'Every minute our anguish grows': Luis Diaz makes plea to father's kidnappers

Liverpool forward Diaz makes a goalscoring return against Luton as head of ELN group in Colombia acknowledges the organisation made a 'mistake' by taking his parents

Luis Diaz scores the equalising goal. AFP

Luis Diaz leaps to head the equaliser. AFP

Luis Diaz celebrates after scoring the equalising goal during the English Premier League football match between Luton Town and Liverpool. AFP

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool runs with the ball during the Premier League match against Luton Town. Getty

Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, embraces Luis Diaz. Getty

Rob Edwards, manager of Luton Town, looks dejected as he applauds the fans at full-time. Getty

Gabriel Osho of Luton Town encourages the fans. Getty

Luton Town's Tahith Chong scores his side's goal. Alastair Grant

Luton Town's Tahith Chong celebrates after scoring his side's goal. Alastair Grant

Darwin Nunez misses a sitter for Liverpool. AFP

Colombia international Luis Diaz has begged his father's kidnappers to release him after scoring on his return to action for Liverpool on Sunday.

Diaz's mother and father were abducted in their home town of Barrancas, near the Venezuelan border, on October 28 by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), a guerilla group that has fought a 60-year conflict in the South American country.

Diaz's mother Cilenis Marulanda was rescued within hours of her capture last week, but the search goes on for his father Luis Manuel Diaz.

On Saturday, the head of ELN acknowledged the organisation had made a "mistake" in taking Diaz's parents.

After heading in a stoppage-time equaliser to prevent Liverpool suffering a shock defeat at Luton Town in a 1-1 draw on Sunday, Diaz displayed a T-shirt saying "libertad para papa" or "freedom for my father".

The 26-year-old published a statement on on X, formerly Twitter, following the match at Kenilworth Road asking the kidnappers to release his father "as soon as possible".

It read: “Today the footballer is not speaking to you. Today Lucho Diaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz, is speaking to you. Mane, my dad, is a tireless worker, a pillar in the family and he has been kidnapped. I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father, and I ask international organisations to work together for his freedom.

"Every second, every minute our anguish grows," Diaz added.

"My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed and without words to describe what we are feeling. This suffering will only end when we have him back home.

"I beg you to release him immediately, respecting his integrity and ending this painful wait as soon as possible."

An 83rd-minute substitute, Diaz's big impact came in his first appearance for Liverpool since the kidnapping.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp said football could act as a distraction for Diaz during this difficult time and that the club were with him "100 per cent".

“It’s wonderful, it’s emotional and it’s fantastic,” Klopp said.

“We wanted to give him the chance to be a little bit distracted from things. He cannot do anything, he’s waiting all the time and so he trained a few times and he was in a good mood, which is good.

“The signs from Colombia are positive and optimistic but not the one thing we want to hear.

“He brings the quality with the 15-20 minutes he played.

“I think not many people [can] imagine what he has going on now – even us, we are close to him of course, we are supporting him, we feel his pain, but for him it is a different level.

“Football sometimes in dark moments can bring joy to people, can bring joy to somebody who is struggling, and I think football is bringing a slice of joy to him at this time.

“We are together with him, for whatever he needs. He came, trained, came to the game, scored a fantastic goal for us that was really important and we are with him 100 per cent.”

Luton v Liverpool ratings

Had the busy day he surely expected. Saved well from Nunez, Gravenberch and Jota among others. PA

Ten Clearances, multiple blocks and interceptions from the young defender. Impressive stuff. Getty

Typically wholehearted display from the Luton skipper. Showed compassion with Diaz at full-time. Alastair Grant

Another to impress amid a determined collective showing from Luton's back-three. Getty

Tireless display at right wing-back crowned with a perfectly weighted cross for Chong's goal. Getty

Luton's most impactful player. Made the goal with superb run and pass. Not everything came off but if he can perform like this every week then Luton will be a better side for it. PA

Tackled anyone that came near him. Got away with one hefty challenge on Mac Allister. Reuters

Worked his socks off up and down Luton's left, illustrated in the second half when his own corner was cleared and he ran the length of the pitch to foil a Liverpool counter-attack. AFP

Considering he is still finding his feet after a major injury he showed good match sharpness and stamina. Reuters

Caused Alexander-Arnold problems all evening. One powerful burst midway through the second half created good chance for Morris. Alastair Grant

Waspish display as he set about the Liverpool defence. Never stopped working. Saw decent chance saved by Alisson around the hour mark. Alastair Grant

LUTON SUBS. Chong (for Townsend, 61'): Lively cameo capped by a super finish. Adebayo (for Morris, 75'): N/A; Brown (for Ogbene, 79'): N/A. Reuters

LIVERPOOL RATINGS. Saved well from Morris as Luton threatened. Couldn't do much about Chong's goal. Reuters

Some clever passes and quality crosses but under the pump defensively. Alastair Grant

Impressive display and his side needed it as the hosts put them under considerable pressure. PA

One impressive surge forwards with the ball but bullied by Ogbene at times. AFP

Deputised at left back and didn't let anyone down. Reuters

Another difficult game for the summer signing. Gave the ball away cheaply and couldn't cope with Barkley. Booked. Alastair Grant

Has had rave reviews since summer move but was badly off the pace here. Alastair Grant

Has hit the ground running and was impressive again. Some driving runs, slick passes and went close with shot from edge of box. AFP

Made a mess of a headed chance on 70 minutes. Was largely on the fringes of the game. Alastair Grant

His Liverpool career in microcosm. A constant threat, however, his touch and finishing were, at times, wild. PA

Drew a terrific save from Kaminski in the latter stages of the first half but offered little else. Getty

LIVERPOOL SUBS (On for Jota, 66'): Couldn't adjust in time for one chance just after coming on. PA

(On for Szoboszlai, 66'): A nuisance when he came on and picked out Diaz with a peach of a cross. Reuters

(On for Gomez, 67'): Looked to get forward but final ball was erratic. Getty

(On for Gravenberch, 83'): Great leap for the equaliser. Remarkable contribution given the circumstances. Reuters