Luis Diaz has scored six Premier League goals this season
Liverpool moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League after coming from behind to beat Luton at Anfield.
Luton led at half-time through Chiedozie Ogbene’s header as Liverpool, and Luis Diaz in particular, spurned chance after chance.
The Reds were rampant after the break and their pressure paid off when captain Virgil van Dijk showed desire and determination to get his side on level terms by powering home a header from a 56th-minute corner.
Just two minutes later Liverpool led as Cody Gakpo nodded in from close range as Alexis Mac Allister fired in a cross from the byeline.
Diaz, with his ninth shot of the game, finally got his reward for relentless work with the third goal in the 71st minute.
The Colombian forward danced his way into the box and coolly side-footed beyond Thomas Kaminski at the near post to give the hosts some breathing space on what had initially looked like a night when they could slip up in the title race.
Harvey Elliott, making his 100th appearance for the club, rounded off a fine second half when he pounced on a loose ball in the 90th minute to claim the fourth.
It made it three wins on the bounce for Liverpool after losing 3-1 at Arsenal last month and built further momentum as they gear up for Sunday’s EFL Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley.
Jurgen Klopp’s men boast a four-point cushion over second-placed Manchester City, although they have played a game more than the defending champions, while Luton remain third from bottom.
Resilient Reds show strength in depth
With nine senior players unavailable due to injury, including goalkeeper Alisson, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai, manager Klopp had no other option than to trust the depth of his squad.
Liverpool’s bench had five players aged 19 or under, with 16-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni among the substitutes.
With the EFL Cup final next up, Liverpool could have been excused for having their minds elsewhere and that’s certainly how it looked in the opening 45 minutes as they were wasteful in front of goal.
Klopp’s face told a story as his side emerged from the tunnel for the second half.
Whatever he said to his players clearly had the desired impact as they came out of the blocks with intent and got the job done in style to extend their unbeaten home league run to 25 games.
The German said in his pre-game programme notes Liverpool could not afford to “feel sorry for ourselves” as they deal with a lengthy injury list and he stressed the importance of “living in the moment” as they continue to fight for silverware on four fronts.
They now head south in buoyant mood, bidding for a seventh major trophy under Klopp.
More to follow.
helpHow to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Liverpool
Squad number26Player nameRobertsonSquad number42Player nameClarkSquad number53Player nameMcConnellSquad number76Player nameDanns
Luton Town
Squad number24Player nameKaminski
Squad number15Player nameMengi
Squad number2Player nameOsho
Squad number29Player nameBell
Squad number7Player nameOgbene
Squad number28Player nameSambi Lokonga
Squad number6Player nameBarkley
Squad number45Player nameDoughty
Squad number9Player nameMorris
Squad number14Player nameChong
Squad number10Player nameWoodrow
Squad number12Player nameKaboré
Squad number17Player nameMpanzu
Squad number18Player nameClark
Squad number30Player nameTownsend
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
62Kelleher
84Bradley78Quansah4van Dijk2Gomez
10Mac Allister3Endo38Gravenberch
19Elliott18Gakpo7DÃaz
62Kelleher84BradleySubstituted forRobertsonat 68’minutes78Quansah4van Dijk2GomezBooked at 82mins10Mac AllisterSubstituted forMcConnellat 89’minutes3Endo38GravenberchSubstituted forClarkat 78’minutes19Elliott18Gakpo7DÃazSubstituted forDannsat 89’minutesSubstitutes5Konaté13Adrián21T camikas26Robertson42Clark49Gordon53McConnell76Danns98Nyoni
Luton
Formation 3-4-2-1
24 Kaminski
15Mengi2Osho29Bell
7Ogbene28Sambi Lokonga6Barkley45Doughty
9Morris14Chong
10Woodrow
24Kaminski15Mengi2Osho29Bell7Ogbene28Sambi LokongaSubstituted forMpanzuat 45’minutes6BarkleyBooked at 77mins45DoughtyBooked at 18minsSubstituted forKaboréat 74’minutesBooked at 89mins9Morris14ChongSubstituted forClarkat 63’minutes10WoodrowBooked at 42minsSubstituted forTownsendat 58’minutesSubstitutes3Potts8Berry12Kaboré16Burke17Mpanzu18Clark23Krul30Townsend43Nelson
Live Text
Match ends, Liverpool 4, Luton Town 1.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 4, Luton Town 1.
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Wataru Endo.
Offside, Liverpool. Cody Gakpo is caught offside.
Foul by James McConnell (Liverpool).
Ross Barkley (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Luton Town. Issa Kaboré is caught offside.
Foul by Jayden Danns (Liverpool).
Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Liverpool 4, Luton Town 1. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.
Issa Kaboré (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
James McConnell (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Issa Kaboré (Luton Town).
Substitution, Liverpool. James McConnell replaces Alexis Mac Allister.
Substitution, Liverpool. Jayden Danns replaces Luis DÃaz.
Attempt missed. Ross Barkley (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Amari’i Bell.
Attempt blocked. Andros Townsend (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Jarell Quansah (Liverpool).
Ross Barkley (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Wataru Endo (Liverpool).
2024-02-21 21:46:16
#Liverpool #Luton #Town #Reds #move #points #clear #top #comeback #win #Luton
