3 from Liverpool shine in FA Cup win over Cardiff City
By CJ Errickson
Luis Diaz showed just a glimpse of what he can do for Liverpool.
If it was not for Harvey Elliott’s fantastic all-around story and performance, the new Liverpool FC acquisition Luis Diaz would have been the talk of the town. He was not a part of the team’s starting XI, but he did come on as a substitute in the 58th minute. The energy at Anfield was more than tangible for both him and his teammate. In 10 minutes, Diaz was already leaving his mark on the pitch with this incredible interception, tackle, and then assist.
58’—Subs on for debut
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 6, 2022
68’—Records first assist
Luis Díaz with the instant impact ✨
(via @EmiratesFACup)pic.twitter.com/mIIkLVhrfP
It is clear that Luis is what the Reds need in the midfield, but it was not without a slight scare.
Welcome to English football, says manager Jürgen Klopp.
After a stern challenge from an opposing defender, the first-ever Colombian player in LFC history went to the ground. Collective suspense hung over Anfield; Reds’ manager Klopp said that he earned his right of passage in English after the football match with a nice battle scar.
"It was a scary moment, that’s true. The goal he set up for Taki was absolutely incredible: high press, counter-press, I love it, and then Taki finished it off. Then, the long ball, the heading challenge, he goes down [and] holds his knee afterwards. We were all really shocked. I had a look on the screen and I saw that everything was fine in the air, everything was fine when he came down, but then I saw the big fella of Cardiff standing on his knee and he has now a bruise there and a scar, it’s red and a little bit open. We all said to him, ‘Welcome to England!’ Now he has his first assist and his first little scar. That’s absolutely OK. I don’t think it will be any more serious – maybe tomorrow he feels it more and we have to react to that, but it’s nothing serious. via – LiverpoolFC.com"
It is not a serious injury, and the 25-year-old will have plenty of time to recover before his potential Premier League debut against Leicester City. So while two players who have seen little to no action of this season highlighted today’s performance, another Liverpool player is continuing an impressive streak.