Staff Reporter.
Liverpool striker Luis Diaz came off the bench on Sunday to head a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at lowly Luton Town and dedicate the goal to his father who was kidnapped in Colombia.
Diaz’s father remains missing after his parents were kidnapped in Colombia, and the forward lifted his shirt to show a message of “freedom for papa” after heading in Harvey Elliott’s cross five minutes into added time.
He last featured in the Liverpool squad 10 days ago, but manager Jurgen Klopp said before this match that Diaz “wanted to be part of the team”.
His goal was a poignant and remarkable conclusion to a contest in which Luton had appeared on course for a deserved first league win of the season at Kenilworth Road and a first victory over the Reds since February 1991.
Substitute Tahith Chong had steered the hosts in front from Issa Kabore’s cross after a superb counter-attack with 10 minutes of the regulation 90 remaining.
Rob Edwards’ well organised and athletic side largely frustrated Liverpool, for whom Darwin Nunez had a day to forget in front of goal.
The Uruguay forward went closest to breaking the deadlock with a dipping first-half shot that clipped the Hatters’ crossbar. He was unable to convert several other opportunities and glaringly blazed over after Mohamed Salah nodded the ball to him in the six-yard box.
The result leaves Klopp’s side third in the table, three points behind leaders Manchester City, while Luton climb out of the bottom three to 17th due to their superior goal difference over Bournemouth.
Meanwhile Nottingham Forest gained their first win in seven matches with a 2-0 victory over in-form Aston Villa at the City Ground.