Liverpool forward Luis Diaz is expected to undergo surgery and if that happens then the winger could be out for the rest of the 2021/22 season.
Luis Diaz has just returned from injury but his manager has confirmed that the forward is complaining of pain once again. The 25-year-old picked up a knee injury back in October and since then he’s been on the sidelines recovering from the problem.
As per the latest reports, Diaz’s fresh injury is related to his lateral collateral ligament which is why he is expected to undergo surgery to solve the problem. If he does go under the knife then the winger might have already played his final game for Liverpool this season.
Will Luis Diaz be a big miss for Liverpool?
Last season, he was in exceptional form for Liverpool scoring four and assisting three goals in just 13 Premier League matches. This season he’s maintained that form, scoring three and assisting two league goals.
If he is indeed going to miss out then it will be a tremendous blow for Jurgen Klopp and his plans for the second half of the season.
Liverpool are already out of the title race because currently, they are 15 points away from the top of the table. In fact, if they don’t pull up their socks even a top-four finish could prove to be out of their reach by the end of May. And in such a scenario this fresh injury to Luis Diaz just adds to Klopp’s woes.
The Anfield outfit have not been able to fill the gap left by Sadio Mane so in such a scenario Diaz’s absence could be a pivotal point in Liverpool’s season.
Will Klopp try and sign a new forward in January?
If it was only Luis Diaz then Jurgen Klopp wouldn’t have been too worried but along with the winger, Diogo Jota is also absent due to a calf injury.
The winger is not expected to make a comeback before February and if this timeline is correct then Liverpool have no other option but to bring in reinforcements in January.
With Luis Diaz and Jota missing, Salah, Nunez and Firmino are the only fully fit forwards and there’s no way these three can carry Liverpool for the whole season. Liverpool have made several panic buys in the past few years and if Diaz is out until the summer then they will have to sign one or two strikers in January.
UPDATE ON LUIS DIAZ INJURY:
Liverpool manager has now confirmed the worst in a press conference, claiming that the winger’s injury is not a simple one.
He said, as quoted by the club’s official website: “Yeah, he was not in the best possible place. It’s clear it’s a big disappointment for all of us, for him as well. It was a non-situation in training, honestly – nothing, felt something. [He] didn’t feel a lot next day but we wanted to be really cautious and said, ‘OK, come on, let’s have a look.’
“Yeah, then the news came and it was a proper smash in the face. But that’s it now.”
