Liverpool fans will be delighted with the performance of Louis Diaz, who signed £50m in January, on his Premier League debut, where he excelled in Liverpool's regular-season win over Leicester. Diaz made 29 appearances for Porto in the first half of the season with 22 goals and assists, and was sent off for half an hour in the FA Cup match against Cardiff at the weekend, but he was nominated for the first time for the starter when Leicester arrived at Merseyside on Thursday night.
Fans are forgivable for believing That Diaz has been part of Liverpool's squad for years, rather than the days in fact. He appeared to immediately agree with his new team-mate and accepted the tactical demands made by Jurgen Kolop. The good relationship between the left and Andrew Robertson is particularly noteworthy and will be closely watched in the coming weeks and months.
Leicester goalkeeper Casper Schmeichel, who made just two very good saves, was at his best throughout the night, preventing a dominant Liverpool team from rushing to the scoreline, leaving Diaz unable to score a goal or more in the game.
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It also provides a window into the future without Sadio Manet. The Senegalese star just returned to the club on Thursday morning after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with his national team a few days ago, so he was not selected for the national team.
But Mane, who was 30 years old before the end of the season, was in the final 18 months of his contract. His career at Liverpool won't last forever and diaz, 25, will be his long-term successor, the left-forward he has been playing since coming to Liverpool from Southampton in 2016. If anyone wonders if Diaz is up to the task of filling those voids, his Premier League debut is a powerful opening response.