LUTON — Liverpool forward Luis Díaz came off the bench on Sunday to head a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at lowly Luton Town and dedicate the goal to his father who was kidnapped in Colombia.
On the back foot for most of the game, Luton took a shock lead when Ross Barkley drove forward in the 80th minute to release Issa Kabore who passed for Tahith Chong to slide the ball past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.
Luton Town lead Liverpool at Kenilworth Road!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 5, 2023
That triggered delirium in the quaint and raucous Kenilworth Road stadium, whose capacity is just over 11,000 and where Luton had managed to register only one previous point this season.
But then up stepped second-half substitute Díaz to leap and convert a Harvey Elliott cross in time added on, revealing an undershirt that read "Freedom For Dad". A Colombian guerrilla movement has said they will release his father.
Luis Diaz brings Liverpool level in stoppage time!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 5, 2023
Luis Diaz shows his undershirt in honor of his father before embracing Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool's draw against Luton Town. #LFC pic.twitter.com/gnLbWWbzd1
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 5, 2023
Liverpool were left ruing Darwin Nunez's misses. He saw a powerful shot strike the bar in the first half and another sting the gloves of Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski in the second period.
Darwin Nunez with a miss so bad it floors Mo Salah. pic.twitter.com/PEl8baDq4l
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) November 5, 2023
The result left Liverpool third on 24 points, three behind leaders Manchester City. Luton inched out of the relegation area to go 17th on six points, two off the bottom.
(Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne; editing by Clare Fallon)
