Arne Slot on the prospect of using Luis Diaz as a striker once more against Aston Villa after his hat-trick heroics against Bayer Leverkusen

Arne Slot embraces Luis Diaz after his hat-trick for Liverpool against Bayer Leverkusen (Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Arne Slot admits he was surprised by hat-trick hero Luis Diaz's performance in Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

And the Reds boss says the chance to use the Colombia international as a central striker once more against Aston Villa is a serious option.

Diaz struck his first Liverpool hat-trick in Tuesday's win over Leverkusen in the Champions League to take his overall tally this term to nine goals, which leaves him just four short of the number he recorded across 51 appearances last time out.

Liverpool’s January transfer spending through the years including Andy Carroll and Virgil van Dijk deals	Gabriel Heinze was so angry Man United wouldnand#8217;t grant Liverpool transfer the lawyers got involved as saga turned ugly	How Arne Slot’s first seven months as Liverpool head coach compare to Jurgen Klopp’s

?

The winger started against Xabi Alonso's side in an unfamiliar striker role as Slot chose to rest Darwin Nunez, with Diogo Jota still sidelined with an unspecified injury, which came about when Chelsea defender Tosin Adaraiboyo landed awkwardly on the Portugal international in the 2-1 victory at Anfield last month.

READ MORE:Diogo Jota injury return date finally revealed by Liverpool boss Arne SlotREAD MORE:Arne Slot shows true colours as Liverpool head coach does unthinkable

Speaking in his Friday press conference to preview Saturday's visit from Villa, Slot said: “It depends on the availability of the players.

When we had Darwin and Diogo available we always played one of those two.

?

"The moment Diogo was no longer available and because we play so many games and Darwin didn't play in the first games it was too much for him, so that's why we started to come up with other ideas.

"To be honest I liked especially the last idea, I think every Liverpool supporter did with Lucho (Diaz) scoring three goals, two as a No.9 and one as a winger, so that is always interesting to see.

"But Lucho is also a very good left winger.

At this moment we have four attackers available for three positions so we could come up with another idea again but if Diogo comes back and Darwin is back then we have two No.9s available again and at the beginning of the season I always chose one of these two.

?

"But Lucho did really well and if was, even for me, maybe a bit of a surprise to see how well he did.

I played him there for a reason, I expected him to do good but that he played so well that was even a surprise for me.

"That's what we all see, that he has better numbers than last season.

I have no clue why that is, the only thing I can come up with is the team provides a lot of chances for these players.

"If Diogo is playing he scores, if Darwin is playing he scores, if Lucho is playing as a left winger he scores but Cody (Gakpo) also scores if he is playing as a left winger.

?

"That tells me that the team is providing goals for these great individuals and these players all have the qualities, that's why they play for Liverpool.

"If they are in promising situations they can score a goal and that's what I make of it but it's difficult for me to compare it with last season, the only thing I can tell you is how I see it this season."


For more news relating to Chelsea, visit our sister site Chelsea Latest Live.