Diaz makes emotional plea for dad's release after netting equaliser

William Furness
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Luis Diaz scored an emotional late equaliser against Luton
Luis Diaz scored an emotional late equaliser against Luton

Luis Diaz made an emotional plea for his dad to be released after scoring Liverpool's late equaliser against Luton.

Diaz's father is still 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.

He released a statement shortly after the game calling for his release.

It said: "Mane, my dad, hard working man, family pillar… he's now kidnapped.

"I ask ELN [National Liberation Army] to release my father as soon as possible. 

"I also ask the international associations to work on that in order to guarantee his freedom.

"Every second, every minute we're more worried. We've no words to describe our family's terrible feelings and it will be the same as long as he's not back at home.

"I beg you to release my father right now, respecting his integrity. I want to thank to all Colombians and also the international community for your support."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports: "[It was] a wonderful moment but it doesn't change the situation. The most important thing is that his father gets released. 

"It is wonderful he wanted to be here. For us, a super important goal and for him, very important and emotional, but that's it."

Substitute Tahith Chong sent Kenilworth Road into ecstasy when he put the hosts in front from Issa Kabore's cross with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

But Liverpool dug deep to grab a last-gasp equaliser. 

Klopp, 56, added: "Credit to Luton and how they defended and how they set up but it was mainly up to us. 

"We had a lot of chances and should have had much more. It is a tricky task to stay fully concentrated. 

"Looking at the game I think we didn't deserve more than a point. We could have won the game with the chances we had but now looking at it I think we deserved a point."

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