Liverpool forward Luis Diaz hit the ground running at Anfield last season, but Paul Merson has warned the Colombian that things will get "harder" this term.
Speaking to SportsKeeda, Merson insisted that he believes Diaz is a “fantastic” footballer but does think he’ll face fresh challenges this season.
Merson suspects that opponents will begin to work Diaz out more as time passes.
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The pundit stated that “Diaz is on the radar this time around”, whereas last season he was more of an unknown commodity.
He continued that “team talks from opposition managers” last season “wouldn't really have been about” Diaz.
That could very well change this term.
The Columbian did enjoy a brilliant start to life at Liverpool after his transfer from Porto last January.
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He managed to grab himself 10 goal contributions across 15 Premier League and Champions League starts, slotting seamlessly into the Liverpool front three.
And despite the fact defenders will know him a bit better next season, Jürgen Klopp will be backing Diaz to go from strength to strength at Anfield.
He will have a more prominent squad role following Sadio Mané’s departure, and with time he’ll surely only get better.
Diaz will also always have the extra motivation from the serious competition he faces at Liverpool to keep his starting birth.
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He faces the task of keeping a player as talented as Diogo Jota, who of course also likes to operate in a left-forward role, out of the team.
Liverpool will need Diaz at his best come the start of the season, however, as Jota is currently nursing a hamstring injury.
With new signing Darwin Núñez likely to need a period of acclimatisation to the Premier League and Diogo Jota injured, Liverpool can only really bank on Salah and Diaz as their regular scorers.
Merson is right, this season will be tough for Diaz.
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Hopefully he thrives under the pressure.
Topics: Luis Diaz, Paul Merson, Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, Premier League, Champions League
Robert Worthington