Liverpool faces a fourth major contract issue this season that has largely gone unnoticed.

Luis Diaz is playing at his peak right now, and Liverpool should prioritize securing his contract as soon as possible.

You might have heard whispers about Liverpool’s contract issues, with three key players just weeks away from being able to negotiate free transfers with overseas clubs. It’s an uncomfortable truth that Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah are nearing the end of their impressive careers at Anfield, even though Liverpool appears calm about their situations.

While not widely discussed, Liverpool has promising replacements ready to step up if the worst happens. Ibrahima Konate has emerged as a standout center-back, showcasing his dominance this season, while Conor Bradley, though not as skillful as Alexander-Arnold, is a solid, traditional right-back.

As for the attack, replacing Salah directly would be a challenge, but Liverpool has alternatives—and one of them, Diaz, is shining. Arne Slot praised Diaz’s standout performance as a No. 9 against Bayer Leverkusen, even admitting surprise at his hat-trick: “Lucho did really well… I expected him to do good, but that he played so well was a surprise.”

With Diaz likely to feature against Aston Villa, Slot shared his thoughts on Liverpool’s attacking options: “When we had Darwin (Nunez) and Diogo (Jota), we usually played one of them,” adding that he was thrilled by Diaz’s adaptability: “I especially liked Lucho scoring three goals—two as a nine, one as a winger.”

Slot hinted at further tactical flexibility: “We have four attackers for three spots, so we could switch it up again. But with Diogo and Darwin back, we’ll have two No. 9s available.”

Diaz has been consistently reliable, missing just one league game last season (due to the distressing kidnapping incident involving his father). This season, he’s also increased his goal count, with nine already, just four short of his total last season.

It’s no wonder Anfield echoes with his chant. With two years left on his contract and not being among Liverpool’s highest earners, Diaz clearly deserves a pay rise for his exceptional contributions this season.