Liverpool manager Arne Slot has found himself being accused of favouritism after benching Luis Diaz for the win over RB Leipzig.
Journalist Carlos Antonio Velez throws the thinly veiled criticism at the Liverpool boss via Red Mas, today after Diaz started the clash with Leipzig in the Champions League on the bench.
The Colombian has been in fine form for Liverpool at the start of this season, bagging five goals and one assist in 11 games in all competitions to date.
Those have all come in the Premier League, though, with him so far finding himself without any goal involvements in clashes against AC Milan, Bologna and Leipzig in the Champions League.
He started the first and last of those on the bench, coming off for a 22-minute appearance and 27 minute appearance respectively.
Slot has instead rotated his options when given the chance, bringing in Cody Gakpo on the left of a front three for the eventual 1-0 win over the Germans.
That’s led to some concern for Velez, who was less than happy to see his country’s star sat on the bench in Europe’s biggest club competition.
“They are making Lucho a substitute,” he said.
“I am not liking the topic of Lucho Díaz and I have been detailing things, I do not like that Slot is marginalising him
“Slot is from the Netherlands and Lucho Díaz’s replacement, Gakpo, is from the Netherlands. It would be frivolous to say that because he is a compatriot he is preferring him, but I don’t rule it out.
“Gakpo is a great player, he can play in any position, not necessarily as a left winger. And the coach, decidedly, is putting him there: right where Lucho plays. I hope that this is temporary, that it is not just the benefit to a compatriot, no matter how good he may be.”
