Jurgen Klopp praised Luis Diaz’s resilience as he awaits confirmation on his father’s safe release following the Colombian player’s late goal to salvage Liverpool from embarrassment against Luton.
Tahith Chong, a substitute player, scored a goal that seemed to secure Luton’s first home win in the Premier League. However, in the fifth minute of added time, Díaz scored a header from a cross by Harvey Elliott, changing the outcome. This was a challenging week for the 26-year-old, as his father was still being held by kidnappers from the National Liberation Army (ELN). When he scored, Díaz revealed a T-shirt with the words “Libertad Para Papa” (Freedom for Dad).
However, although Klopp was pleased to have him back in the Liverpool team after being excluded from the victory against Nottingham Forest last week, he emphasized that they are still eagerly anticipating news about Luis Manuel Díaz.
The manager of Liverpool expressed his joy, stating that no words were needed. He mentioned that the outlook in Colombia is positive, but they are still waiting for the one thing they all desire.
On Sunday evening, Díaz issued a statement requesting the prompt release of my father by the ELN. I also urge international organizations to actively work towards ensuring his freedom.
We are increasingly anxious with every passing second and minute. We are at a loss for words to express the terrible emotions our family is experiencing, and this will continue until he returns home.
“I plead for my father’s immediate release, while also asking for his dignity to be respected. I would like to express gratitude to the Colombian people and the international community for their support.”
Klopp expressed disappointment that his team was unable to secure a league win at this stadium for the fifth time in a row since 1987, but he was impressed with Luton’s determination. He also stated that he was unaware of any mocking from the home fans regarding the Hillsborough disaster.
“It’s a peculiar sensation – we were capable of winning, yet we were at risk of losing,” he stated. “Luton deserves recognition for their strong performance, but we lacked composure during crucial opportunities. If we had capitalized on one of our early chances, the game could have been more in our favor.”
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The tie results in Luton climbing out of the relegation zone with a better goal difference than Bournemouth, earning their second point of the season.
The manager, Rob Edwards, expressed his feeling of pride rather than disappointment. He acknowledged that the players gave their all, but ultimately Liverpool was able to secure a victory. While they recognize the need for more points, the team is pleased with their ability to compete against top teams in the league. Edwards emphasized their belief in themselves and pointed out that the starting team only cost around £4m, making their draw against Liverpool an impressive accomplishment.
Source: theguardian.com
