Jurgen Klopp reacts to Roberto Firmino’s choice and names a replacement. Date of Luis Diaz’s return to Liverpool

Here’s your Liverpool FC morning digest as Jürgen Klopp reveals Roberto Firmino’s departure and when Luis Diaz will return

As the Reds prepare to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, March 10, it’s time for your Liverpool FC morning digest.

Jurgen Klopp presents an emotional 12-word statement from Roberto Firmino following Liverpool’s exit talks.

Juergen Klopp admits he was startled by Roberto Firmino’s intention to quit Liverpool, but insists the No.9 will stay until the end of the season.

Firmino’s contract with Liverpool expires later this year, despite Klopp and the club’s best efforts to keep the Brazilian at Anfield beyond the summer, it was revealed last week.

Klopp says he respects Firmino’s decision and that the 31-year-old has informed him he wants to end his spell with a bang.

“He told me [he was going],” Klopp confirmed. “Was I taken aback? Well, a little, but I wasn’t taken aback; in fact, it’s a regular thing to do. It could have gone two ways, but it only went one, and I much respect that.

“It’s perfectly typical in this type of long relationship that we have and Bobby (Firmino) has with the club and most of the players and everything like that, as well as with the supporters.

“It’s quite amazing, and I loved how he was received when he came on against United. He told me and then the only other thing he said is: ‘Now I want to bring this lovely narrative to a positive close’. That’s all there is to it.”

Jurgen Klopp outlines a fresh timetable for Luis Diaz’s recovery as three Liverpool players skip the trip to Bournemouth.

Jurgen Klopp is hopeful that Luis Diaz will be available for Liverpool’s long-awaited return against Manchester City next month.

And the Reds manager believes Joe Gomez will return to duty after the upcoming international break, as the extensive injury list begins to thin.

Diaz has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury at Arsenal in October, which was worsened in December and necessitated surgery.

The winger is now scheduled to resume full training next week, with a return to the Premier League against City on April 1 seemingly a foregone conclusion.

Gomez has been missing since limping out of Real Madrid’s Champions League defeat at home a week ago with a hamstring injury, while Thiago Alcantara has missed the last five games with a hip ailment.