The Reds are not opposed to selling players at the right price, and several star names were allowed to leave last summer, but Steven Gerrard has admitted he would like one of those to return

Steven Gerrard has said he would happily see Luis Diaz back at Liverpool, less than a year on from the club’s decision to sell the winger.

The Colombian joined Bayern Munich for a fee of £66 million ($88M/€75M) in July and has enjoyed a superb first campaign in the Bundesliga. He has produced 23 goals and 18 assists since his summer transfer and was again on target on Tuesday, as he netted the opening goal in Bayern’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Real Madrid.

Liverpool has certainly missed his output from the wide areas this season, with Arne Slot reluctant to hand serious minutes to wingers Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo’s numbers have also greatly declined since last season.

The decision to sell Diaz has been hotly contested in recent months, with the 29-year-old keen to move on when it became apparent Liverpool was unwilling to match his demands for a new contract.

But speaking during TNT Sport’s coverage of the Champions League quarterfinal first leg at the Bernabeu, Gerrard was clear where he stands on Diaz.

While discussing Bayern’s Michael Olise, Gerrard said: “I would love him at Liverpool, and you know what? I wouldn't mind Diaz back as well.

“Yeah we do [miss him], we miss him a lot. He's been quite quiet in this game, surprisingly,” the former Liverpool skipper added.

“But you can't sleep when Luis Diaz is about. The timing of his run, his speed, and the finish is exquisite.”

However, also discussing Diaz’s Liverpool exit on Tuesday, Jamie Carragher said that, despite missing the ex-Porto man, the decision to sell him was not a mistake.

“Sometimes you get presented deals as a club, and at the time that was a good deal for Liverpool,” he said on CBS Sports.

“Liverpool bought Luis Diaz for around £40M. They had him for about four seasons. He was due for a new contract and he had been on the same contract since he first came.

“He wasn’t on huge wages and the next one would have put him on a real big contract, and then Liverpool would have him on a contract into his early 30s, which is probably not what they wanted.

“Bayern Munich had a problem because they tried to get Florian Wirtz, obviously, he came to Liverpool. Then [Jamal] Musiala got injured in the Club World Cup, so they were so desperate for a player they ended up paying around £70M for Luis Diaz at 28.

“So the whole package, was a good deal. He’s still a really good player. That last season for Liverpool and we’re now seeing that at Bayern Munich. But I wouldn’t criticize the club for it.” (Liverpool)