Arne Slot has shed light on why Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez were left out of Liverpool’s matchday squad during their loss to AC Milan in Hong Kong.
Slot gave playing time to 21 players at Kai Tak Sports Park, mixing youth with experience. However, the absence of the South American duo from the team sheet stood out.
Díaz’s situation is drawing attention, particularly with Bayern Munich reportedly preparing a second bid of around €75 million (£65.5 million) for the Colombian winger, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
Speaking after the match, Slot provided separate explanations for each player’s absence. According to reports from Lewis Steele and James Pearce on X (formerly Twitter), Núñez missed the game due to a minor fitness issue. In contrast, Díaz was left out because of the uncertainty surrounding his future amid transfer speculation.
Given how carefully Liverpool have handled injured players this preseason — with Joe Gomez being sent home and Federico Chiesa not traveling — Núñez being rested isn’t unexpected. It’s possible he could return to action against Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday if he’s fully fit.
However, Slot’s openness about dropping Díaz due to transfer rumors is particularly telling and may indicate the Colombian’s time at Anfield could be nearing its end.
With Hugo Ekitike already signed and continued interest in Alexander Isak, competition in Liverpool’s attack is heating up. Rising star Rio Ngumoha’s strong pre-season displays are also giving Slot something to consider.
Slot’s frank comments will likely draw attention from Bayern Munich, who may now feel even more confident about securing Díaz after his absence from today’s match.
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