Jurgen Klopp is convinced Luis Diaz will make a major impact on the remainder of Liverpool’s season as the winger nears a long-awaited return to first team action. And with at least 11 Premier League games to play during April and May, Klopp – whose side entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night – is hopeful Diaz can contribute as the Reds chase down a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.
Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s a different situation to last season. He came here having played all the games for Porto pretty much and now he’s out with an injury for the second time. I can tell you the two sessions he had with us in Dubai in the training camp, it was like ‘oh my God, how good is that?’. Then he was injured again. When he is back he will be really good and very impactful, of course. That is clear. How quickly, I don’t know. We have to see. That’s the big challenge in these moments. There’s no time for being patient but you have to be patient. I’m positive about him that there’s a good chance to have a real impact in 10, 11, 12 games maybe. We will see how long it exactly takes. It’s estimated that maybe next week he will be warming up with the team and then maybe a week later being in team training. That would be cool. But you always have to wait. On Tuesday I saw a very intense session, a lot of change of direction and stuff like this, if there is no reaction from that then he can make the next step. Then I think he is not too far away.”
As the battle for Champions League qualification intensifies, victory over Wolves would move Liverpool within six points of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand.