Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz will be out of action for the next three months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury, according to The Athletic.
Diaz first injured himself against Arsenal back in October. After a lengthy period on the sidelines, he returned to the club during their mid-season camp in Dubai this month.
The 26-year-old had to fly back from Liverpool’s training camp in Dubai at the end of last week. He complained after feeling discomfort in the same knee.
Diaz then had surgery on his lateral collateral ligament and is unlikely to play again before March.
On Diaz’s injury, Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp said: “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, (but he) 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.”
Klopp will be unhappy at Diaz’s relapse. The Colombian winger is the sort of spark that Liverpool need to push up the Premier League table after a poor start this season.
Liverpool are currently sixth in the league and a long way off competing with Arsenal and Manchester City.
However, there is some good news for the Reds. The German manager confirmed that he took youngster Harvey Elliott off due to a slight knock, but the issue is nothing major.
There were concerns Elliott was set for another spell on the sidelines after he came off during Liverpool’s 2022 Dubai Super Cup friendly game against Lyon. The manager allayed those fears.
Liverpool will return to action against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup next Thursday when the 2022 FIFA World Cup is over.
