Arne Slot has rejuvenated Liverpool's attacking line-up in a way that Jurgen Klopp never attempted
That is what Jamie Carragher has freshly pointed out - but without "being critical" of the club's managerial great.
The Reds end the calendar year leading the way in the 2024/25 Premier League standings, and by some distance too
Their tally is 45 points, Nottingham Forest surprisingly trail closest as things stand, then Arsenal, Chelsea and City are nine points or even further behind.
That has come after a change of manager, with Klopp departing after nine hugely-successful years in charge and Slot picked out as his ideal successor.
Carra
“There's been a lot of talk about what he's done with certain players and the one who has been rejuvenated more than anybody has perhaps been Luis Diaz - who probably in the summer Liverpool were maybe looking at moving on. “
“There was a lot of talk about Anthony Gordon coming in,"
The Colombian, signed from FC Porto for £49m in January 2023, had toiled with injuries and off-field issues after an initial impressive spell after his arrival
under a new coach Diaz has shone with 12 goals and two assists this term. His impact has been unquestionable.
Carragher added:
"There has been a lot of talk about him playing as a false 9, and when you think of false 9s you'd think of [Lionel] Messi and [Roberto] Firmino.
“But they played in 4-3-3 systems where they were in this forward position where they would come deep and link with two wide players and three midfielders.
"I don't think it is a false 9 position he's playing. More often than not he is dropping Luis Diaz deep in one channel - more often the left channel - and one of the attacking players is going into the right channel.
"When I talk about the manager, Slot, Liverpool didn't buy players in the summer - but he's sort of rejuvenated so many players. [Cody] Gakpo looks a different player, Diaz looks a different player.
"[Ryan] Gravenberch in midfield. Even Mohamed Salah from last season.
"It's only been five games Luis Diaz has been a centre forward, starting with the [Bayer] Leverkusen game. But just look at those numbers, amazing."
Diaz's matches playing through the middle so far this season have prompted six goals, including a hat-trick against Leverkusen.
That has allowed Cody Gakpo - a man Klopp often utilised centrally - to take up his favouredt left-wing berth, and in those same matches the Dutchman has scored four goals.
Carragher flagged
"When you think of those adjustments Slot's made he's not a million miles away from Jurgen Klopp but what he's done, with certain players, if this was the situation where Liverpool were without a centre forward, Gakpo would have been down the middle and Diaz on the left,"
"Gakpo looks a completely different player on the left this season than he did under Klopp through the middle.
"Diaz actually looks better when he’s playing through the centre than on the left. That's not being critical of Jurgen Klopp but that tweak, that little touch, Arne Slot has put on this Liverpool team is making a difference."
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