InterviewLuis Diaz on desire to develop, Darwin Nunez connection and more

The No.23 was part of Jürgen Klopp’s starting line-up for the first time in more than six months on Sunday, following a long-term knee injury, as the Reds defeated Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 in a Premier League thriller.

Diaz needed just five minutes to toast his return with an emphatic finish from Cody Gakpo’s pullback, on a day when his side led by three, conceded an equaliser in stoppage time and still went on to win courtesy of Diogo Jota’s Kop-end strike.

Back to fitness and eager to contribute as much as possible, Diaz described his commitment to maximising his talents for Liverpool in an interview featured in the matchday programme for the clash with Spurs.

“Since I arrived here, I’ve always wanted to give absolutely everything, 100 per cent all the time. It’s a dream come true, so I always want to be performing at my very best level,” said the 26-year-old.

“I’ve had some help too in the shape of my teammates who have helped me with getting used to the football and with the language and made me feel comfortable and at ease. They’ve made me feel at home in every single training session, and these were all important factors in my settling in much more quickly.

“But from the beginning and moving forward it was all about really wanting it and the desire to make progress and give my very best in each game. That’s pretty much it really.”

Inside Anfield: Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham

He continued: “It’s no secret that it’s not been the season we would have all wanted. But we now have to all take stock and be aware of what we haven’t been doing so well in order to be able to turn things around and improve.

“That’s why we train every day and then with every game we analyse things in-depth. Then we can take these improvements that we work on into the next game and aim to put things right.

“We need to carry on doing that, to be focused and in the zone and stick together even more than ever, because we know that it’s down to us as a group of players to put things right.”

Diaz arrived on Merseyside from FC Porto in January 2022 and that path from Portugal to Anfield was followed by Darwin Nunez last summer as the forward joined from Benfica.

The South American pair have developed a close friendship in the months since becoming teammates for Liverpool too.

“Yes, absolutely. Right now, we are really close,” said Diaz. “We spend almost every second together from the moment we get into training to the minute we leave!

“It’s really cool having him as a teammate now and I’m really proud to be playing alongside him because I know just how good a player he is, and his ability and quality offers us so much as a team.

“Sharing a dressing room with such great players right now at this club has just been incredible for me. Everyone learns stuff off each other here in order to keep improving and stay in the right mindset for everything that lies ahead.

“We’ve chatted about big Porto-Benfica games where we’ve played against each other. They were always amazing encounters. It was always like a final when those two sides played each other. Everybody gave it absolutely everything and it was fantastic. We joked around about games and situations in games.

“It was fun, but now, having him on my side, it’s just amazing because I know very well just what qualities he can bring to the party and I know he’s going to contribute massively.”

Diaz made a lightning-quick start to life with the Reds in 2021-22, impressing consistently as Klopp’s team challenged for a quadruple and lifted the Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup.

The Colombian’s personal form swiftly earned him appreciation from his new fans, and was then recognised globally with a nomination for the 2022 Ballon d’Or as he finished joint-17th in the prestigious annual ranking.

It was a meaningful achievement for the attacker, though one he primarily considers as motivation to maintain his progression.

“I was very pleased and grateful to God for what I experienced when I heard about that,” said Diaz.

“Being nominated was fantastic news for me on a personal level because I had always dreamt of being in those places and on those lists. So it was incredible for me and my family too.

“But it’s all about accepting these things in just the same way that I’ve always taken things in my stride and keeping my feet on the ground.

“It’s much more important to keep focused on continuing to work hard and developing as a player – the same as I always have – so I can carry on contributing towards the team effort. That is the real key here.”