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Luis Diaz is back on Liverpool's bench for their Premier League clash against Luton with negotiations ongoing following the kidnap of his father.
The 26-year-old Colombia international had stepped back from first-team action after his dad Luis Manuel Diaz was abducted by left-wing rebel group ELN.
Despite promising his release, it has not yet come to pass but manager Jurgen Klopp insisted that negotiations are positive and that football can provide some respite for the former Porto winger.
READ MORE: Luis Diaz's dad to be released as kidnappers verify he's Liverpool star's family
READ MORE: Luis Diaz's dad kidnapped by guerrilla army terrorists say Colombian government
Klopp told Sky Sports before the match: "It's still very, pretty emotional but Luis decided three days ago that he wanted to train again. I said it before that the training ground and football pitch is the safe place for the boys.
"There he can behave normal and forget for a few minutes a least what is going on but all the signs he gets I understand are very positive.
"Negotiations are ongoing but it's still positive and so that's why he wanted to be part of the team and he could come on as well."
Klopp went on to insist that the player is in the right frame of mind to return as Liverpool look to move above Arsenal in the Premier League table.
He added: "He trained well and from that point of view it's no issue but yeah nobody can really imagine how something like that feels.
"But on the training ground that's fine and on the pitch that's fine and that's why he's here."
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Diaz has scored 14 goals across 58 games for the club since his initial £37.5million move from Porto back in 2022.
He has juggled playing time with Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota so far this season with Mohamed Salah still the star man.
Liverpool have 23 points after winning seven of their opening ten matches having finished fifth in the table last season, their worst position since 2015/16.
- Liverpool FC
- Premier League
- Jurgen Klopp
- Luton Town FC
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