Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that attacker Luis Diaz has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.
The Colombia international has been sidelined since sustaining the problem against Arsenal on October 9, missing the Reds' last 10 games in all competitions.
Diaz was initially expected to remain absent until after the World Cup break, although he made strong progress in his recovery and made the trip to the Middle East for a warm-weather training camp.
Liverpool received a significant boost over the 25-year-old's fitness earlier this week, as he was able to return to training ahead of Sunday's Dubai Super Cup battle with Lyon.
However, reports on Friday stated that Diaz had suffered a setback in his recovery, and Klopp has now delivered the bad news that the former Porto man will not come back as scheduled.
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Speaking to liverpoolfc.com, Klopp confirmed that Diaz "felt something" which would need assessing, and the attacker was unable to train with his teammates on Thursday or Friday.
"It's all good [fitness-wise] with the boys who are here. What's not good is we have to see with Lucho. He felt something and we need to have further assessment there, but apart from that they all look really, really good," Klopp said.
A report from The Athletic has stated that Diaz has indeed left the Liverpool camp in Dubai after complaining of pain in the same knee that he sustained his serious injury in, and he will undergo scans in the UK.
Diaz hit the ground running at Liverpool after joining from Porto in January for a total of £50m, winning the FA Cup and EFL Cup in his debut season under Klopp.
The Colombian has recorded 10 goals and eight assists in 38 matches for the Merseyside giants in all tournaments, including four goals and three assists from 12 games in the 2022-23 season so far.
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Diaz has represented one of a myriad of injury problems for Liverpool this season, and he is joined in the treatment room by Diogo Jota and Arthur, who are out for the long term with their calf and thigh problems respectively.
On a brighter note, Naby Keita - whose only appearance this season has come in the Community Shield - is stepping up his recovery from a hamstring problem and could play a part in Liverpool's winter friendlies.
The Reds are one of four teams to compete in the Dubai Super Cup alongside Arsenal, AC Milan and finally Lyon, who they will meet in Saturday's clash before a showdown with Milan on December 16.
Klopp's side then return to competitive action against Manchester City in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on December 22 before meeting Aston Villa on Boxing Day in their first Premier League game back after the World Cup.
Ben Knapton
