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DIAZ MAKES LIVERPOOL DEBUT AGAINST CARDIFF CITY

Liverpool fans had the chance to watch new signing Luis Diaz in action for the first team when the Colombia attacker came on as a second half substitute during the FA Cup fourth round clash with English Championship strugglers Cardiff City. Colombia international Diaz came on as a 58^th substitute for young midfielder Curtis Jones.

Colombia national team star Diaz became a Liverpool player just before the end of the winter transfer window last month. Liverpool had to fast forward their plans to sign the attacker from FC Porto when Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur showed serious interest in signing him. Initially, Liverpool wanted to sign him from Portuguese giants FC Porto when this summer’s transfer window opens. In the end, the player choose Liverpool ahead of Spurs in a £50m deal including add-ons. Liverpool agreed an initial fee of £37.5m for the Colombian plus £12.5m in add-ons.

New Liverpool signing Diaz was on international duty for Colombia during the winter break given to Premier League teams recently. He was in the Colombia team that lost 1-0 to Peru at home and 1-0 to Argentina away from home in the World Cup 2022 qualifiers in the South American region. The Colombians dropped from the qualification spots as a result of the two defeats.

Diaz started the FA Cup clash with Welsh team Cardiff City on the Liverpool bench. After a goalless draw in the first half, in-form Jota scored the first goal of the game in the 53^rd minute header off the free-kick from right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Diaz came on for Jones five minutes after the opening goal.Japanese attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino added a second goal for the Reds midway into the second half before substitute Harvey Elliott scored the third Liverpool goal on his return from injury after a four-month layoff. Young Welsh international Rubin Colwill scored a consolation goal for Cardiff as Liverpool their place in the fifth round via a 3-1 win.