Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

What Luis Diaz did while walking through Liverpool mixed zone on crutches

Liverpool slipped 14 points away from the top of the Premier League as leaders Arsenal inflicted a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates on Sunday.

Despite responding twice to goals at either end of the first half from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka through Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino, a penalty in the second half was enough for Mikel Arteta's side to regain top spot.

Saka dispatched from 12 yards after Gabriel Jesus had been brought down by Thiago Alcantara. But you knew all of that, of course. What you might have missed, however, were a series of intriguing subplot to the afternoon's action in north London.

PAUL GORST: What Arsenal fans sang at full-time hurts the most as Liverpool lose stomach for fight

IAN DOYLE: Mohamed Salah decision speaks volumes as blessing in disguise emerges

Here are some of the moments you might have missed.

Dejected Diaz provides injury 'update'

A solemn and dejected Luis Diaz made his way through the post-match mixed zone on crutches and in a knee brace at the Emirates as the Liverpool players headed for the team bus.

The Colombian had arguably been the visitors' best player prior to being forced off with a knee injury after a tangle with Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey in the first half. It was a setback that hurt the Reds on the day as they never looked anywhere near as threatening going forward once the January signing was made to depart early.

A downbeat Diaz didn't stop to speak to reporters but offered a grimace and a disappointed shake of the head when asked by one member of the press how bad the injury actually was as he walked through towards the bus. The wideman may not have detailed exactly what the problems were but his response spoke volumes.

Diaz will likely be assessed on Monday ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League trip to Rangers but it's anticipated that the former Porto winger will sit out the visit to Ibrox with Jurgen Klopp ready to give an update in Tuesday's press conference at Ibrox.

Firmino leads the calls for Jesus help

Brazil compatriots Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus may have been sworn enemies for the day but that didn't stop the Liverpool forward leading the calls for help when his Arsenal counterpart went down injured in the second half.

After Jesus had caught a nasty-looking but accidental elbow in the face from Kostas Tsimikas, Firmino was one of the first on the scene beckoning over the physios to help his stricken Selecao team-mate.

The pair may be jostling for position for a place in the Brazil side for the upcoming World Cup but a concerned Firmino gestured for the medical department to get on as quickly as possible following the collision, clearly worried for his friend.

Jesus was eventually able to play on and won the decisive penalty that gave Arsenal a major three points. The Brazilian contingents of both sides could eventually be seen congregating on the pitch at full-time to quickly chew the fat after an eventful afternoon.

No laughing matter

A confused Klopp didn't quite know exactly what one member of the press was attempting to ask in the wake of another frustrating afternoon in a Liverpool season that is increasingly mystifying.

After being asked as to why he was not in a particularly jovial mood after the defeat in a post-match interview for radio, the Liverpool manager later took exception to the question in his press conference.

Clearly Klopp was in no mood to suffer fools or play up to the caricature version that perhaps exists in the minds of some outside of the Anfield bubble.

"Of course I am not happy! How can I be!? Your colleague told me just now that he knows me as happy all the time and making jokes," said Klopp. "I am not sure exactly the version of Jurgen Klopp he knows but obviously we are neither in the mood for jokes or happy now. We are in a tough moment and we want to get through this together."

No Salah reaction

As Mohamed Salah trudged off with over 20 minutes to go at the Emirates, the eagle-eyed producers at Sky Sports turned their cameras on to the Liverpool forward and left them there.

As the Reds man made way for Fabinho as Klopp sought to wrestle back some much-needed control in midfield, those watching from their homes and local pubs were fixed with the images of Salah walking behind the management team and taking his place on the bench.

Perhaps waiting for the all-important shots of a disgruntled or frustrated reaction to being substituted after a day to forget, the Sky cameras stayed on Salah for longer than usual for a substitute, but the Egyptian did not grant them their wish.

There would be no slamming down of a substitutes' jacket or kicking over of a water bottle. Instead, the 30-year-old simply took his place among the rest of the bench without incident.

Headlines about trouble in the camp were sidestepped as Salah sat down and proceedings to watch the rest of the game from his seat. Of course, the Reds star will have been disappointed to have been brought off with the game in the balance, but his lack of outward annoyance ensured that an unnecessary Liverpool subplot was avoided.

READ MORE:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.