Luis Diaz’s season of trauma and triumph – and what’s next for Liverpool’s No. 7 – Liverpool FC

After a uniquely challenging season, Luis Diaz has emerged with question marks over his future, but the winger’s efforts in 2023/24 are to be commended.

Diaz endured and enjoyed a campaign unlike any other in 2023/24, with the winger experiencing both trauma and triumph.

He ended the season with another trophy to add to his list of honors – already a double Carabao Cup winner, along with his FA Cup and Community Shield – but it still ended in frustration.

It presents an interesting dilemma for the transfer window, as Liverpool and their number 7 could face a difficult decision.

Trauma off the field

It would be remiss to review Diaz’s second full season at Liverpool without acknowledging the traumatic circumstances for the winger and his family off the pitch.

The kidnapping of his parents, Luis Diaz Sr. and Cilenis Marulanda, in October saw the 27-year-old understandably sidelined as a search was underway in Colombia.

While Marulanda was quickly rescued, the family faced a 12-day wait for his captors to free Diaz Sr., emerging from the La Guajira jungle visibly exhausted and emotional.

Liverpool have pledged their support for Diaz in the search for his father and care for the player and his family in Merseyside.

On the pitch, Diogo Jota held up his ‘Diaza 7’ shirt after scoring against Nottingham Forest a day after the hijack, while there were tears as Diaz returned to score the equalizer against Luton in the 95th minute.

“LIBERTAD PARA PAPA,” or “FREEDOM FOR DAD,” read the message as Diaz lifted his shirt.

Diaz returned to the starting line-up on the day of his father’s dismissal, in a 3-2 defeat to Toulouse on 9 November, with Jurgen Klopp saying “Lucho seems really happy, thumbs up all the time.”

And there were emotional scenes in Colombia as Diaz scored twice in a 2-1 win over Brazil with his parents in the stands in Barranquilla.

The Diaz family immediately moved to Merseyside, with Diaz senior following his son home and away, becoming a cult figure among fans as he roared him on from the stands.

That’s what’s unique about Diaz’s season, with it certainly remarkable that he’s continued to get more minutes on the pitch for Liverpool than anyone but Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool’s most used striker

On the pitch, Diaz continued a season blighted by two serious knee injuries to become the most available striker in Klopp’s ranks.

While Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota missed out through injury, Diaz was the only absentee due to a club-granted absence.

Even then, the number 7 missed just two games, and Diaz was otherwise in the team for every match, appearing in 51 of them.

It was noted that despite his ubiquity on the pitch, his performance in front of goal was worse than expected: with 13 goals and five assists, he averaged one goal every 201 minutes.

There were periods where he struggled to shoot, including in the 1-1 draw with Man City in March when he deflected a one-on-one with Stefano Ortega high and wide as he headed in Salah’s stunning pass.

After the Carabao Cup semi-final win over Fulham in which Diaz scored in the second leg, Klopp even joked that I had already told him that ‘Man of the match should have scored two goals and had one assist’!

“Honestly, he’s a fantastic player, absolutely fantastic,” the manager continued.

“Absolutely no criticism, but I would have liked him to have set up the second and scored the third.”

That was a frequent concern of fans, and Diaz showed the necessary effort but, for whatever reason, regularly missed in front of goal.

Of course, that could be said of any of Liverpool’s senior strikers at some point in the 2023/24 season, and it should be emphasized that Diaz has often been a great player in attack.

He certainly finished the season strongly, playing a useful role for Gakpo, with the pair swapping positions to allow the Dutchman to stand out from his natural spot on the left wing.

And with a new head coach coming in with a penchant for hard-working, crafty wingers, it could be another opportunity for Diaz.

Key Gear or Spare Part?

Ongoing speculation over Diaz’s future, with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona both interested, paints his campaign in a different light.

As a new era begins on Merseyside, the Colombian could be seen as one of Liverpool’s most marketable assets if early courtship from France and Spain turns into a concrete offer.

His rate of 24 goals and 13 assists in 98 games for the club is far from the level expected of a first-time starter in attack.

And when he turns 28 in January with three years left on his contract, the decision could be made to part ways with Diaz and build around a younger, more malleable newcomer.

However, it would be difficult even for the brilliant minds on Michael Edwards’ new-look recruiting team to gauge the impact of the trauma on Diaz’s long-term performance.

From a supporter’s perspective, the 2023/24 season should be seen as more impressive than the number 7 regardless.

Diaz has shown an incredible level of not only bravery but dedication to a cause that deserves to be more widely recognized.

But whether his output is scalable enough to be the first-choice starter under Arne Slott next season is still up for debate.

Best moment: A heroic equalizer against Luton, dedicated to his father.

Worst moment: A costly miss against Man City.

Role next season: If he stays, a valuable member of the attack – but that’s a big if.