Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Luis Diaz is still unable to train with the squad and that the crucial forward will miss Liverpool’s comeback attempt in the Champions League round of 16 against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu. The Colombian international had a significant impression in the second part of last season following his £50 million transfer from Porto, but he hasn’t got the chance to fulfil his potential this season.
Luis Diaz hasn’t played since suffering a knee injury against Arsenal in October last year. Klopp has kept a close eye on the winger who was recently given the chance to step up the intensity of his recovery programme. In contrast to the setback he experienced at a pre-Christmas training session in Dubai, he is twisting and turning once more with no indication of any problems.
Klopp calls for patience with Luis Diaz return following lengthy spell on sidelines
Although Klopp still expects Luis Diaz to return before the end of the season and play a key role in Liverpool’s attempt to secure a top-four finish, the German does not currently envision a scenario in which he will be able to utilise his number 23 against Madrid at the Bernabeu. Speaking ahead of their fourth clash against the Wolves in all competitions this season, Klopp said:
“It’s a different situation to last season. He (Luis Diaz) came here having played all the games for Porto pretty much and now he’s out with an injury for the second time. I can tell you the two sessions he had with us in Dubai, it was like: ‘Oh my God, how good is that!’
“Then he was injured again. When he is back, he will be really good and very impactful, of course. That is clear. How quickly, I don’t know. We have to see. That’s the big challenge in these moments. There’s no time for being patient but you have to be patient.
“I’m positive about him that there’s a good chance to have a real impact in 10, 11, 12 games maybe. We will see how long it exactly takes. It’s estimated that maybe next week he will be warming up with the team and then maybe a week later being in team training. That would be cool.
“But you always have to wait. On Tuesday I saw a very intense session, a lot of change of direction and stuff like this. If there is no reaction from that, then he can make the next step. Then I think he is not too far away.”
While Klopp does not think the distance between Liverpool and a top four finish is insurmountable, he has made it plain that there is no room for error and that it is crucial to make up for the loss Wolves inflicted four weeks ago. He continued:
“I really think we are ready. If there is a club that can do it I really think it is us. Honestly. Because all the things we achieved these last years we achieved together, neither without the team nor without the crowd. Nothing. We have a future together: the immediate future from tomorrow on but there is a bigger picture as well. We will strike back in general but now we have to make sure that we really squeeze everything out of this season that we can get.”
Liverpool will indeed need a strong performance against Wolves to stand any chance against Real Madrid in their own backyard. The Los Blancos hold a three-goal lead from their 5-2 win in the first leg at the Anfield and the possibility of the Reds overturning it is far from realistic. Liverpool’s only achievable feat this season seems a top-four finish after also bowing out of the FA Cup.