Daniel Sturridge insists Liverpool made transfer mistake this summer - 'A massive miss'

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Daniel Sturridge has suggested that Liverpool are feeling the absence of Luis Diaz following their third consecutive defeat at Chelsea on Saturday evening. The Reds were left reeling after Estevao netted a 95th-minute winner for the Londoners at Stamford Bridge, marking another setback for Arne Slot's team.

The 2-1 loss meant Liverpool relinquished their top spot in the Premier League to Arsenal , having suffered from last-minute winners two weekends in a row, following on from a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace the previous Sunday.

Despite winning their first five Premier League matches as part of a seven-game winning streak across all competitions, Liverpool have not been at their best, often relying on late goals to secure victories.

Over the summer, Liverpool splashed out £450m, breaking the British transfer record twice to bring in Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

However, this spending spree was balanced by several high-profile departures, including Diaz , which brought in over £200m. Other players who moved on included Trent Alexander-Arnold , Darwin Nunez and Jarell Quansah.

Diaz made a move to Bayern Munich in a deal potentially worth £65.5m and has hit the ground running with the German giants, scoring six goals and providing four assists in his first ten appearances.

Meanwhile, Liverpool's attack has not been at its best as Slot's revamped front line continues to try and find its rhythm.

Following Chelsea's victory over the Reds, Sturridge admitted he believes his old side have been hampered by their choice to offload Diaz - who had been keen to depart after talks over a new contract at Anfield failed to reach an agreement.

"Luis Diaz is a massive miss for me," the former Liverpool striker said on Sky Sports . "When you look at Liverpool last year and how they used to press, I think arguably he was the one who would set the press in the front three.

"Szoboszlai would do it in the midfield with that power and dynamism that he has. For me, Luis Diaz, how tenacious he is on the ball and how hungry he is to get it back for his team. He brought something to Liverpool that they are now missing.

"I think Ekitike and Isak and Wirtz work hard, I'm not saying they don't. We can't question their work rate or their quality. But what I will say is that they're attack-minded players.

"I think with Diaz would sacrifice himself defensively. That's what they've got to figure out now, who in that attack is going to give themselves up a little bit. In a front three, there always has to be one guy who goes, 'I'm not stats hungry'.

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"You see Gakpo this year scoring more goals, Salah scoring less, the new strikers want to hit the ground running.

"So I think, Jamie (Redknapp, fellow Sky Sports pundit and former Reds captain) questioned the balance in the midfield, but I also think it's in the front three.

"It's important to understand which one of three is going to be the workhorse, who's going to be the one who does what he wants and who's going to be a hybrid of both. Right now, I'm not sure the manager knows what he's going to do."

The choice to offload Diaz wasn't the sole decision that left Sturridge scratching his head at Stamford Bridge, as he also criticised Slot's call not to field Wirtz from the off against Chelsea.

"I think today's the type of game you need a Wirtz," he said. "Someone who can create something, get the ball in his feet, move it, advance it, maybe win a free-kick.

"Szoboszlai gives you that running and pressing power, but these are the games they signed Wirtz for; the quality on the ball he brings is exceptional."

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