“Libertad Para Papa,” read Luis Diaz’s shirt as the Colombian gave Liverpool a point ahead in stoppage time.
Freedom for dad.
Luton Town were on their way to a memorable 1-0 win at Kenilworth Road until Diaz got past Issa Kabore to score.
What courage the 26-year-old showed when he came on late after a week of nervously waiting for news of a rescue mission that is now in its eighth day. Diaz is still without his father, Luis Manuel Diaz, who was kidnapped last Saturday by gunmen linked to the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group in the town of Barrancas, near Colombia’s border with Venezuela.
His mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was also kidnapped but was rescued by police within hours last weekend. Now the family are waiting to find out what happens next as Diaz remains in the UK for now.
“I ask ELN to release my father as soon as possible,” Diaz said in a statement after the game. “With every second, every minute we worry more. We have no words to describe our family’s terrible feelings, and they will remain so until he is home. I ask you to release my father immediately and respect his integrity.”
After the game, the away team shouted Diaz’s name and coach Jürgen Klopp wrapped his arms around the slender winger, who had carried the weight of the world on his shoulders in the days leading up to the game.
(Clive Rose via Getty Images)
It was an unexpected result for Liverpool, who failed to win away from home in the Premier League for the third consecutive season. Although the gap to leaders Manchester City is still just three points, it felt like a big blip. But for the second time in a row, there were bigger worries.
“It’s emotional, but the real problem hasn’t been solved,” Klopp said of Diaz’s equaliser.
“We wanted to give Lucho – and he wanted too – the opportunity to be a little distracted because he can’t do anything. He waits all the time, the family waits all the time. I think the signals from Colombia are rather positive and optimistic, but the one thing we all want to hear has not happened yet.”
GO DEEPER
The briefing – Luton Town 1-1 Liverpool: Luis Diaz writes his own script to save a point
Luis Diaz, or Lucho as he is affectionately known, came on for the final eight minutes plus injury time, with Klopp deeming it wise to leave him out of the starting XI.
As of last weekend, Diaz had started eight of Liverpool’s nine Premier League games this season. On one occasion where he was on the bench, he came on as a half-time substitute when Liverpool lost at Wolverhampton Wanderers and he helped turn that game into a 3-1 win.
Klopp sees Diaz as a game-changer; A great player who he can rely on for his consistent and reliable attacking effort. And even after a week in hell, he was there to make a difference for his team when it mattered most.
Diaz lifts his shirt to announce his message (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
Nevertheless, these were unprecedented circumstances. The search has encompassed not only his community, but also the entire Colombian nation. Working with police, air force and army, 150 uniformed military personnel in Barrancas are working to facilitate a handover after the ELN group promised to secure the release of Diaz’s father.
Liverpool, like Diaz, have been kept up to date with current information. Meanwhile, they have provided ongoing support for Diaz since he was forced to leave the team hotel ahead of the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend.
The winger was due to start but had to be replaced by Diogo Jota when news filtered out from his home country. Jota scored the winner and dedicated the goal to his teammate, who was touched by the gesture.
Klopp had already made it clear to Diaz at this point that he would support whatever decision Diaz made in the following days. He was granted an extended leave of absence but was advised not to fly back to Colombia for security reasons.
There was advice on recovery, training and travel arrangements and when Liverpool beat Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, Diaz trained alone.
At home, at the San Jose parish church, people, including family and friends, gathered for a candlelight vigil and mass. Thousands took part in prayer chains in squares across the country and positive news seemed to prevail on Friday.
Diaz then trained with his teammates for the first time and was said to be relatively optimistic.
“As I said, the football and training pitch is a safe place for the boys where they can forget everything that is happening, at least for a few minutes,” Klopp said.
“But no one can really imagine what something like that feels like.”
As the nervous wait dragged on, Diaz decided he could perform in Luton if necessary. At the same time, his partner Gera Ponce posted on Instagram that the only present for his little daughter’s birthday this weekend was to have “Grandpa Mane” safe at home with his family.
But Diaz came when his team needed him – and he made a big difference.
Diaz scores the equalizer (Clive Rose via Getty Images)
Tahith Chong, who gave Luton the lead, said: “I can only compliment him for being on the pitch and ultimately even performing because it’s something very difficult that his family is going through.”
“It shows a lot about his character because not many people can imagine what he goes through,” Alisson said. “We feel that pain, but for him it’s another level. Football can sometimes bring joy in dark moments to someone who is struggling.”
By Sunday the pain might have gone away, if only for a moment. But, as Klopp says, it passes quickly and until this troubling period in Diaz’s life is over, the internal battle continues.
GO DEEPER
The kidnapping of Luis Diaz’s parents, who left Liverpool “in the fight for Lucho”.
(Top photo: Clive Rose via Getty Images)