“Libertad para papa”
Parents kidnapped: Diaz saves Klopp’s Liverpool at the last minute
November 5th, 2023, 8:57 p.m
A week ago, Liverpool star Diaz’s parents were kidnapped in Colombia. The mother is now free – the father is still in the hands of the ELN guerrilla group. Diaz can ignore the emotional strain, at least for a short time – and save Liverpool from embarrassment.
The emotionally burdened Luis Diaz saved Liverpool FC from embarrassment with a late header against Luton Town and dedicated the goal to make the final score 1-1 (0-0) to his kidnapped father. As he cheered, he pulled up his jersey and presented a shirt with the Spanish words: “Libertad para papa”, German: “Freedom for Papa”.
Last weekend, Diaz’s parents were abducted from a gas station in their hometown of Barrancas in northern Colombia. While the national player’s mother was freed on the same day, his kidnapped father is apparently in the hands of the ELN guerrilla group. “It’s still pretty emotional2,” Klopp explained before kick-off. The father’s release is apparently imminent. “All the signs he’s getting are, as far as I know, very positive,” said the coach.
In his first game since the kidnapping, Diaz initially had to watch from the bench and saw how his team was often unimaginative and inaccurate. In the 71st minute, Darwin Nunez missed miserably from close range for LFC. Then the video assistant was used several times. A possible penalty after a challenge between Teden Mengi and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was checked but not given. Klopp was annoyed and was warned by referee Andy Madley.
A short time later, the Liverpool professionals claimed another penalty. In return, Luton countered the favorites: ex-Bremen player Tahith Chong scored to make it 0-1. After minutes of review, the goal counted (80th) and sent Kenilworth Road into ecstasy. Late in stoppage time, late substitute Diaz was able to equalize with a header (90+5) and secure a point for coach Jürgen Klopp’s team.
In the second Sunday game, Nottingham Forest beat Aston Villa 2-0 and moved up to twelfth place for the time being. Ola Aina and ex-Stuttgart professional Orel Mangala scored for Nottingham. Aston Villa missed the opportunity to jump into the top three and are stuck in fifth place.