Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed his excitement over Luis Diaz's return from injury following a lengthy break.
The Colombian forward has picked up two serious knee injuries this season, the first in a 3-2 loss to Arsenal in October and the second during a hot training tour in Duabi before the start of the year. .
Injuries mean Diaz has missed 33 games in all competitions so far this season, while Liverpool are struggling in both European and domestic competitions.
Without Diaz in the squad, Liverpool's form has plummeted in recent months. The Red Devils have been knocked out of the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and sit in a modest eighth place in the Premier League with less than 10 games remaining. Read the latest Liverpool news here
Speaking ahead of Liverpool's 30th game of the season - against Leeds United - Klopp revealed Diaz was back in contention for selection, which the manager was extremely pleased with.
"He's 100 per cent ready in training, so that's the thing for now," said Klopp. "Sure, it's [like having a new signing]. He's grown tremendously. His English is improving, so he's really settled. He was here every day.
"He's really matured again, much more comfortable than at first with everything in a new country. He's like a breath of fresh air every day he trains. He loves being there. I've been there. said from the very beginning when he arrived that he could' not train without a smile on his face and that's what's really special and that's exactly how he acts now."
The Reds enter the clash with Leeds nine points above Europa League places, but have two games against teams above them in the Premier League table.
Read More
Liverpool still have plenty of goals left, even with the Champions League out of sight. Jürgen Klopp can directly inflate his own summer transfer fund.
There's an unofficial motto for big clubs going through a difficult season - a category that Liverpool fall into every minute of. "If we don't win the Champions League, I'd rather miss Europe altogether."
Technically, of course, the Champions League spot is still on the table for Liverpool. Newcastle's loss to Aston Villa serves as a reminder that opponents slip far more often in the race for the top four than for titles. But Jürgen Klopp knows that his side are unlikely to qualify for the most prestigious club competition next season.
Recently, a complete absence from European competitions has become more difficult than ever, with the addition of the Europa Conference League to the schedule. But there is a certain logic in the feeling of wanting to miss. In the end, Leicester City used their free midweek days to claim the 2015/16 title. Perhaps more fittingly, Chelsea won the league the following season, a year after finishing 10th and missing out on Europe.
Apparently, midweek commitments weigh heavily on a team. With that said, Arsenal have done the unthinkable this season, equalizing Thursday Night Football for much of the campaign with a viable title fee. While regular Champions League matches certainly make things more difficult for Liverpool's aging side, scrapping the European fixtures is not the way to go about this. The optimal solution lies in the transfer market. And finally, the bottom line cannot be ignored. The Champions League is the real pot of gold, but the money from the Europa League should not be underestimated, especially under the independent model of FSG. It seems no coincidence that Jude Bellingham was dropped from the rankings as soon as it became clear that a top 4 spot was potentially out of reach.
Money from European leagues has a direct impact on what Liverpool can spend during the transfer window. Therefore, Klopp needs to refocus, with the Europa League as a legitimate target. Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp during a training session at the AXA Training Center on April 12, 2023 in Kirkby, England.
Jürgen Klopp could help boost Liverpool's transfer process as the season ends strongly.
The Athletic recently spoke with sports finance expert Dr Dan Plumley, who suggested that Liverpool could be looking at "half" of the value of the Champions League as it extends to the Europa League. The prize money has been reduced considerably, but the Red Devils will at least have a guaranteed run of sold-out matches, and last season's winners still take home $42 million (£33m/€38m). Directly from UEFA.
In contrast, Roma, the first team to win the Europa Conference League, received only $21 million (£17 million/19 million euros) for their achievement. Again, Liverpool shouldn't be quick to turn this down and will in fact receive a slightly larger share of any UEFA payout thanks to their impressive multiplier. But that is far less satisfying compensation for an unfavorable midweek travel season - although there will be a certain novelty about competing for a trophy the club has never won before. .
If Liverpool enter the Europa League, they will obviously enter the tournament as a good candidate. Although Klopp had hoped there was no chance to repair his last loss in 2016, running to the final stages can be fun, restorative as well as lucrative.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0