Luis Diaz did one ‘important’ thing at Liverpool that Cody Gakpo doesn’t, and it must change - opinion

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Liverpool have had a lot of problems since having a big turnover this summer.The Reds were supposed to kick on after the transfer window they had, but spending close to £450m seems to have, somehow, made them worse.Things are just not clicking into place and the pressure is starting to mount on Arne Slot, with there being too many issues to count. Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis.

One big one stems from the attack, something they should not be having, given the quality they have added in this area of the pitch.But losing Luis Diaz was perhaps a far bigger loss than fans perhaps realised at the time, with the Colombian bringing something to Liverpool that Cody Gakpo simply has not yet.Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLuis Diaz started the Liverpool pressDiaz was one of Liverpool’s best attackers last season, so it would have come as a little bit of a surprise as to how keen he was to jump ship.Liverpool fans were not too unhappy, though, as consistency was a big problem of his and they also got a big transfer fee in the process.However, one thing he added that no one can deny is work-rate. He was always first to press the defence and kick-start the Reds’ attack, something that has been a huge miss.He would hound the opposition into mistakes and not give them a moment to breathe, something Gakpo really needs to add to his game to help Liverpool get back to competition.Former Arsenal player Theo Walcott, who knows more than most what it takes to be a successful winger, also made it clear how important he feels Diaz was to the side.READ MORE: ‘Special’ star’s Liverpool career might now be over, and there’s nothing he can do about it“Diaz was so important for their press, the way they counter-press, the way they counter-attack, everything,” he said on The Overlap US.“Everything about Liverpool was fed through him.”Cody Gakpo could become a world-beater if he adds pressing to his gameGakpo, of course, works really hard, but he does not have the same energy that Diaz has to him, although not many players do in all fairness.However, he has all the attributes to go right to the very top, with the final piece of the puzzle that could propel him to the next level.He already has the goals to his game and the ability to create chances too, with a tenacious work-rate something that would only make him undroppable.Diaz has moved onto pastures new and is certainly killing it in the Bundesliga, but if Gakpo can take this next step, then his absence will not be felt as much.