Roberto Firmino proved he still has Liverpool on his mind as he sent a message to Luis Diaz following the Colombian’s hat-trick in the Champions League this week. The players spent a season-and-a-half as team-mates on Merseyside before the Brazilian jetted off to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Ahli in July 2023.
Diaz is enjoying his finest start to a season at Anfield and has already bagged nine goals in his first 15 appearances.
He was in scintillating form on Tuesday evening as his side dispatched reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 in Europe.
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Diaz, who played in the No. 9 role, opened the scoring just after the hour mark as he dinked the ball over onrushing away keeper Lukas Hradecky, before Cody Gakpo headed in a second moments later.
Diaz killed the game off seven minutes from the end as he struck from close range and then bagged his third goal in mischievous fashion in stoppage time.
The ball fell to the ace inside the penalty area following a counter attack from the hosts. And he turned his head to the side to avoid looking at the ball as he swept it into the back of the net.
Firmino took to Instagram after the match and wrote to Diaz: “No look goal done. I saw little hand… big hug.” And the Reds player replied to the comment by penning: “I learned a lot from you Manito..! A big hug.”
Firmino was the king of the no-look goal during his time at Anfield and bagged plenty of them in a Liverpool shirt. He did the same thing while playing for Brazil.
Diaz was in a joyous mood after his dazzling display against Leverkusen. And after the match he explained: “The manager makes it very clear what he wants from each of us in our positions on the pitch. The most important thing is the three points so we can keep progressing in the competition.
“Things have gone so well with the new manager. It obviously wasn't easy for him, coming in to replace Jurgen [Klopp], but we have to keep going. We haven't won anything yet - but hopefully we will have something to celebrate at the end of the season.”
And the 27-year-old added: “We have top quality players all over the pitch but I really enjoyed playing in that position.
“Wherever I play on the pitch, I work hard and try to help the team. I now need to go and find the match ball and keep it somewhere safe at home.”
