Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 6.
Player analysis: Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
Sometimes a change of manager can unlock added potential in certain individuals, and that certainly feels the case for Liverpool’s in-form Diaz.
The Colombian is thriving under Arne Slot’s leadership, scoring five goals in five Premier League matches this season.
Liverpool’s lively forward has been in lethal early-season form, converting two chances with his right foot, two with his left foot and one with his head.
The Daily Mail’s Lewis Steele reported earlier this month that Slot has been having one-on-one sessions with Diaz, with the aim of developing his "off-the-ball positioning" and "knowing when to make runs, choosing the right time to pass or shoot".
That time spent on the training ground is undoubtedly paying off, ahead of a Saturday evening visit to a Wolverhampton Wanderers side who are yet to win a Premier League match this season.
Developing a ruthless streak
Diaz is scoring goals at a markedly faster rate than he managed in the past two seasons.
He is currently finding the back of the net once every 72.2 minutes, a huge improvement on the 330.8 minutes he averaged in 2023/24 when netting a total of eight times.
He is hitting the target with almost three-quarters of his attempts, and his conversion rate for turning shots into goals has leapt from 12.3 per cent to an impressive 45.5 per cent.
When big chances have come along he has been especially ruthless.
Of the 12 players to have received at least five big chances so far, his 71.4 per cent success rate is the best.
Diaz’s finishing is developing nicely under Liverpool’s new head coach.
Diaz's attacking stats over last three seasons
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | |
| Shot conversion | 20.0% | 12.3% | 45.5% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big chance conversion | 50.0% | 31.6% | 71.4% |
| Shooting accuracy | 40.0% | 49.2% | 72.7% |
| Mins per goal | 249.3 | 330.8 | 72.2 |
Magic movement
When you analyse the 27-year old's goals under Slot, it is apparent that his run selection has been outstanding.
His breakaway strike at home to Brentford owed plenty to his speed and intelligence.
He changed the direction of his sprint to cut across a defender on his blind side, with that brilliant bit of movement allowing Diogo Jota to split the defence with a simple, angled pass.
Diaz is fully aware of his surroundings and cleverly stayed in pockets of space which opened up for him inside the penalty area to score a brace at Manchester United in Matchweek 3.
And last time out, in a 3-0 success at home to AFC Bournemouth, Liverpool’s No 7 once again showed brightness with his choice of runs.
He took up a great position on the inside of right-back Julian Araujo as the Cherries held a high defensive line, and his long diagonal sprint then got him onto the ball first from Ibrahima Konate’s long pass.
From there, he coolly rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga to score.
Diaz's second goal of the afternoon also highlighted his improved spatial awareness.
He initially made a run towards the ball, then peeled off backwards into space to receive a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
This bought him valuable time to control the ball and finish.
Selective sprints
All of Diaz’s five goals to date could have been scored for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Turnovers and fast breaks were a trademark of Klopp's style, and it is from those situations that Diaz has looked most dangerous.
But Diaz’s decision-making is an area of change that does fit in with Slot’s more controlled tactical approach.
Under Klopp he averaged 35 off-the-ball runs per 90 minutes, but that number has dipped to 26 this season.
Diaz's running stats over last three seasons
| Stats/90 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
| Total runs | 35 | 35 | 26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs sprinting | 9 | 11 | 11 |
| Runs into box | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Diaz’s run selection has been noticeably more intelligent, conserving energy for explosive sprints that make the difference.
In 2022/23, sprints represented 25.7 per cent of his off-the-ball runs, rising to 31.4 per cent last season.
This campaign, an average 42.3 per cent of Diaz’s runs this season are of that dynamic nature, with a higher share of those targeting the opposition's box.
These tweaks to his game are making a difference, as he is increasing both the quality and quantity of his goalscoring chances.
Driving at goal
You will see from Diaz’s chance-creating ball carries chalkboard below how impactful he is when coming infield to run at defenders.
In general play, the Liverpool winger can often be seen within five yards of the touchline, and on occasion he drives towards goal from those positions.
When space emerges for him to travel with the ball at his feet, Diaz usually opts to do it from a more central position, as shown here.
He has made five chances for others from ball carries, and had seven shots himself at the end of those surging runs.
Two of those efforts ended with a goal.
Chelsea’s Noni Madueke and in-form Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo are the only Premier League players to have had more shots at the end of their ball carries.
Best players for threatening ball carries 24/25
| Shot-ending ball carries | Goal-ending ball carries | ||
| Antoine Semenyo | 8 | Erling Haaland | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noni Madueke | 8 | Luis Diaz | 2 |
| Mohamed Salah | 7 | Harvey Barnes | 2 |
| Luis Diaz | 7 | Nicolas Jackson | 2 |
Diaz has never scored against Wolves, but he is certainly performing well enough to change that this weekend.
Full-back Nelson Semedo will be charged with the task of keeping Liverpool’s tricky winger quiet, a job that most defenders have struggled with this season.
