liverpool could struggle to compete on all fronts this season.
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