Liverpool’s Strategy Shift: Praise for Effort Over Goals? | OneFootball

Liverpool New Norm? Effort Over Perfection?

He maybe the only one you can give any real praise too recently. In the ever-pulsating world of football, where every touch can turn into a spectacle, Luis Díaz of Liverpool stands out, not just for the electrifying pace he brings to the wings but also for the debates he sparks off the field. Amid the crescendo of roaring fans and the spectacle of the Premier League, Díaz has become a beacon of consistent performance for Liverpool, even in games that have tested the Reds’ mettle. But the problem might be the one that remains unsaid right now.

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Crafting Opportunities in the Face of Adversity

Even when Liverpool’s ship has encountered turbulent waters, Díaz has managed to sail smoothly. His recent outing against Everton and West Ham stands testament to his quality. Despite Liverpool’s struggles, he emerged as a key figure, creating a staggering eight chances in the West Ham game—his highest in a Premier League game this season.

The Numbers Behind the Magic

A closer inspection of his season reveals a mixed body of work. With 34 Premier League appearances under his belt and across 3391 minutes in all competitions, Díaz has netted a respectable tally of 13 goals and 5 assists. That on the surface doesn’t seem a bad return for a player who’s had a few injuries in recent seasons and has largely been ever-present so far. Díaz’s proficiency in the final third is underscored by his capability to play across the front line, though predominantly dazzling as a left-winger.

The Conundrum of Consistency

However, there’s a conundrum wrapped in these impressive numbers: his rate of a goal or assist every 188 minutes brings a twinge of concern. It’s a statistic that hints at a level that may not escalate to the lofty expectations set at Anfield. His recent misses against West Ham and other top sides, including a couple of squandered golden opportunities, have only accentuated this worry. Whilst that’s in keeping with other forwards right now, the output just isn’t what you’d want it to be. That’s doesn’t mean he’s had his bad season, just he’s in line with what should he reasonably expected.

Goal Contributions: A Comparative Glance

While Díaz is not the only one missing chances, within Liverpool’s attacking echelon, he has the least goal contributions. This fact becomes starker when placed alongside the figures of his teammates. Diogo Jota, for example, has missed a significant part of the season yet has managed to remain on par with Díaz in terms of goal involvements (with approximately 19 less games). Diaz inability to create big chances across the season has also been a reason for the low assist tally. Consider that Jota has one more goal contribution off 1681 minutes less for instance. Gakpo has one more off 621 minutes less and it sees accepted by many that he’s a squad option.

Reframing the Narrative

It’s doesn’t have to fall down the modern narrative of players are good or bad. For Díaz, the task is not insurmountable. He has shown flashes of sheer brilliance, leaving fans and critics alike yearning for more. As Liverpool’s season continued, the hope was that these flashes become a sustained blaze, propelling Díaz to redefine his narrative as not just a creator of chances, but a ruthless finisher as well. But look at games like City and you know it’ll probably never really come. You can’t doubt his effort and it’s important to reiterate that right now he deserves credit against others. But with a father speaking regularly, hitting 27, a low wage and two years left on his contract added into the mix there will be questions. He deserves to be starting just now, but that’s not saying much. Don’t doubt the effort, but this maybe as good as it gets.