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Jurgen Klopp praises Luis Diaz after his “emotional” goal in the 2-2 draw with Luton Town.
Luis Diaz scored a thrilling late equalizer for Liverpool in their Sunday draw with Luton Town, and Jurgen Klopp has praised the player.
The forward’s mother was freed last weekend after his parents were kidnapped by gunmen in Colombia. But Diaz’s father is still missing, and investigators are presently looking for him in the nation’s northwest jungles.
Despite his personal circumstances, Diaz was determined to play for Liverpool on Sunday when they traveled to Luton. The striker would have a significant impact, coming off the bench in the 83rd minute and rising at the back post to head home the equalizer in the 95th.
Speaking about Diaz’s situation and his contribution at Kenilworth Road, Klopp told the press: “That we have to talk about that, it’s wonderful, it’s emotional and it’s fantastic. But the real problem is not sorted. We wanted to give – and he wanted as well – Lucho the opportunity to be a little bit distracted from the other things.
“He cannot do nothing, he is waiting all the time, the whole family is waiting all the time. And so he trained now a few times with us and he was then in a good mood, and that’s good for him. I think the signs from Colombia are rather positive, optimistic but the one thing we all want to hear, it didn’t happen yet. He didn’t train a lot and you don’t know exactly when you can bring him.
“The game was obviously a game where another offensive player would make sense. If you bring him with the quality he has and 15, 20 minutes, I don’t know exactly how long he played, and he scores the goal, so it’s wonderful. That’s it.
Diaz and Klopp embraced after the game, and when asked about the hug and what he said to Diaz, the manager replied:
“Actually after the game no words were necessary. We just gave each other a hug. We know how he is – ok but desperately waiting for the right news. That’s all.
“We had moments like this in the past. I understand 100 per cent that it’s a nice story, honestly, and it’s super-positive and great for him but these things go by. The real information we need is a different information. That’s it. But anyway, it’s a really, really positive thing for him. But all the other problems stay the same.”