Luis Diaz notes 100 percent change at Liverpool following his dad’s kidnapping

Luis Diaz says being "calmer and happier" is the secret behind his fine start to the season for Liverpool.

The Reds winger recorded a respectable 13 goals and five assists in all competitions last season but was visibly rocked by the news of his dad being kidnapped in Colombia during the early part of the campaign, with Luis Manuel Díaz held captive for 13 days by the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group.

Despite the shocking news, Diaz missed just one game for Liverpool before his father was reunited with his family , yet the Colombian struggled to hit the heights throughout the remainder of the campaign, even if he did play a prominent part under Jurgen Klopp .

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Since the start of the 2024-25 season, however, Diaz has been a player transformed. In just five Premier League outings, he already has five goals and one assist, and credits his scintillating form to being able to fully focus on the task at hand.

Speaking to Sky Sports on his "very difficult year", he said. "I am calmer and happier now. I am really enjoying the way football is making me feel. I have always felt that way, of course. I always try to enjoy it and try to play with a smile when I go out on the pitch, albeit with seriousness, knowing I have a job to do.

"But it was a very difficult year. This year, I am 100 per cent focused. I have to be better. We also have to be better as a team. Hopefully we can achieve everything that we are setting out to do."

After just seven games of the new era under manager Arne Slot , it's fair to say things have been going incredibly well. The Dutchman has guided Liverpool to six wins in all competitions in that time, getting off to the perfect start in the Premier League , Champions League and Carabao Cup .

All five of Diaz's starts have come in the top flight, with Cody Gakpo replacing him for the midweek victories over AC Milan and West Ham - the latter of which saw him fail to even make it off the bench as he was afforded a well-earned rest.

But it's clear that Diaz's settled mind, coupled with Slot's efforts to improve various aspects of his game during the summer, has allowed him to fully express himself and show Liverpool just why it shelled out an initial $49.5million (£37m/€44.3m) for his services in January 2022.

And it appears things may only get better, with Diaz already on his way to equalling his Premier League goals tally from last season within the first few months of the new campaign. If he keeps his form up, the Colombian could quite easily reach double figures for goals and assists in the top flight this season.