Liverpool sent double transfer reminder by the next Luis Díaz and potential Roberto
Firmino heir
If it wasn't for a certain Alisson Becker header, instead of playing in Paris on Saturday
night, Liverpool might have found themselves in Tirana playing on Wednesday night.
The Europa Conference League was looked upon with disdain when the possibility of it arose
last season — especially as Liverpool looked to be on the precipice of a collapse.
In the end, Jürgen Klopp's side were able to overturn their fortunes and avoid Europe's
third continental competition.
However, regardless of where Liverpool ended up, there is no question the Europa Conference
League has enriched the European footballing calendar.
In the Albanian capital, AS Roma and Feyenoord fought a well-contested final worthy of a
true European spectacle, with José Mourinho returning to his old tricks.
From Liverpool's perspective, the game will have been of little significance.
But on the pitch, two players may have piqued the interest of the club's scouts.
One will have been Nicolò Zaniolo, who had endured a difficult time over the last few
seasons with two serious injuries, but has enjoyed a revival under Mourinho in the current
campaign.
Eight goals and nine assists in 42 appearances with an average of 0.53 goal contributions
per 90 is a commendable return to form.
On top of that, Zaniolo also added a winning goal in a European final as the cherry on
top of the cake, forever etching his name in the history books.
That's one to remember for future pub quizzes.
A versatile attacker, Zaniolo has been linked with Liverpool in the past and it's easy to
see why the club's scouts would consider him a potential replacement for Roberto Firmino,
with the Italian international possessing the ability to play in the false number nine
role.
His clever movement in the final and well-taken goal was a timely reminder that he could be
an astute option for Liverpool in the future.
Though he was not alone in making a mark.
Twenty-two-year-old Feyenoord winger, Luis Sinisterra, may have ended on the losing side
but it was not for his lack of trying.
The diminutive winger caused Roma plenty of problems and his infectious energy and elusive
ability on the ball stood out on the pitch.
Sinisterra, like Zaniolo, has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the past, with
many describing him as the 'next Luis Díaz' to have emerged from Colombia.
On Wednesday night, Sinisterra proved he can perform on one of the highest stages, and
that will put him on good stead in any potential Liverpool scouting reports.
Liverpool will be glad to be competing in Paris later this week, but the Europa Conference
League has still thrown up an interesting hunting ground for the Reds in terms of potential
recruitment.