Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that winger Luis Diaz will make his return from injury against Leeds United at Elland Road on April 17th. Diaz, 26, has been sidelined since October due to a knee problem, but has now resumed full training. However, Klopp has stated that he will not be risked for the upcoming match against Arsenal on Sunday. Midfielder Thiago Alcantara is expected to be available for the match against the Premier League leaders, having been out for two months with a hip injury. Furthermore, defender Virgil van Dijk is also back in the squad after missing the midweek goalless draw with Chelsea due to illness.
Klopp has commented on the progress of both players, saying that Diaz is “looking good” but that they must be careful due to the length of his injury. With regards to Thiago, Klopp has said that he has trained with the team three or four times and may be available, but they must check how he feels today. Regarding van Dijk, Klopp has stated that he is back in training and is “completely normal”.
It is clear that Liverpool are taking a cautious approach with their injured players, with Klopp keen to ensure that they are fully fit before returning to action. With the match against Leeds fast approaching, it will be interesting to see how Diaz and Thiago fare in their respective returns from injury.