Liverpool title message sent to Man City after shock transfer

New signing Luis Diaz can help shoulder the burden of keeping Liverpool in the title hunt with Manchester City.

That's the view of former Anfield star Jason McAteer as Jurgen Klopp looks to tweak his squad options before the January transfer window draws to a close.

The services of Diaz were secured from Porto over the weekend, in a deal potentially worth £49million, providing competition for places with Sadio Mane, Mo Salah, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, although when the Portuguese side played Liverpool earlier in the season he didn't leave too much of an impression on McAteer.

Speaking about the acquisition to the ECHO today on behalf of LV Bet, he said: “Obviously we came across him this season in the two games that we played (in the Champions League), where I’ve got to be honest, he didn’t stick out.

“I think in one of the games Neco Williams must have done a job on him. He didn’t stick out but I know that he has been on Liverpool’s radar for a while.

“As far as FSG and Jurgen (Klopp) go - their criteria - he certainly fits into the bracket. Age-wise, the manner in which he plays, and obviously he’s in a purple patch at the moment isn’t he? I think it’s 14 goals in 18 appearances.

“The last two seasons he certainly wasn’t as prolific as this season, but maybe that’s coming with age and experience and just feeling comfortable because he’s playing week in week out and turning in these performances.

“I think what it will do for Liverpool is certainly ease the workload on the front four. We’ve relied on Mo and Mane and again this season the numbers the two of them have churned out is remarkable. And Jota’s starting to come into his own as well.

"He’ll certainly ease the workload on them and give Jurgen more