Jurgen Klopp admits that it is still a ‘pretty emotional’ situation after Luis Diaz made a goalscoring return to action for Liverpool against Luton in his first appearance since his parents were kidnapped in Colombia

• Jurgen Klopp admitted Luis Diaz was still emotional ahead of his return to action
• Diaz scored in his first Liverpool appearance since his parents were kidnapped 
• Big debates on Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal on It’s All Kicking Off podcast 

Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Luis Diaz was eager to be back involved with the Liverpool squad for their game away to Luton.

Diaz missed Liverpool’s fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth after his parents were kidnapped in Colombia.

The winger elected to return to training this week and was subsequently named on the bench for the game at Kenilworth Road. 

Diaz came on in the 83rd minute of the game and proceeded to score a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw. 

Following his goal, Diaz revealed a message to his father on his shirt – which read: ‘Freedom for Papa’.

Luis Diaz (left) made an emotional return to action for Liverpool after his parents were kidnapped as he scored as a substitute against Luton

Jurgen Klopp has revealed Luis Diaz was eager to return to the Liverpool squad against Luton

Klopp says that there have been encouraging signs about whether Diaz’ father will be freed

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Klopp stated that being back with the squad provided Diaz with an opportunity to temporarily think about something else other than his current struggles.

Liverpool boss Klopp added that the signs are positive that Diaz’s father will be released.

Klopp told Sky Sports: ‘It’s still pretty emotional but Luis decided three days ago that he wanted to try training again. I said before, the training ground, football pitch is the safe place for the boys.

‘There he can behave normal, he can forget for a few minutes at least what’s going on but all the signs he gets as far as I understand it are very positive.

‘Negotiations are ongoing but it’s positive and that’s why he wanted to be part of the team. He could come on again, so he trained well. From that point of view there are no issues but nobody can really imagine how something like that feels, but on the training ground was fine, on the pitch was fine, so that’s why he’s here.’

Government officials confirmed that Diaz’s parents were taken by a left-wing guerilla group considered terrorists by the US and European Union.

Diaz’s mother was freed on the same night that the pair were snatched off the streets of their hometown in La Guajira region in Colombia by four armed men on motorcycles, but the search for his father continues.

On Thursday, it was confirmed by the Colombian authorities that Colombian terrorist group Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN) were behind the abduction, with Otty Patino, leader of the Colombian government’s Peace Delegation, stating: ‘Today we have had official knowledge that the kidnapping was perpetrated by a unit belonging to the ELN.

‘To the ELN, we demand the immediate release of Mr Luis Manuel Diaz and we remind them that it is their responsibility to guarantee his life and integrity. 

Diaz’s (left) father Luis Manuel (right) is still to be released by left-wing rebel group ELN – but the head of the guerrilla group is reported to have said they made a ‘mistake’ holding the father

There are now 150 military personnel on the ground in Barrancas to speed up his release

‘We remind the ELN that kidnapping is a criminal practice, in violation of International Humanitarian Law.’

The head of the ELN conceded that they made a mistake by not freeing Diaz’s father.

‘The retention of Luis Diaz’s father by the Northern War Front was a mistake,’ ELN commander Antonio Garcia wrote on his Telegram channel, according to AFP.

‘Lucho is a symbol of Colombia – that is how we in the ELN feel about him,’

There are 150 uniformed military personnel in the area of Barrancas as authorities look to accelerate the release of Diaz’s father.

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