"He has this special thing": Jurgen Klopp says £45M sensation is "a really good player" and backs him to shine

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has backed Luis Diaz to fill the void that has been left by former star Sadio Mane this season.

The Reds have started the season in stuttering form, with some suggesting that the loss of Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich has actually upset the status quo.

But the Reds have invested in the likes of Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho whilst Diaz has begun his first full season as a Liverpool player, having starred since his move in January.

Now his boss has backed him to emulate Mane as he claimed he's already one of the most important players in the team.

Jurgen Klopp on Diaz

Diaz's manager has always speak highly of him, and after his stunning strike on Monday against Palace, he's only reaffirmed his importance to this Liverpool.

"He had to play immediately because two boys were at the Africa Cup of Nations, so that helped him settle in. That gave him immediate confidence. It's his quality, his talent, his skillset.

"He's a really good player. We knew it before and when you're really good it's easier to settle in."

Replicating Mane's impact

His record is there for all to see so far as a Liverpool player in the PL - 15 games, 11 wins and no losses. When he plays, Liverpool don't lose.

He's had a full pre-season and started this campaign sharp. He had a lovely effort ruled out for offside and he also hit the crossbar against Fulham in his first game and his second brought a 25-yard screamer from distance just when his team needed him.

Mane was also there as a player who could turn a game in an instant or make the difference when it counts. Now Diaz can carry that responsibility as one of the constants in their (potentially) very scary front three with Mohamed Salah and Nunez.

Mane was 24 when he joined Liverpool and Diaz is only a year older at the start of his career on Merseyside - he's got time on his side to develop into a Mane-level player but it's safe to say he's had a flying start.