Luis Diaz pays emotional tribute to dad after late Liverpool equaliser vs Luton

05 November 2023 , 18:31

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Luis Diaz pays emotional tribute to dad after late Liverpool equaliser vs Luton

Liverpool star Luis Diaz shared the message 'Libertad Para Papa' (freedom for dad) after scoring a last-gasp equaliser for Liverpool at Luton.

The Colombian was making his first appearance since his father was kidnapped, and negotiations continue over his release. Diaz scored in stoppage time to bring his team level after Tahith Chong looked to have given Luton all three points.

"What he and his family have been through in the past few weeks, you can't help but feel absolute joy," commentator and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports. "It is a great leap and gets Liverpool back in it. Some things are bigger and more important than football and what he has been through certainly are."

Before kick-off, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had explained how Diaz said he wanted to play despite the situation affecting his family. The former Porto star started on the bench, but was introduced late on and succeeded where his team-mates failed in finding a way past Luton keeper Thomas Kaminski.

"It is still emotional but he decided three days ago that he wanted to train again," Klopp told Sky Sports. "The football pitch is a safe place for the boys and somewhere where he can, for a few minutes at least, forget about what is going on.

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"All the signs he is getting are positive. Negotiations are ongoing but they are positive and that is why he wanted to be part of the team. He trained well and he can come on, there is no issue with that side of things, that is why he is here."

Luis Diaz rose highest to score Liverpool's equaliser (AP)

Diaz's parents were both abducted in Colombia, and while his mother was released, his father still remains with the captors. On Sunday, the forward's mother Cilenis Marulanda for her husband's release.

“I want them to release him now,” she said on Sunday, while wearing a t-shirt carrying the message 'your family is waiting for you'. She added: “That the people who are keeping him free him now back to me, because we want to have him back home."

Diaz sat out Liverpool's last two matches, against Nottingham Forest in the league and Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup. However, he returned at Kenilworth Road and made a crucial contribution during a 10-minute cameo.

Luton soaked up pressure from their opponents, while Darwin Nunez sent a golden chance off-target with the goal at his mercy. When Chong struck on the break it looked as though the home side would walk away with a famous win, only for Diaz to have the last word.

Tom Victor