Jurgen Klopp: Luis Diaz injury a 'proper smash in the face' - Harvey Elliott is fine
- Heinrich Griessel
- 12 December 2022
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits it's a big blow to have lost Luis Diaz to another injury, but Harvey Elliott's knock is fortunately not serious.
The Colombian forward was sidelined for two months with a knee injury he suffered in October, and returned to Liverpool training in Dubai recently.
But disaster struck again for the 25-year-old shortly after returning. The same knee now requires surgery on a lateral collateral ligament, following an innocuous incident during training.
The injury is expected to keep him out of contention for another three months, which Klopp admitted is a hefty setback for the Reds.
"Yeah, he was not in the best possible place," Klopp told reporters after the 3-1 friendly defeat to Lyon on Sunday.
"It's clear it's a big disappointment for all of us, for him as well.
"It was a non-situation in training, honestly - nothing, felt something.
"Didn't feel a lot next day but we wanted to be really cautious and said, 'OK, come on, let's have a look.'
"Yeah, then the news came and it was a proper smash in the face. But that's it now."
Meanwhile, there was good news regarding Elliott, who was substituted during the 3-1 friendly defeat to Lyon on Sunday.
The 19-year-old was taken off due to fears over a potential injury, but Klopp has revealed that it was only a precaution and Elliott should be fit to play.
"He got a knock, but I think we were lucky," Klopp added. "He looks fine now."
