Luis Diaz came off the bench to salvage a point for Liverpool with a stoppage-time goal in a match against Luton, his first appearance since his parents were kidnapped in Colombia.
Diaz’s father is still missing, and the forward raised his shirt to display a message that read “freedom for papa” after scoring from Harvey Elliott’s pass five minutes into added time.
He later issued a statement urging those holding his father to release him “immediately.”
The 26-year-old former Porto player had last featured in a Liverpool squad 10 days ago, but manager Jurgen Klopp stated before the match that Diaz “wanted to be part of the team.”
His goal marked a poignant and remarkable ending to a match in which Luton seemed poised for a deserved first league win of the season at Kenilworth Road and their first victory over The Reds since 1991.
Substitute Tahith Chong sparked wild celebrations among the home fans, who were eyeing a famous result after he scored from Issa Kabore’s pass in the climax of a superb counter-attack with 10 minutes left in the regulation 90.
Until Diaz denied Luton the win, Rob Edwards’ well-organized and athletic side frustrated Liverpool, for whom Darwin Nunez had a forgettable day in front of the goal.
The Uruguayan forward came closest to breaking the deadlock with a dipping first-half shot that hit the Hatters’ crossbar. He was unable to convert several other opportunities and glaringly missed the target after Mohamed Salah nodded the ball to him in the six-yard box.
The result leaves Klopp’s side in third place in the table, three points behind league leaders Manchester City, while Luton has climbed out of the bottom three to 17th due to their superior goal difference over Bournemouth.
Luton Disrupts Liverpool’s Stride
Liverpool arrived in Bedfordshire seeking their fifth consecutive win in all competitions, but only Diaz’s late intervention spared them from an embarrassing defeat against their unfancied opponents.
While Liverpool’s summer spending on players was around £150 million, Luton spent approximately £20 million reinforcing their squad after completing a long journey back to the English top flight.
Relegated from the First Division the season before the Premier League was founded in 1992, they went on to spend five years as a non-league club.
However, there was little to choose between the sides at times, with Luton’s greater endeavor nullifying their opponents’ obvious quality on the ball.
The Reds enjoyed plenty of possession and had 24 shots, but only six were on target, and they appeared to lack inspiration and efficiency in the final third until Elliott was introduced.
Had Diogo Jota slotted in an early chance, it may have altered the complexion of the match, but he saw his hurried effort saved at the near post by Thomas Kaminski.
Only three of Nunez’s nine efforts were on target, while Cody Gakpo flicked wide from another Elliott delivery from the right.
Klopp will also be concerned about the way Luton created openings, with Trent Alexander-Arnold struggling to contain Republic of Ireland winger Chiedozie Ogbene.zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Ogbene surged past the England full-back during the first half to set up Kabore and eluded him and Ibrahima Konate in the second period to cut the ball back to Carlton Morris, who was denied by the onrushing Alisson.
The Brazilian keeper was unable to prevent Chong from finishing a move that started with a Liverpool corner, but Diaz was on hand to salvage a point for The Reds despite the ordeal he and his family are going through.
