Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Luis Diaz is unlikely to play for Liverpool against Arsenal this weekend.
Excitement has been building over the last week or so for Liverpool fans, as Diaz makes his long-awaited return to training from injury.
But having suffered six months on the side-lines, Klopp has been cautious about throwing the Colombian back in. Despite making his comeback at the AXA Training Centre 10 days ago, Diaz hasn’t featured in the two games since. And as per Klopp’s pre-match press conference today, that won’t change on Sunday.
“The plan with Luis is that he will be available 100 per cent for Leeds [on April 17th],” said the manager. “So, just again it looks good, everything is fine but it was a long, long injury. So we have to be careful. We probably won’t involve him for Sunday.”
Disappointing news for Liverpool fans, who desperately need to a boost ahead of the league leaders’ visit. But having already had complications with his recovery, this is probably the right decision for Diaz.
Klopp offers crumbs of comfort, despite Diaz blow
There will be exasperation at the delaying of Diaz’s return to action. The 26-year-old gives Liverpool a different dimension when he’s on the pitch, and the Reds could do with that right now.
But however frustrating Klopp’s most recent update is, the German still had some good news for Reds fans today: Thiago Alcantara is back in business.
“Thiago looks slightly different [to Diaz], he was not out as long,” Klopp said. “[He] trained now three or four times with the team and might be available [against Arsenal]. But we have to check how he is today.”
Providing all is well with the Spaniard, you’d expect him to slot straight back into Liverpool’s line-up on Sunday.
Klopp is lacking legitimate options in the middle of the pitch and Arsenal will come to Anfield with everything they have. As long as he’s fully fit, Thiago should play.
Not quite the boost of having both he and Diaz back at the same time. But Jurgen did give a double boost of sorts, also confirming that Virgil van Dijk has recovered from the illness that kept him out of Tuesday’s draw with Chelsea. Positive signs ahead of a big one on Sunday. Let’s show this Gunners side that they haven’t won the league just yet.