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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Keifer MacDonald

Luis Diaz makes Liverpool statement after disappointing season

Luis Diaz says Liverpool's next season will be "even better and with more celebrations" after a disappointing campaign in both the Premier League and Champions League.

The Reds finished their domestic campaign in fifth place, with a tally of 67 points not enough to secure qualification to the Champions League for the first time in Jurgen Klopp's seven full seasons on Merseyside.

It means roughly 12 months after standing on the brink of an unprecedented quadruple before suffering Premier League and Champions League heartbreak at the hands of Manchester City and Real Madrid, Liverpool will compete in the Europa League next season for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign.

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Diaz, who spent much of the season sidelined with a serious knee injury that he sustained during October's 3-2 defeat at Arsenal, has promised supporters that the upcoming campaign will be a more successful one on Merseyside and claimed "many lessons have been learned" from the disappointment.

Writing in a post on social media, the 26-year-old said: "Lads, although many lessons have been learned, a difficult season has come to an end. I would like to thank you all for the support during my recovery and the entire team in every match!

"I’m sure next season will be even better and with more celebrations. See you next season"

After finishing their season on the South Coast with a 4-4 draw with Southampton, the Reds' playing squad will be afforded a period of rest away from their clubs in the coming weeks, should they not be selected by their countries for the upcoming summer friendlies, before returning to the AXA Training Centre on July 8 for pre-season duties.

From there, Klopp's side will fly to Germany for a pre-season training camp where the ECHO understands friendlies against Karlsruhe and Greuther Furth will be played. Later in the month, the Reds will fly to Singapore to contest friendlies against Leicester City and Bayern Munich before returning to Merseyside to begin their preparations for the Premier League's return on August 12.

After making his return from a prolonged period on the sidelines during April's 6-1 thrashing of Leeds United at Elland Road, Diaz made a further eight appearances in Liverpool's remaining Premier League fixtures and even managed to find the back of the net in the 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur later that month.

The forward could be named in Colombia's squad for their forthcoming friendlies against Iraq and Germany.

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