Luis Diaz looked solemn as he sat on the substitutes’ bench during Liverpool’s Premier League game at Luton on Sunday—no wonder his father remains kidnapped by Colombian rebels. Yet despite the personal anguish, the 26-year-old not only requested to be in Juergen Klopp’s squad for the game but then came on and scored a last-ditch equalizer to deny a superb Luton side a memorable win at Kenilworth Road.
The winger’s parents were abducted at their home in the Colombian city of Barrancas in September, and while his mother was rescued, Diaz’s father remains hostage. A significant police and military operation has been underway to find him.
He is one of four members of Klopp’s extended squad who have not featured for the club since their parents’ disappearance, and, incredibly, Diaz had never played in front of his parents. He made his first appearance for Liverpool since the incident at Luton in the 83rd minute, and there was no whirling away as he headed Harvey Elliott’s cross past Alisson in stoppage time to level the scores. Instead, he paused to lift his shirt and reveal a message: ‘Libertad Para Papa’ (Freedom for Dad).
Klopp had made several changes from the 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Bournemouth in midweek, and it was the big names that started here – including goalkeeper Alisson, striker Mohamed Salah, full-backs Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum, and center-back Virgil van Dijk. In midfield, Issa Kabore and Joey Barton came in, while Jon Flanagan, Alexander-Arnold, Dominic Solanke, and Mavidi all began on the bench.
Luton took the lead through Tahith Chong, who finished off a fine counterattack in the 89th minute. But Klopp threw on Diaz in the 83rd minute, and in the fifth minute of added time, the Spaniard leveled with a superb header off his shoulder from Elliott’s cross.
As he came off the bench, there was more applause from the Liverpool supporters for their countryman who was making his debut. The club had not lost at Luton since 1991, and a draw lifted them to third place.
Afterward, Klopp was praised for Diaz but said his goal did not change the fact that his father remains missing. “It was a wonderful moment, but it doesn’t change the situation,” he said. “The most important thing is that his father gets released.” That cannot come soon enough for the players and fans.
