Klopp hails Luis Díaz’s first Liverpool start as ‘one of the best I ever saw’

Jürgen Klopp has described Luis Díaz’s full Liverpool debut as “one of the best I ever saw” while insisting the new signing needs time to adapt to the Premier League.

The Colombia international made an accomplished first start for Klopp’s team in the 2-0 defeat of Leicester on Thursday, when handed an early opportunity to impress Anfield in the absence of Sadio Mané. Klopp credited Díaz’s “skill-set and character” for the seamless introduction and, despite calling for calm, admits he was captivated by the winger’s 89-minute display.

“It was his first game and it was probably one of the best I ever saw from a new player, that’s true, because he looked completely natural,” the Liverpool manager said. “But it was only a first game and we have to see how he adapts to working with intensity and all this kind of things in the Premier League.

“There is no rush. Last night was a very good opportunity to start him because of Sadio not being here yet and Mo [Salah] coming back from an incredibly tense tournament and, yes, he showed up.”