The Colombian forward Luis Diaz is making steady progress in his rehabilitation, and his coach believes he could rejoin the squad soon.
There was disappointing news for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp after Diaz’s injury was confirmed during the match at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal, where Liverpool fell 3-2 in the Premier League.
Diaz, who had played a key role by assisting Darwin Núñez for the opening goal, was forced off in the 42nd minute after taking a knock to the knee and was replaced by Roberto Firmino.
Following medical assessments, the injury and an estimated return to full training were announced, keeping the attacker sidelined for several weeks.
What injury does Luis Díaz have?
Diaz sustained a severe blow to the knee that affected ligaments. Although he could leave the pitch under his own power, he will need time before resuming normal training.
Reports in England suggested an expected absence through December, but a setback during team sessions in Dubai required surgery, shifting the anticipated return to March 2023. In any case, the timeline varied with how the recovery unfolded.
On Thursday, February 16, Diaz again engaged in individualized fieldwork, with the initial expectation that his rehabilitation would reach mid-March. In the pre-match briefing ahead of a game with Bournemouth, Klopp acknowledged the ongoing uncertainty and hinted that the player could be back after the FIFA international window this month.
According to the manager, Diaz would begin full group training in the second week of March and could be available in the opening days of April. It seems Klopp was correct about the return timeline, as reports later indicated Diaz started full training on March 28, though a cautious approach remained in place.
During the previous press conference before the clash with Manchester City, Klopp suggested Diaz might be ready for the April 9 match against Arsenal, or, if not, the next fixture against Leeds on April 14.
How many and which matches has Luis Díaz missed with Liverpool?
Diaz’s absence covers a series of important matches, coming at a season with inconsistent results for Liverpool after the World Cup pause in 2022. The season was interrupted by the Qatar World Cup and resumed on December 26, with Diaz missing several fixtures as a result of the knee injury.
The following games were set to be missed according to the calendar and the progression of his recovery:
- Rangers vs Liverpool, Champions League
- Liverpool vs Manchester City, Premier League
- Liverpool vs West Ham, Premier League
- Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool, Premier League
- Ajax vs Liverpool, Champions League
- Liverpool vs Leeds, Premier League
- Liverpool vs Napoli, Champions League
- Tottenham vs Liverpool, Premier League
- Liverpool vs Derby, League Cup
- Liverpool vs Southampton, Premier League
- Manchester City vs Liverpool, League Cup
- Aston Villa vs Liverpool, Premier League
- Liverpool v Leicester, Premier League
- Brentford v Liverpool, Premier League
- Liverpool v Wolverhampton, FA Cup
- Brighton v Liverpool, Premier League
- Liverpool vs Chelsea, Premier League
- Wolverhampton v Liverpool, Premier League
- Liverpool v Everton, Premier League
- Newcastle United v Liverpool, Premier League
- Liverpool vs Real Madrid, Champions League
- Crystal Palace vs Liverpool, Premier League
- Liverpool v Manchester United, Premier League
- Bournemouth v Liverpool, Premier League
- Real Madrid vs Liverpool, Champions League
- Liverpool v Fulham, Premier League
The schedule reflects the challenge of balancing a congested calendar with a growing need to preserve a long-term plan for Diaz’s health and Liverpool’s results.
These updates underscore the careful approach teams take with elite players recovering from knee injuries. The aim is to protect the athlete’s future while providing the squad with a fully prepared winger when competition resumes.
Note: All timelines are subject to medical evaluations and decisions by the club’s medical staff and coaching team. Further updates will reflect Diaz’s progress and return date as the recovery unfolds. [citation]