I drove up to Anfield on Tuesday night fully expecting the 7pm team news to reveal the usual forward line, well the one post Diogo Jota injury anyway. I thought it would be Mo Salah on the right (obviously), Darwin Nunez down the middle and either Cody Gakpo or Luis Diaz on the left.
Even when the team was out, I fully expected Gakpo to play down the middle (as he has done previously) with Diaz on the left. I did worry; Gakpo has never looked his best in the number nine position, but was intrigued to see that now his form has improved whether he could do a decent job.
This is in the context of Jota being injured, and Darwin… well being Darwin. It became obvious early on that it was actually Diaz who was playing down the middle.
During a drab first half, there was little to see but in the second the front line looked great together.
Gakpo doesn’t have the supreme grace and balance of Diaz, but is incredibly effective on the left. He has real footballing intelligence which I really like, and is a great decision maker.
Diaz can appear a little selfish at times on the left, but is always a great watch. This element of ‘selfishness’ is ideal for a striker, especially if they have an eye for goal which Diaz certainly has.
I just loved the fluidity of the three of them in that second half. I’m still of the opinion that Darwin’s whirlwind game is great to have on the bench if needed, but that he’s simply not good enough to start regularly.
What about Jota v Diaz for the striking roll when Jota is fit? Personally I’d be tempted to give Diaz a run in that position. Jota is direct and certainly has an eye for goal. Maybe I’m too reactive after the Diaz hat-trick, but does anyone else think Gakpo, Diaz, Salah might be our best attacking option? I do.
Til next time…
