Luis Díaz rarely needs a reminder that relying on others can be a futile experience but a return to Tottenham on Sunday offers the opportunity to right a glaring injustice. In north London in September last year, the winger thought he had given Liverpool the lead, only for the assistant to flag incorrectly for offside before the video assistant referee failed to overturn the mistake through incompetent communication in a match Liverpool went on to lose 2-1.
The officials made the headlines that day but Díaz has taken plenty of the limelight since. With a competitive cohort, Arne Slot has shown faith in Díaz, starting the Colombian in key fixtures with Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa to help Liverpool reach the top of the table and ensure they fear no one.
Although the goal was not allowed 15 months ago, it was a sign of how Tottenham’s high line can be troubled with pace. Others, as exemplified by Manchester United on Thursday, have caused problems by relentlessly pressing Spurs in their defensive third as they attempted to get out of their own penalty area, at a cost of two goals in that Carabao Cup quarter-final. Díaz could exploit both these flaws with his speed and stamina, so Tottenham will be wary.
When asked if Liverpool require a high-energy performance, Slot said: “Not because they bring the ball out from the back but because if there’s one team that comes to my mind when I talk about intensity, it’s definitely Tottenham.
“What an incredible aggressive style of play and pressing, and the strikers work incredibly hard without the ball. So for that reason we have to be really, really intense if we want to have any chance of getting a good result. Because they just told me that we didn’t start the game that well. Now they do and they are first 15 to 20 minutes, they’re crazy when it comes to intensity.”
Five goals in as many Premier League games at the start of the season set the benchmark for Díaz but he has not found the net for the past 10 matches in the competition, since beating Bournemouth on 21 September, although a Champions League hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in early November and scoring in a Carabao Cup win at Brighton show there has not been a complete drop-off in form.
Against the German champions, Slot deployed Díaz as a No 9, knowing his movement and runs are problematic for defences, and was rewarded with an influential performance. The head coach is contemplating using him again in the role, potentially against Spurs.
Considering Liverpool have 31 goals in 15 matches, it seems somewhat contrary that a forward who has played in every match has a mere two assists. Díaz is a provocateur on the wing, making life difficult for full-backs, but is yet to create a goal from a wide area in the league. A through ball to Mohamed Salah and a near-post flick from a corner are the only residents in the A column.
Salah is the focus of praise at Liverpool, having scored 13 and assisted another nine to lead Slot’s team to the Premier League summit after 15 games. The Egyptian has, however, had help from his teammates. Many will want greater consistency but even the best accept when one player is struggling, others need to step up.
Amid Díaz’s dry spell, Cody Gakpo has scored seven in 11 to alleviate the pressure on Salah. Slot needs greater consistency from these wide areas but without a prolific central striker, and this is where the threat is created with Salah and Gakpo often providing the firepower alongside Díaz. Darwin Núñez, meanwhile, down the middle has four goals in 21 after ending a six-game drought against Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. Diogo Jota returned from almost two months out to score the equaliser against Fulham and, like Federico Chiesa, was afforded more minutes in midweek as Díaz and Salah were rested.
It has been a rarity that Slot has had a full bullpen of attackers to choose from, making it a daunting match for Tottenham against the league leaders. It is made a more enticing prospect for Liverpool, however, as Ange Postecoglou has a defensive injury crisis to deal with; Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are missing, making Tottenham vulnerable.
Even with the duo in situ, Postecoglou’s high line has caused problems and Liverpool will be eager to take advantage. Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray have formed a makeshift centre-back partnership in the past two games as the head coach desperately sought a solution that can give a platform for their ferocious workrate.