29 October 2023 , 17:08
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Diogo Jota revealed that Luis Diaz was set to start for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest, before he had to leave the team hotel in after learning his parents had been kidnapped.
Diaz was with the Liverpool squad at the team hotel on Sunday morning before their Premier League match at Anfield, when it emerged his parents had been kidnapped by unidentified armed motorcyclists in Colombia. Police have confirmed that his mother, Cilenis Marulanda, has been rescued, but his father is still reported missing.
Liverpool said in a statement early on Sunday morning: "Liverpool Football Club can confirm it is aware of an ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz in Colombia. It is our fervent hope that the matter is resolved safely and at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, the player's welfare will continue to be our immediate priority."
Police chiefs in Colombia spoke to Diaz as they look to keep him abreast of the situation and the search to find his father.
He was duly pulled out of the squad, with Jota Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah scoring for Jurgen Klopp's men as they recorded their third win in a row.
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After Liverpool's opening goal, Jota ran over to the dugout and held up a Diaz No.7 shirt as he showed his support to his team-mate.
Diogo Jota celebrates with a Luis Diaz shirt (Getty Images)In his post-match interview, Jota paid tribute to Diaz before admitting he had been due to start. He said: "Luis was with us in the hotel then he went home. It's a very hard situation and I don't know how anyone would react if it happened to you.
"He was going to play. I played instead of him and I showed him his shirt to show we're with him and we hope everything works out. It's unimaginable to think a situation like this could happen. We can just support him and show him we're with him."
Speaking before the game, Klopp opened up on a "tough night" for Liverpool. "We had to obviously make a late change because of the private situation involving Luis Diaz," he said. "It's a worrying situation for all of us and it was a pretty tough night. I have never had that before. It's a new experience I never needed."