According to manager Jurgen Klopp, Luis Diaz has returned to training and will decide for himself whether to play in the Premier League match against Luton Town in round 11, while his father remains missing.
Diaz returned to Colombia before the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest in the 10th round of the Premier League on October 29th and also missed the 2-1 victory away at Bournemouth in the League Cup round of 16 earlier in the week. The 26-year-old striker has only returned to training in the last two sessions and will decide for himself whether he can play at Kenilworth Road tomorrow, November 5th.
"We're not going to force anything with Diaz's situation," Klopp said in the pre-match press conference. "It's beyond our control and we're just waiting for good news. Luiz trained two days ago, yesterday too, and will be in the squad. Luiz is fine, but he hasn't been getting much sleep."
Diaz takes a shot at the AXA training ground on November 3rd. Photo: liverpoolfc.com
On November 2nd, the Colombian government confirmed that the perpetrators of Diaz's parents' kidnapping were the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas. Officials are negotiating with the rebels and affirmed that they take full responsibility for ensuring the safety of Diaz's father.
Klopp sees this as good news and gives Liverpool more hope. "I can't say what we'll do," the German coach added. "Whether Diaz is ready or not depends on him. I don't want to force anything."
On October 28, Diaz's parents were kidnapped while driving home to the town of Barrancas, in the province of La Guajira, Colombia. Upon hearing the news, Diaz immediately returned to his hometown with several Liverpool staff members. Police and military forces were mobilized for the search. Later, Diaz's mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued, but his father, Luis Manuel, remains missing. Police have offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the victim's release.
Special forces have been deployed to search for Luis Manuel, with air and ground patrols scouring a mountain range between Colombia and Venezuela. According to Justice Minister Francisco Barbosa, Diaz's father may have been taken to neighboring Venezuela, beyond the control of Colombian police. They may seek diplomatic assistance from Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
During a press conference on November 3rd, Klopp also answered numerous questions about the future of Mohamed Salah – the star who received an offer from Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad in the summer of 2022. "Salah never came to me and said he wanted to go to Saudi Arabia," he said. "I never thought about it for a second. I knew nothing about the offer from Saudi Arabia and that doesn't matter. Salah is happy at Liverpool."
The 56-year-old manager said Darwin Nunez is still adapting with improved English skills, while Thiago Alcantara will only return in early 2024. Klopp also predicted Luton Town would play defensively, relying heavily on set pieces despite playing at home.
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