“We Need the Flexibility” – Analysing the Role of Luis Diaz in Arne Slot’s Liverpool System | OneFootball

Luis Díaz’s Role Under Arne Slot and the Number Nine Debate at Liverpool

Liverpool’s tactical evolution under Arne Slot is beginning to take shape, and one of the most intriguing aspects of this transition is how Luis Díaz fits into the system. As Guy Drinkel discussed on The Daily Red podcast from Anfield Index, the Colombian’s role is crucial—not just for his own attacking contributions but for how he facilitates play around him. At the same time, the debate over Liverpool’s best number nine continues, with different forwards offering distinct strengths.

Luis Díaz: More Than Just a Goal Scorer

Díaz’s ability to influence the game goes beyond just scoring goals. Drinkel highlighted how Arne Slot values a forward who can both “score goals and facilitate,” and Díaz has increasingly shown he can do both.

One example Drinkel cited was the penalty won at Bournemouth:

“I also saw the penalty at Bournemouth from Cody, where Lucho played a part without touching the ball. He dragged the centre-back out, which led to Cody being one-v-one and he made a deep run and got tripped.”

This moment underscores how Díaz’s movement and positional intelligence create openings for others, even if he doesn’t get the final touch. It’s a testament to his impact in a system that relies on fluidity and dynamic movement in attack.

Photo: IMAGO

Drinkel also pointed out that Díaz offers a different type of threat compared to his teammates:

“Diaz, we can just give the ball to and see what happens.”

His dribbling ability makes him unique in Liverpool’s forward line, as he can take on defenders and create chances out of nothing. However, while he guarantees an impact, Drinkel admitted that Díaz is not necessarily a consistent goal scorer in the way that Liverpool might need from their wide players.

The Number Nine Role: Who Best Complements Díaz and Salah?

With Díaz’s ability to create space and facilitate play, the question becomes: who is the best fit at number nine? Drinkel explored this in depth, comparing the different forwards available to Slot.

Darwin Núñez offers a more traditional physical presence up front and can stretch defences. Drinkel recalled how playing Núñez centrally helped open up space for Salah:

“A lot of our play goes through Mo Salah, but if Mo has three people marking him, we need the flexibility to pass it central… In recent games, I think it was the Lille game where Darwin played centrally and it just afforded Salah so much more space.”

Photo: IMAGO

However, as Drinkel noted, Núñez is not always the most reliable finisher.

Cody Gakpo, meanwhile, offers a different set of skills:

“Gakpo… you kind of want him more in higher areas on the end of stuff and more just kind of depends if we can get him in space or not.”

His positional play is intelligent, but there are concerns over whether he has the physicality to be a long-term solution as a central striker in the Premier League.

Then there’s Diogo Jota, arguably Liverpool’s best pure finisher, but his injury record raises concerns:

“We’d probably all like Jota to be fit more—whether that’s possible or not is obviously a long-asked question now.”

Jota’s movement and ability to arrive in the box at the right time make him an ideal choice when fit, but the recurring fitness issues mean Liverpool cannot rely on him as their first-choice number nine across a full season.

Photo: IMAGO

Finding the Balance in Attack

Ultimately, the decision on who plays as Liverpool’s number nine will depend on how Slot wants to balance his attack. Drinkel suggested that, given the variation in playing styles, the team doesn’t necessarily need a striker who scores 20+ goals a season if they can create space and facilitate for Salah and Díaz:

“As long as they’re doing their job and creating space for the two wide lads, it’s not the biggest thing for me. Obviously, you want the goals, but as long as two of them are scoring, it doesn’t really matter.”

It’s clear that Liverpool’s forward options all bring something different. Díaz’s role as a creator and dribbler provides an essential spark, while the choice at number nine will likely be dictated by the specific tactical needs of each match.

For Slot, the challenge will be managing rotation and keeping his attackers fresh. As Drinkel summed up:

“We have impactful players who will bring something to the game—it’s just whether they score, assist, create space, or whatever. But they are all performing.”

With Liverpool in contention on multiple fronts, how Slot continues to deploy Díaz and the number nine role will be key to their success.