Liverpool scored four second-half goals to beat Luton Town 4-1 at Anfield
Following Liverpool’s 4-1 demolition of Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, attention turned to a tough challenge against Luton Town on Wednesday night.
The Hatters sat 18th in the Premier League table ahead of the fixture, but have proven themselves worthy contenders to avoid the drop at the end of the season unlike their fellow promotion counterparts: Burnley and Sheffield United.
In fact, Liverpool could only muster a point from the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road, with Luis Diaz scoring a last-gasp equalising header.
The Reds have become ravaged with injuries, meaning manager Jurgen Klopp has turned to a wealth of youth academy prospects to help the first team.
One of these former youth academy prospects is 25-year-old Caoimhin Kelleher, who has become Liverpool’s back-up goalkeeper to Alisson for the past five years. Jarell Quansah also started against Luton Town in defence, as the 20-year-old centre-back partnered captain Virgil van Dijk.
Conor Bradley, who has had an impressive start to his Liverpool career this season at right-back, continued to deputise for Trent Alexander-Arnold. And Mohamed Salah’s exclusion from the team meant that Harvey Elliott was thrown into the attack.
The first half wouldn’t go to plan for Liverpool, however, with Chiedozie Ogbene heading Luton Town in front at the Kop end at Anfield. Numerous chances missed by Diaz meant that the Reds would go into the interval a goal down.
Just ten minutes into the second half and Liverpool found their equalising goal, sending Anfield absolutely berserk. Alexis Mac Allister swung in a corner and Van Dijk’s header levelled the game.
Just moments later, Cody Gakpo scored a close-range headed goal to give his side the lead for the first time on the night. A win would take Liverpool four points clear at the top. And Anfield knew that.
Think of Saint-Etienne in 1977, Olympiakos in 2005, Barcelona in 2019, and now Luton Town in 2024. It sounds bizarre, but it felt absolutely massive for Liverpool. It was a defining moment in the season that shows, despite a depleted team, they’re giving everything to close the Jurgen Klopp book with a special final chapter.
Luis Diaz’s luck turned his way in the second half as he was able to score Liverpool’s third and wrap up all three points at the Kop end. Harvey Elliott’s curling effort, after debutant Jayden Danns crucial involvement, gave Liverpool another 4-1 win.
Liverpool are four points clear in the Premier League, albeit Manchester City and Arsenal both have games in hand. The Reds’ attention quickly turns to the EFL Cup for the final time this season as they prepare for a final against Chelsea on Sunday.
Kick-off for the EFL Cup final is at 3pm on Sunday, 25 February.Â
Liverpool team: Kelleher, Bradley (Robertson 68), Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez, Mac Allister (McConnell 89), Endo, Gravenberch (Clark 78), Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz (Danns 89).
Luton Town team: Kaminski, Mengi, Osho, Bell, Ogbene, Lokonga (Mpanzu 46), Barkley, Doughty (Doughty 74), Morris, Chong (Clark 63), Woodrow (Townsend 58).
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