Liverpool dropped points in their matchday 11 clash with newcomers Luton Town in the 2023/24 Premier League season.
The game was hosted by the Hatters who are slowly improving as the season progresses. They were on their way to a famous victory when Luis Diaz scored a header to draw Liverpool level in the 95th minute.
The match was Diaz’s return to football after taking some time off to assist with the investigation surrounding his father’s kidnap in Colombia.
He only returned to training on Friday and was brought off the bench in the Luton game. The player scored 12 minutes after his introduction and revealed a message under his Liverpool shirt that said, “Freedom for Dad” in his native tongue, Spanish.
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp first talked about how poor his team was in the game, which came after he praised them for delivering their most complete performance only a week earlier. Then he talked about Diaz, who scored an emotional goal to help Liverpool leave Kenilworth Road with a point.
“Strange game,” Klopp said on the outcome of the match during his post-match presser. “Strange feeling after the game. I think we should have won, but I think the draw is the deserved result – and we could have lost, so that’s how it is.
“Credit to Luton, they did really well but even with all what they did, we created chances and didn’t finish them off with the last conviction, to be 100 percent honest.”
And on Diaz, he added, “That we have to talk about that, it’s wonderful, it’s emotional and it’s fantastic. But the real problem [Diaz’s father’s release] 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 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.
“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.”
