Diaz takes the hit to keep Reds on course

FOR all the talent at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp demands courage as well. His latest signing Luis Diaz passed the test with flying colours, albeit painfully.

The £37million Colombian is feted for blistering pace and quick feet. Yet we saw the other side at Brighton yesterday, putting himself in danger to score the key opening goal after 19 minutes with the bravest of headers.

Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez did not stop as he rushed out to charge his opponent and caught the Liverpool player in the chest with a high boot and the side of his head with a flailing arm.

Instead of wheeling away to celebrate his first away goal for his new club, Diaz crumpled to the floor and was surrounded by anxious team-mates until treatment had finished and he was able to continue.

Sanchez was not punished with a red card despite a VAR check but that was controversial. In the TV studio, Peter Crouch said: ‘It’s 100 per cent a sending-off for me. He (Diaz) could have been seriously injured there.’

Brighton had dominated the early stages and could have scored themselves through Leandro Trossard and Neal Maupay.

But once Liverpool went in front, there was little doubt they would go on to record their eighth consecutive Premier League win and move back within three points of leaders Manchester City — the gap having been 14 in mid-January.

The only downside was Mohamed Salah being substituted as a precaution soon after he had thumped home his 20th league goal of the season, from the penalty spot after an hour. It appeared Salah had struck his kick so powerfully, he had strained his left calf.

Liverpool made a sluggish start, yet still had the quality to take the lead with devastating simplicity.

Joel Matip’s pass split the Brighton defence and Diaz raced beyond Joel Veltman and nodded past Sanchez as the ball bounced up off the turf — just before the two collided at high impact. There was relief when Diaz was able to continue — and Liverpool shifted the momentum in their favour.

Sanchez saved twice from Sadio Mane and then narrowed the angle to block Salah after he had raced clear of Yves Bissouma in a sharp counter-attack.

Graham Potter introduced former Liverpool player Adam Lallana at half-time but he lasted only eight minutes before he had to disappear with a hamstring problem.

By that time, Brighton had missed their best chance of an equaliser — Leandro Trossard blazing over from eight yards.

Salah’s personal mission to score saw him hit the crossbar via Lewis Dunk’s deflection, then badly drag a shot wide from Diaz’s set-up.

But the Golden Boot leader did not waste his opportunity from the spot after 61 minutes. Naby Keita’s shot was blocked by Bissouma’s hand and Salah put all his pent-up frustration into leathering the penalty down the middle as Sanchez dived.

Maybe Salah hit it too hard, because five minutes later he went off pointing to where his left leg was hurting.

‘He overstretched his foot but Mo is not too concerned,’ said Klopp.

Liverpool could have extended their lead in the closing stages when Diaz was foiled by Sanchez one-on-one, while Alisson kept his clean sheet with a good tip-over from Danny Welbeck.

Scotland international Andy Robertson, who has played five times with Dias down the left, said: ‘He is unplayable at times and people are scared of him the way he drives at defences. And of course he’s got an end product as well. He’s easy to play with.

‘Sometimes it can take players a while to get settled in when they come during the window but luckily that’s not been the case.’

Reds skipper Jordan Henderson was not howling for a Sanchez red card but acknowledged it could have been given. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘He’s obviously late but Luis has done so well to get there first.

‘It was an important goal; a big performance from him and the team.’