Liverpool star Luis Diaz will not play again this year having suffered an injury in the defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Diaz provided the assist for Liverpool’s opening goal at the Emirates, crossing for Darwin Nunez in the 3-2 defeat, but was forced off after a tussle with Thomas Partey.
The forward was see leaving the stadium on crutches with a knee brace and Jurgen Klopp, who brought Roberto Firmino on to replace Diaz, confirmed after the game that “it doesn’t look good”.
Liverpool Echo reporter Ian Doyle confirmed on Twitter that Diaz does not require surgery but still faces a lengthy time out of the side.
He tweeted: ‘Luis Diaz won’t play again until after the World Cup. The #LFC winger went off against Arsenal on Sunday with a knee injury and is out for up to eight weeks. Will miss 10 games but doesn’t need operation. Not great, but could have been worse.’
Klopp sarcastically described the injuries to Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold as “the icing on the cake” after the game.
The Liverpool boss also admitted that his side’s hopes of challenging for the title were over.
“We are not in the title race. It’s naive to sit here and think that we are nearly there,” the German manager said.
“We have problems at the moment but, of course, (they are) the team in form, the leader of the table, but (we had) massive problems today.
“I think even in a really bad situation for us, with early changes and things like this, there are real problems and that is the truth for us.”
However, the Liverpool boss believes the system being played was not to blame for their recent mixed fortunes in the top flight.
After years of a heavy-metal 4-3-3 system, the Reds look like they reverted to a 4-4-2 this week against Rangers and at the Emirates.
“I think the goals we conceded have nothing to do with the system,” Klopp said.
“Do I have deeper concerns? Yes, of course I am not happy, how can I (be)?
“We are in a tough moment and we want to get through this together. That’s what we are working on.”
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