Key occasions
48 min: Diaz and Mengi are caught up in a spot of grappling close to the touchline and the referee calls it Liverpool’s manner. The followers are roaring for a reserving as is a member of the Liverpool teaching employees, who’s proven a yellow whereas seated on the bench.
46 min: And we’re off within the second half. One change for Luton as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu comes on for Albert Sambi Lokonga, who exits with what’s being described as a minor knock.
Penny in your ideas? A fast leaf by the inbox on the intermission …
Anthony O’Connell writes:
As I shut in on 45odd years of supporting Liverpool, I really feel like we’re simply cursed with luck. That group tonight is lacking 7 of its regular starters.
You then have a look at the bench the place solely 2 of these gamers are sitting.
I knew earlier than this recreation tonight that it wouldn’t finish effectively. You don’t win a league with these accidents or a cup on Sunday. Plus for those who drop factors to Luton twice you get what you deserve.
Hopefully they will flip it round however expertise tells me we get caught on the counter
Ben Atherton observes:
Liverpool want the dead-eyed calmness and composure of Nunez on this recreation I feel
Phil Gray notes:
12 months in the past Liverpool had been hammered 5-2 at dwelling to Actual Madrid. Solely Van Dijk, Gomez and Gakpo began that one from tonight’s line-up. Lots has modified since then, hasn’t it?
Iain Neary critiques:
Why embrace a narrative about man u, none of us care on a Liverpool thread
Sorry, mate!
Half-time: Liverpool 0-1 Luton City
The whistle peeps and a annoyed Liverpool retreat to their dressing room, their place atop the Premier League desk imperilled. Ogbene’s early purpose in opposition to the run of play is the distinction because the Reds don’t have anything to point out for Diaz’s indefatigable workrate. Nor for his or her 12 pictures on purpose, greater than twice their opponent’s output (5), or their seven corners received … that are seven greater than Luton to this point.
45 min+2: A near-chance for Luton within the remaining seconds as Ogbene breaks freed from Gomez and curls in a cross to Woodrow, who can’t flip it heading in the right direction.
45 min: The fourth official alerts for 2 minutes of added time.
42 min: Shortly after an Elliott try from vary misses the goal, Luton’s Cauley Woodrow is proven yellow for catching the aspect of Quansah’s head on an overzealous aerial problem.
39 min: One other fast, environment friendly counter-attack out of the Liverpool again ends in a fast-moving 3v3 into the ultimate third. Duiz runs onto an ideal cross from the middle, however an impressive piece of defending by Mengi thwarts a possible purpose.
38 min: One other disjointed sequence with each groups jockeying for possession in the midst of the pitch. Luton are in a position to win a free-kick however can’t generate a critical menace from it.
35 min: Luton give the ball away in their very own half but once more and Diaz has a go from distance, however his curling shot veers over the crossbar. There’s solely so many instances Edwards’ aspect can get away with these giveaways earlier than they’re made to pay …
32 min: Moments after a wasted free-kick by the guests, Diaz conjures one other probability by slipping away from Mengi on to a vertical Endo providing within the space. However the totally prolonged Colombian is unable to poke it contained in the close to submit.
29 min: Liverpool win the ball again from a Luton aspect that’s gotten a bit careless with possession over the previous 5 minutes. Van Dijk dispossesses Bell earlier than discovering Diaz, whose shot from inside the world by Mengi’s legs is scooped up by Kaminski.
27 min: A little bit of a gradual patch as the perimeters commerce possession within the center third. It’s damaged as Joe Gomez dribbles ahead and has a speculative go from about 5 yards outdoors the world, however his try sails harmlessly broad and excessive above the body.
22 min: Kelleher, who it should be mentioned might have accomplished higher on the Luton purpose, sprints from his line to intercept Chong’s opportunistic by ball to Woodrow. That keys a lightning-quick counter up the correct flank by Mac Allister, however Barkley is there to snuff it out.
18 min: Doughty earns the primary warning of the night, proven a yellow for yanking Gravenberch’s arm backward after he’s crushed by the Dutchman.
17 min: Liverpool have saved possession for the previous couple of minutes as they probe a tightly packed Luton defence with all 10 males behind the ball.
15 min: Liverpool win one other nook virtually instantly after the restart however nothing comes of it.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Luton City (Ogbene 12)
Effectively, effectively, effectively! Chiedozie Ogbene has opened the rating in beautiful style. Beginning with a throw-in from the left aspect, Doughty sends a cross to Chong for a shot on purpose that’s initially stopped by Kelleher. However Ogbene is in the correct place to move dwelling the rebound and Luton have the lead at Anfield!
10 min: Liverpool’s vivid begin continues. A pair extra corners. Luis Diaz, who’s been everywhere in the pitch early on, wins a free-kick however Gakpo is unable to redirect it on purpose. And moments later Gakpo places a shot on purpose that’s simply corralled by Kaminski.
7 min: Luton are lastly in a position to gradual issues down and manage an assault. Ogbene dribbles previous a pair of Liverpool defenders on the correct flank and swings in a cross towards Morris, however he’s unable to attach with it.
5 min: One other probability for Liverpool. Harvey Elliott performs a stunning ball ahead to Diaz, who spins away from Osho for a clear line on purpose. This time the Colombian will get a shot off, however it’s fired broad proper of the submit.
3 min: And early probability for Luis Diaz, who’s performed by and has a defender on his personal. However he’s unable to place a shot heading in the right direction.
2 min: Liverpool play the nook brief, then win a second within the first 90 seconds. Nothing comes of it, however they’ve saved possession whereas organising their assault.
Liverpool v Luton is go …
1 min: And we’re off! Luton kick issues off attacking from left to proper of their conventional away kits. Liverpool going from proper to left of their acquainted all-red strips. And the hosts have already received a nook …
The groups have emerged from the tunnel. The roars of Allez Allez Allez cascade down from the Kop. Not for much longer now.
Enjoyable truth: Luton have performed extra away matches at Liverpool with no win (14) than some other opponent. It’s additionally been practically 33 years since their final win over the Reds dwelling or away, when Iain Dowie’s second-half brace sparked a 3-1 come-from-behind win over the Reds on the substitute pitch of Kenilworth Highway.
The Hatters got here agonisingly near ending that winless run in November when Tahith Chong’s purpose practically held up, however Liverpool were able to snatch a point by tremendous sub Luis Diaz’s Ninety fifth-minute strike.
“They [Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez] couldn’t have performed tonight,” Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp says. “All people who can play tonight will likely be there. From right here we are going to see who will likely be again for [Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea], however that isn’t essential in the mean time.”
He provides: “We’re utterly totally different since final time [facing Luton] they did effectively and we should always have rating objectives. I’ve seen loads of video games of Luton’s and the development they’ve made is loopy and deserves numerous respect.
“Luton began very pragmatic [at the start of the season] and developed soccer based mostly since then and it’s a extremely good job what Rob [Edwards] is doing there. Will it’s a take a look at for us? Sure.
“It’s about getting within the recreation and inflicting issues and profitable the sport.”
Elsewhere in north-west navel-gazing, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has outlined his plans to revive Manchester United to their former glory by knocking Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis “off their perch” inside the subsequent three years.
Talking lower than 24 hours after taking control of soccer operations at Outdated Trafford, the 71-year-old billionaire admitted that United must be taught stark classes from the way in which their rivals had moved to this point forward within the 11-years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
In a wide-ranging interview, Ratcliffe refused to be instantly drawn on the way forward for Erik ten Hag. Nevertheless he mentioned that failure of a number of managers since 2013 urged the structure and atmosphere of the membership wanted fixing most of all.
“We’ve lots to be taught from our noisy neighbour and the opposite neighbour,” Ratcliffe mentioned. “They’re the enemy on the finish of the day. There may be nothing I would really like higher than to knock each of them off their perch.
“However they’ve been in place for some time and there are issues we are able to be taught from each of them. They’ve wise organisations, nice folks inside the organisations, , pushed and elite surroundings that they work in. I’m very respectful of them however they’re nonetheless the enemy.”
The groups!
Jurgen Klopp has made 5 adjustments to the Liverpool aspect that received 4-1 over Brentford on Saturday with Quansah, Gomez, Gravenberch, Gakpo and Elliott all getting into the group. Notably, no Salah and no Nunez on the bench. Rob Edwards has made no adjustments from Luton following their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on the weekend.
Liverpool
XI: Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, van Dijk, Gomez, Gravenberch, Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz
Subs: Konate, Adrian, Tsimikas, Robertson, Clark, Gordon, Nyoni, Danns, McConnell
Luton City
XI: Kaminski, Mengi, Osho, Bell, Ogbene, Sambi Lokonga, Barkley, Doughty, Morris, Chong, Woodrow
Subs: Potts, Berry, Kabore, Burke, Mpanzu, Clark, Krul, Townsend, Nelson.
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
Preamble
Hey and welcome to Anfield for tonight’s Premier League assembly between Liverpool and Luton City. The Premier League leaders, whose 57 factors are one higher than Manchester Metropolis (56) and two forward of Arsenal (55), are enjoying host to the Hatters, who stay at 18th and contained in the relegation zone after Saturday’s carefully performed 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
The large story with Liverpool considerations their mounting injury list, which has come to resemble a Mash unit. Jurgen Klopp’s aspect will likely be with out Alisson (“for the foreseeable”) and Diogo Jota, who is anticipated to overlook a number of months. Mo Salah can be unsure for right now’s match along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcântara and probably Dominik Szoboszlai.
The group sheets will likely be with us any second and we’ll have them over to you instantly.
