Luis Diaz a Liverpool anomaly after just following in Virgil van Dijk’s rare footsteps

It was a Premier League bow that had Kopites aplenty purring at the full-time whistle.

A full debut Jurgen Klopp and Andy Robertson hailed.

Signings typically during Klopp's reign have taken time to settle into life at Anfield. There's usually a bedding-in period of a few months.

Robertson himself had to go through it. As did Gini Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Kostas Tsimikas and more recently Ibrahima Konate.

However, Luis Diaz's maiden start as a Liverpool player suggests there will be little time required to acclimatise.

His performance in the 2-0 victory over Leicester City underlined that he already looks very much a Reds player little more than two weeks after his arrival.

For Klopp to swoop for Diaz from Porto in the January transfer window underlined how highly the winger is rated.

Granted, fears of a switch to Tottenham Hotspur prompted Liverpool to hijack the deal.

But to splash out up to £50 million midway through the campaign was a statement of Klopp's belief. The only other significant fee that the manager has paid in January was Virgil van Dijk for £75 million four years ago.

Indeed, van Dijk was an anomaly who didn't require a period of settling in Merseyside. Let's remember he powered home a header on his first appearance in the Merseyside derby against Everton.

If Diaz reaches anywhere near the heights on van Dijk then the transfer fee Liverpool paid will be another snip.

An eye-catching cameo off the bench in Sunday's FA Cup win over Championship side Cardiff was enough to convince Klopp to start Diaz in Mane's absence against Leicester.

It took just 15 seconds for him to get fans off their seats. Diaz latched on to an intelligent Trent Alexander-Arnold ball before just being dispossessed by Daniel Amartey.

It was the 25-year-old's aggression and energy down the flank that was in abundance from kick-off.

With Mane absent having been celebrating Senegal's African Cup of Nations triumph, the fact he wasn't missed was perhaps the biggest compliment Diaz could be given.

Mane's partnership with Robertson is one of Liverpool's most potent attacking weapons.

Having played together for four-and-a-half seasons, they seamlessly link up and wreak havoc down the left wing. So many goals are engineered through the pair.

Yet Diaz and Robertson were just as dangerous. Interchanges and one-twos were frequent and fruitful.

Diogo Jota's double delivered the Reds all three points and he was a deserving man of the match.

But Diaz was the most threatening goalscoring threat of the home side.

He had four shots on goal, which was the most of the match, and should have bagged only for a fine save from Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

He also completed five of his attempted seven dribbles, which placed him top of the ranks. One electric change of pace to leave Marc Albrighton for dead in the first half was outstanding.

Granted, there are aspects of his game Diaz can improve on.

Before the break, he was on the end of a couple of robust challenges from James Justin.

The added intensity of the Premier League compared to Portugal is one thing he must become accustomed to.

Jota broke up Liverpool's famous front three that delivered Champions League and Premier League glory. He's now firmly first-choice striker ahead of Roberto Firmino.

Diaz now looks to crash the party and pilfer Mane's berth on the left.

It might be a bit early to start that debate but he's the top-quality attacking option fans have long yearned for.