On Thursday night, many Liverpool players celebrated victory with their various nationalities, and one of them in particular will have pleased Jurgen Klopp.
Just under nine months after the 2022 World Cup final, South American qualification for the 2026 edition began overnight, with Luis Diaz assisting Colombia to a close home win over Venezuela.
The 26-year-old didn’t score on his 39th cap — Rafael Santos Borre scored shortly after half-time – but his all-around performance could only have impressed his club and international employers and fans.
According to Sofascore, the attacker took four shots in Barranquilla, one of which was on goal, and completed five dribbles (more than his teammates combined) as he was a thorn in the side of the Venezuelan defense all night.
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Diaz’s distribution was excellent, completing all three long balls he attempted and making one important pass, while he also contributed plenty of work off the ball for Nestor Lorenzo’s team, winning seven duels in total, the joint-second most of any Colombia player.
The attacker has started the season strongly for Liverpool, scoring two goals in his first four games (Transfermarkt), and judging by his statistics from last night, he’s certainly brought that form into the international stage.
Reds fans are used to watching Diaz put on all-action displays at Anfield, so they won’t be surprised to see him do the same for Colombia as they begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a hard-fought home victory.
The 26-year-old and his teammates will go to Chile in midweek, and we’ll all be hoping that he can provide another excellent performance and, more crucially, come through the game unhurt ahead of a frantic autumn for his club.