Luis Diaz remains on the sidelines
The ongoing World Cup in Qatar gave Liverpool some boost. It gave them time for their players to recover from their injuries. Particularly of concern to Jurgen Klopp os Luis Diaz, who was instrumental to Liverpool’s run last season. An injury has kept him on the sidelines, with Klopp looking forward to his return date.
The Colombian forward was looking good for an early return. Diaz was ahead of his return date and was looking good during the training camp in the UAE.
However, the story changed as he suffered a setback last week. The latest setback means that the injury that has not allowed him to play since the loss to Arsenal on October 9 is yet to heal.
Klopp described it as a smash in the face. Coping with these injuries and marshalling a winning team has been an arduous mission for Klopp. Klopp said it was a big disappointment for the side and Diaz too.
According to the German tactician, it was a non-situation in training, and then Diaz felt something forcing them to have a check-up. Klopp added that the result was a smash in the face.
The poor state of Liverpool
With Diaz to spend more time at the medics, Klopp will now look to his other options to see how best to salvage the season. The Reds coped with the absence of the Colombian forward as they won eight of the ten matches he missed. They secured qualification to the next round of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup and are sixth in the Premier League.
The latest setback to Diaz means that Klopp only has Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino as the fit senior forwards at his disposal. Another forward, Diogo Jota, is also recuperating from injury. Jota missed the World Cup with a calf injury and is yet to return.
Klopp can also call on Fabio Carvalho, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as potential attacking reinforcements in his squad.
Elliot was an injury scare for Liverpool in their 3-1 friendly defeat to Lyon on Sunday, but Klopp has better news regarding his fitness. Elliot came off in the 29th minute of the game, but Klopp says he is alright.