Liverpool icon Robbie Fowler has voiced serious concerns about his former club's attacking struggles, directly linking their poor start to the Premier League season with the summer departure of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich.
The £65 Million Void at Anfield
The Colombian international completed a £65 million transfer to German giants Bayern Munich during a significant summer overhaul at Anfield. Diaz's exit formed part of a major exodus that also saw Darwin Nunez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Elliot and Jarell Quansah leave Merseyside.
Despite investing over £450 million on new recruits, Liverpool's title defence has faltered dramatically. The Reds have lost five of their opening eleven matches and currently trail league leaders Arsenal by eight points, raising alarm bells among supporters and pundits alike.
Fowler's Surprise at Overlooked Departure
Speaking exclusively to Metro on behalf of Adventure Gamers, Fowler expressed his astonishment that more attention hasn't been paid to Diaz's absence from Liverpool's struggling frontline.
"I don't know the reason why he went, but it looks as though he wanted to go because it was a very quick sale, wasn't it? That tells you he probably wanted to, but for me he was probably one of Liverpool's standout players last year," Fowler stated.
"So I'm actually genuinely surprised that not more has been made of how much Liverpool are missing him."
The former striker pinpointed specific tactical problems emerging from Diaz's departure, noting: "When you look at Liverpool and certainly the tough start they've had, they maybe struggled to break teams down when teams have sat and kept that low block. Luis Diaz is one of those players who can unlock defences. So I think they have genuinely missed him."
Broader Attack Concerns Emerge
Liverpool's offensive struggles extend beyond Diaz's absence. Mohamed Salah's influence has noticeably waned, while big-money signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have experienced slow starts to their Anfield careers.
Fowler's analysis suggests that while the club was prepared to sanction Diaz's move after the player pushed for the transfer, the consequences have been more severe than anticipated. The Colombian's ability to beat defenders and create chances against deep-lying defences appears particularly missed in Liverpool's current setup.
The situation highlights the challenges facing Liverpool's recruitment team, who despite significant investment, have yet to adequately replace the unique qualities Diaz brought to their attacking play.
