Liverpool are facing up to the prospect of being without Luis Diaz until March after the winger underwent surgery over the weekend.
Diaz had surgery to correct an issue with his lateral collateral ligament, which is the second serious knee problem of the season for the 25-year-old.
The Reds star was preparing for his return out in Dubai having worked his way back to fitness during the mid-season break, but suffered a serious setback in Friday’s training session.
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Diaz, whose initial knee injury came in the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal in early October, was sent back to Merseyside after complaining of a problem before Sunday’s Dubai Super Cup friendly with Lyon at the Al Maktoum Stadium.
Jurgen Klopp described the latest injury as a “smash in the face” after the friendly loss and the Colombia international has since gone under the knife after checks by the club’s medical staff back on Merseyside.
It means the Reds are likely to be without their influential wideman for another two months, which could prove to be a hammer blow to hopes of finishing inside the top four.
Diaz’s partner, Gera Ponce, posted a message on Instagram saying “patience and strength are essential” to the Liverpool star’s recovery.
Alongside images of Diaz in a hospital bed, she wrote: "Sometimes the difficulties that occur in our life directly prepare us to take an extraordinary path. Now patience and strength are essential. But, above all, the love of the family. We are all here for you, the same as always. And we will see you rise stronger, we love you."
Speaking after the game on Sunday, Klopp said: "He is not in the best possible place [mentally], that is clear.
"It was a big disappointment for all of us and him as well. It was a nothing situation in training, honestly.
"And he felt something, he didn't feel it a lot the next day but we wanted to be really cautious. So we said: 'come on, let's have a proper look' and then the news came which was a proper smash in the face, but that's it now."
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