How do they keep doing it? For the last decade or so, Liverpool have always seemed to get the best out of the players who arrive. They thrive in the new environment, get integrated into the system well, and continue to perform at a high level for years.
Take Mo Salah as an example. After moving between a few clubs, he lands at Anfield and dominates season after season, helping them to become champions of England as well as Europe and continuing to produce the goods even with fellow forwards Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mane departing in recent years. However, they’ve been seamlessly replaced by top talents such as Luis Diaz.
At 27, the Colombian is now in the prime of his career. Evidenced by his latest performances, it seems that Liverpool have yet again come up trumps in the transfer market when they signed him from FC Porto in 2022.
In this article, we look at Diaz’s career so far, how he became the player he is, and what’s in store for the immediate future of his team.
If you are a fan of the Premier League, of Liverpool, or the UEFA Champions League, stick with us. This is particularly true for online sports betting fans as the season is in full swing and games coming in thick and fast.
Who is Luis Diaz?
Born in Barrancas, Colombia in 1997, Luis Fernando Diaz Marulanda is a left winger currently playing important roles both for Liverpool and for his national team. He started his career in 2016 in his home country with Barranquilla, a B league team, after which he moved to A league side Atletico Junior. In 2019, he relocated to Europe when he arrived in Porto, as many South American players do.
Diaz quickly garnered attention from some of the biggest clubs in Europe who paid close attention and wanted him in their ranks. The most decisive was Liverpool, who signed him in January 2022 for €45m. At that point, he had already scored 14 goals in 18 league games in Portugal that season, more than enough for a move to a bigger club.
His national team career started with the U20 squad in 2017. Since 2018, he has played 59 games for the senior squad, scoring 16 goals in the process, although he’s yet to enjoy tangible success with Colombia. He was a bronze medallist in the 2021 Copa America and this year lost in the final to Argentina, although he was the top scorer in the competition with four goals.
Diaz’s Trophies and Accolades
We already mentioned his Colombia accolades, but what about success at club level? Wherever he has played, Diaz has won at least a few trophies, a testament to how important he is and how big of a role he has with each team.
With Junior FC in his homeland, he won the 2016/17 Colombian Cup, with a league triumph following in 2017/18. In the season after, his team won a double by capturing another championship alongside the Colombian Super Cup, four trophies in three campaigns. He played 34 league games and scored three goals.
Silverware kept on coming when he arrived at Porto. In his two-and-a-half season ther, the club won five trophies. In 2019/20, Diaz helped them win the league as well as the Portuguese Cup, with the Super Cup claimed the following season.
Porto won another league and cup double in his final campaign at the club (2021/22). Such a collection of accolades and strong performances earned him a move to Anfield, where he continued to win. His total tally was 67 appearances and 15 goals.
In his first season in England, Diaz helped Liverpool win the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, being named man of the match in the final of the latter. The Community Shield followed that summer and, in 2024, he lifted the Carabao Cup for a second time.
The 27-year-old is truly a trophy magnet and he’s already off to a great start this season, with nine goals in 15 appearances leaving him on track to have his best campaign yet in England. So far, he has appeared in 77 league games and scored 21 goals.
Luis Diaz – Latest News and Performances
In the most recent developments, something that is crucial for any sports betting enthusiast, Diaz delivered a staggering performance on the biggest stage. Liverpool currently sitting top of league phase in the UEFA Champions League. The new format has so far proven a success, with plenty of great games across the continent. It seems that the 2019 champions are quite comfortable with the changes, having racked up four wins out of four with a goal difference of +9 (10 goals for and only one conceded).
Diaz was a great contributor the latest outing when Liverpool thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 at Anfield, scoring a hat-trick from centre-forward in a masterclass of a performance. He stepped up to a new role and led his team to a commanding, resounding victory which helped to give his team a two-point lead in the standings halfway through the league phase. Although he usually plays wide, he embraced the positional switch and showed everyone his talent and versatility. Arne Slot has a gem in his hands and he knows it.
Despite Liverpool having proven forwards like Diogo Jota (currently injured) and Darwin Nunez, Slot’s decision to play Diaz at centre-forward against Leverkusen was bold. The hat-trick in the second half will have the Dutchman something to consider, which the head coach will surely welcome.
Several different players can lead the line for Liverpool, with Nunez looking sharp recently and Jota due to return from injury. Rotating the forwards to keep them all in shape and form could be crucial this season.
Such an impressive performance when the team is already in great form and top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City is music to their fans’ ears. Can Diaz be the main striker of the team soon? It’s certainly possible if we were to judge by this performance.
He seemed to be in great spirits about it following the game, saying that the team has “top-quality players all over the pitch, but actually, I enjoyed playing in that position today, and wherever I’m playing I’m going to work hard and help the team.”
Work hard he did, utilising his opportunity and demonstrating his commitment to the Reds, as well as his great adaptability to play wherever he’s needed. The fans love him, his coach loves him, and he is a favorite amongst his teammates. What else can a player possibly want?
Well, trophies, of course, and Liverpool are in contention for a few. As the season progresses, they have a great chance to procure a Premier League and Champions League double, with Diaz and Salah spearheading them along the way.
Upcoming Fixtures for Diaz
Liverpool are currently flying high, but there’s no time for a respite as they need to keep momentum going for a tough schedule which awaits. There are only three matches remaining in November due to the international break, but December is going to be a testing month with nine games. Should they be able to finish the year at the top of the table in both competitions, they will have a great chance to win two of the most prestigious titles in European football, the Premier League and Champions League.
Their next game is a home clash against Aston Villa on Saturday. Unai Emery’s side currently sit in sixth place, but the Reds will still be favourites to win. It could be another experimental starting XI by Slot with a chance for Diaz to again assume the role of a central striker. On Stake, the Reds have the odds of 1.46 to win, while Aston Villa sit at 6.4. The draw odds are 5.2. According to the bookies, it will be a Liverpool victory, so make sure to play accordingly.
After the international break, Liverpool travel to face Southampton on November 24. The Reds are big favorites for this match, of course, with the sportsbooks giving them 1.36 odds to win it. The draw is at 5.5 right now while the Saints have 9.0 odds of victory, a virtually impossible task. Southampton are currently second from bottom, with one win, one draw and eight losses and a miserable goal difference of -12.
The final game in November is a potential Champions League classic against Real Madrid at Anfield. A rematch of the final from 2018 and 2022, it could be Liverpool’s time to shine considering Los Blancos’ recent struggles.
They are currently 18th in the league phase of the Champions League and have lost their previous two matches in galling fashion, both at home. They were firstly humiliated 4-0 against Barcelona and then lost 1-3 to AC Milan.
The bookies are giving Liverpool better odds to take this epic duel with 2.1 odds to Real Madrid’s 3.37. The bet for a draw right now is 3.9. It could be another chance for Diaz to add to his goal tally in Europe, perhaps again in a centre-forward role.
Luis Diaz and Outright Liverpool Bets
If you are feeling lucky, how about some special bets for Diaz or a season-long bet for Liverpool to win it all? For the aforementioned November games, there are some great odds for him to score the first goal. While some other players are better or equally favoured, it could be a great chance for a big payday should he again step into the centre-forward role.
For example, the Aston Villa fixture has his odds to score first at 8. By comparison, Salah (5.8), Jota (6) and Nunez (6.5) are all in front. Cody Gakpo is also at 8 and Federico Chiesa is at 8.1, but if Diaz starts and gets the same role as against Leverkusen, it could be a different story.
What about the Premier League? Sure, we haven’t even reached the halfway point of the season, but Liverpool are in such great form that it would not be a bad financial and sports betting idea to place a bet on them to win outright after only 10 games.
At the moment, Manchester City lead the odds with 2.50, but Liverpool are close behind at 2.75 and could soon overtake them, which means you should strike right now and capture more favorable odds. Arsenal complete the top three with the odds of 4.25. They are always close but seem to lack that final step to get over the line first, so it could be a duel between City and Liverpool this season.
In the Champions League, things are also very positive for the Reds. Right now, the efforts of Diaz, Salah and co are not reflected in the odds as Liverpool are fourth-favourites to win outright. Manchester City are favorites with 4.25, followed by defending champions Real Madrid at 5.25.
Los Blancos are always a scary opponent in Europe, but it does not seem to be their year this time around, whereas Barcelona are in their best shape for a decade. Their odds are 6.25 right now, but they are perhaps playing the best football in Europe at the moment.
This leaves Liverpool in fourth with the odds of 6.75. They sit top of the standings, but there is a lot of football left to be played. Perhaps Luis Diaz can help them to improve their odds in the next few games…