Diaz grabs late and emotional Liverpool equaliser

Luis Diaz came off the bench to salvage a point for Liverpool with a stoppage-time goal at Luton in his first match since his parents were kidnapped in Colombia.

Diaz’s father remains missing, and the forward lifted his shirt to show a message of “freedom for papa” after heading in Harvey Elliott’s cross five minutes into added time.

He later issued a statement calling for those holding his father to release him “immediately”.

The 26-year-old former Porto player had last featured in a Liverpool squad 10 days ago, but manager Jurgen Klopp said before this match that Diaz “wanted to be part of the team”.

His goal was a poignant and remarkable conclusion to a contest in which Luton had appeared on course for a deserved first league win of the season at Kenilworth Road and a first victory over the Reds since 1991.

Substitute Tahith Chong sparked wild celebrations among the home fans, who were eyeing a famous result after he steered in Issa Kabore’s cross at the climax of a superb counter-attack with 10 minutes of the regulation 90 remaining.

Until Diaz denied Luton the win, Rob Edwards’ well organised and athletic side frustrated Liverpool, for whom Darwin Nunez had a day to forget in front of goal.