Luton Town

We asked you for your thoughts on Wednesday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Luton.

Here are are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

Vin: Now that’s what you call a game of two halves. First half was wasteful and too frantic in the last third. Second half we came out of the blocks with more intent, with composure to match. The crowd was driven on by the players and the players were driven on by the crowd. It made for a difficult atmosphere for Luton to try and play in. A good night.

Alan: Poor finishing first half but upped the tempo and swept Luton aside in the second half. Lively performance from Elliott. Gomez again was immense but Mac Allister was the stand out. Good warm up for Chelsea but need to keep the tempo high.

Stuart: In the reverse fixture we had a strong team and could not win. What a performance from this group of players. Gomez's versatility, Endo's endeavour, Mac Allister's vision. Backed up by the super, young members of the squad, and all front three players scored! I really enjoyed the second half, it was incredible stuff.

Sonny: Let's say it as it is shall we? We were terrible in the first half. Simple as that. But when you factor in Klopp's half-time team talk, we could give any game a go no matter the score line. We are the first club in Europe's big five leagues to have five players score 10 goals in all competitions and you can see why! Once again, the Reds are victorious!

Luton fans

Roby: Given the so called 'whipping boys' and relegated by Christmas tag we have really put up a good fight. To lead until the 56th minute wasn't bad. We have many injured stars, so do Liverpool. The difference is we can't afford the squad they have as back up. We have surprised a lot of critics with wonderful displays against Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea.

Kevin: Great performance from the Town, missing key players from the start was a big hurdle (ours more significant to us than those missing for Liverpool), as was losing players during the game. We won the first half but the match being so close to the Sunday evening game did us no favours as we had tired bodies and minds. More questionable decisions from the ref.

Tony: We keeping making big individual mistakes at the back, if we do not improve we will go down.

Sue: OK, that leaves us with Man City and then we can really start to concentrate on the league. The players didn’t let themselves down, they were true to their belief in themselves and love for each other. The rest of the other teams that are coming after us, you need to watch out because I mean it - they really are going to stay up. I believe it.

Image source, Getty Images

Luton boss Rob Edwards says his side were "suffocated" by Liverpool in the second-half of their 4-1 defeat at Anfield on Wednesday night.

The Hatters led 1-0 at half-time but were overrun after the break with Jurgen Klopp's team scoring four times without reply.

"We just made them angry I think didn't we," Edwards said post-match.

"Second-half I think we just saw Anfield, saw Liverpool, saw that full-throttle football. Their counter-pressing was incredible, suffocated us.

"Fans were amazing and it was probably difficult for the players to really concentrate. The real threat came from their counter-pressing, their intensity, it really put us on the back foot.

"Clearly I'm disappointed to concede from a corner and a throw in as well, those are the bits we know we can improve on, especially in that noise when your mate next to you can't hear you. You've got to be able to deal with those situations better.

"But, bigger and better teams have come here and that's sort of happened to them as well so it's not a disgrace.

"It was like the Kop was just sucking it in and we couldn't really get out. We saw Anfield and Liverpool at it's best, I thought they were brilliant."

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Luton manager Rob Edwards has already exceeded most people's expectations for how the club would cope with the Premier League this season.

Few fancied the Hatters to be putting up a serious fight to stay in the top-flight after they earned promotion via the Championship play-offs last summer.

But with 13 games left to play, Luton are third from bottom and only in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Picking up points at Liverpool would likely have been regarded as a bonus for Edwards, but he and the travelling fans had the chance to dream when Chiedozie Ogbene's goal had them leading at half time.

Despite being massively depleted by injury, Liverpool fought back and cruised to victory with goals from Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott getting them over the line.

More important fixtures are to come in the next few weeks for Luton, though, with games against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest - all placed in the bottom eight - meeting the Hatters in March.

Picking up results against those three clubs could prove season-defining as Luton scrap, as they did in the opening 45 minutes against Liverpool, for each and every valuable point on offer.

Image source, Getty Images

Luton boss Rob Edwards, speaking to BBC Sport: "I wasn't surprised how the first half went. In the second half we played into their hands and their counter pressing was incredible, we experienced that full throttle football.

"We have got a way of playing that doesn't make it comfortable for teams. We continue to build and go in the right direction. We will learn from our mistakes tonight.

"We have to learn from it and take it. The second half was difficult. We have to bounce back.

"We knew today was going to be a really big task. We showed for long periods we are a good team and we can compete."

The key facts and figures after Liverpool's win over Luton Town in the Premier League.

• Liverpool have recovered 22 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, more than any other side, and their joint-most in a single campaign in the competition (also 22 in 2008-09).

• Luton are one of two sides, along with Sheffield United, yet to keep a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League this season. The Hatters have shipped 29 goals in 12 away games in the division this season, the joint-most of any side, along with Bournemouth and Sheffield United.

• In Mo Salah (19), Diogo Jota (14), Darwin Nunez (13), Cody Gakpo (11), and Luis Diaz (10), Liverpool are the first club in Europe's big-five leagues to have five players reach 10+ goals in all competitions this season. In fact, the Reds also became the first side from Europe's big-five leagues to score 100 goals in all competitions in 2023-24.

• Since the start of 2018-19, Virgil van Dijk has scored 18 Premier League goals, at least four more than any other defender. 12 of those have come at Anfield - the most of any Liverpool defender at home in the competition, surpassing Sami Hyypia's 11.

• Only Arsenal (13) have scored more headed goals in the Premier League this season than Luton (12), with Chiedozie Ogbene the seventh different Hatters player to score a header in the league this campaign.

• With an average age of 25 years and 68 days, Liverpool named their youngest starting XI for a Premier League game since February 2018 against Southampton (24y 355d).

Liverpool moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League table 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 byline.

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 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.

Were you at Anfield or did you follow the match from elsewhere?

Liverpool fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Luton fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Liverpool are hosting Luton Town in the Premier League and kick-off is less than an hour away.

For team news and all the build-up, head to our live coverage here

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised the the "incredible" way that Luton Town play.

The two sides meet at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday, with the Hatters looking to move out of the relegation zone while Klopp's side try to cement their place at the top of the table.

It took a late leveller from Luis Diaz to rescue a point for the Reds in the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road in November and Klopp is expecting another difficult game.

Speaking in his pre-match news conference, he said: "Set-pieces are one strength [of Luton] but I have to say the way they play their system with their confidence level - they play incredible but even in games they lost they were in the game. We experienced a tough game there, but it was a different game to how they play now.

"Now in possession they found a structure where everyone is really comfortable. Ross Barkley is one of these nice stories who really is back to his best, or better. He plays a deeper role, super disciplined on the ball and extremely strong.

"[Albert Sambi] Lokonga when you see him you can tell he's an Arsenal player on a loan deal, it's interesting. They are strong and experienced. They are a really together [squad].

"The situation at Bournemouth with the captain [when Tom Lockyer collapsed] it brought them closer and made them think some things are worse in life than maybe getting relegated.

"In general they deserve respect and we have to show that with a proper Liverpool performance and I mean everyone who enters the gate to Anfield has to be on their toes."

Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer has been discussing how the Hatters have changed their style of play to suit the Premier League on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"We lost 3-0 against Chelsea and we were playing in a 3-5-2, we had played like that since last season and we stuck at it," Lockyer explained.

"The problem is, at this level, they were literally just going side to side and our three midfielders were just being pulled left and right.

"You could be the fittest man in the world but, if you have to do that shift for 90 minutes, there will be gaps that appear. At this level, the players are good enough to find those gaps and punish you.

"We sat down, there were a couple of us with Rob Edwards, and I think he said: 'Look, how do you want to go about it, guys?'

"It was before one of the games against the big boys and he said that we were expected to lose the game, nobody has got us down for absolutely anything, if we're going to lose then let's go about it our own way, let's give the fans what they want to see.

"I think that was the turning point when he said that we were going back to being us."

Listen to the full episode of Monday Night Club here

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC pundit Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For Liverpool's game against Luton Town on Wednesday, which has been brought forward from this weekend because the Reds play in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday, he takes on former England striker Jermain Defoe.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Liverpool needed a 95th-minute goal from Luis Diaz to rescue a point at Kenilworth Road in November, but I am expecting things to be a bit more straightforward for them at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp's side have some injury problems to contend with - especially up front, where they are running out of fit forwards - but I still don't think Luton will keep them out.

Defoe's prediction: 4-1

See the latest team news and make your own prediction here

Image source, Getty Images

Luton boss Rob Edwards says he "hopes it's not the last time" he faces Jurgen Klopp on Wednesday but he is taking his side to Anfield "to try and win".

The Hatters face league leaders Liverpool having dropped back into the Premier League relegation zone.

"He's one of my favourites I've got to say," Edwards said pre-match.

"He's got an amazing presence, personality, charisma. The way he leads his team, the way he wants to play - he wants to attack, he wants an exciting game.

"They want some control as well but I just love how his teams play - they're always on the front foot. They want to win, they want to defend high and aggressively. Everything about what he's done for God knows how many years is obviously very impressive.

"I hope it's not the last time I'm able to go up against him.

"Jurgen and his staff trust their players and he's not afraid to put young players in or change things up if they need to because they just do what they do and play their way. He trusts them.

"Whatever team they put out tomorrow will be very good, no doubt about that."

The Hatters were minutes away from a famous victory over Liverpool at Kenilworth Road in November but Edwards wants to go one better than the 1-1 draw they managed, external.

"We will take a draw but we're going there to try and win," he added. "It's not about repeating the last one.

"We're going to have to defend very well, manage the ball well in turnovers and transitions, and when we have the opportunity to take the ball we need to be brave, play to our strengths and try and take the spaces they will give away.

"We're going to need to be ruthless in both boxes because chances at Anfield will be few and far between, we're looking forward to that challenge but we're not going to go there and sit back and wait, we're going to try and win it."

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Luton Town boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Edwards confirmed Elijah Adebayo will be unavailable and will see a specialist after sustaining a hamstring injury in the warm-up before Sunday’s loss to Manchester United, while Jacob Brown will be out for the "foreseeable" after having an operation on a knee cartilage issue on Tuesday morning.

• Edwards is ready for Cauley Woodrow to continue to deputise after making his first Premier League start for a decade against United: "Cauley's ready to go again if selected. I was really pleased with his performance the other day. It was a big game, a big moment for him and I thought he dealt with that coming in late really well and played well as well."

• On being back in the relegation zone: "As far as I was concerned we were in the bottom three anyway because I've not taken the points deductions into consideration. That hasn't changed for us at all. Tomorrow is an opportunity to get some points - and the lads believe it as well."

• He expects a "different game" to the 1-1 draw with the Reds at Kenilworth Road: "Liverpool are an amazing team home or away, but Anfield is really special. I think we're going about things in a different way as well since that game. We can definitely take confidence from it but it will be different tomorrow night."

• When asked whether Ross Barkley will be "up for this one" on his return to Merseyside, Edwards said: "I think he will be. He's been very consistent and very good against every opposition that we've played, but there will be that little bit of motivation for him as well because of his past."

Luton Town’s captain Tom Lockyer was on 5 Live Sport’s Monday Night Club and spoke about his cardiac arrest during the game at Bournemouth back in December – and how life has been since.

Here is how he responded to some of the questions:

Do you get fed up of being asked how are you or do you welcome it?

Throughout this time, It’s not been easy but it’s been easier than people think. Everyone thinks I’ve been down in the dumps, it’s been a lot easier than people make out. To be able to be at games, in here and to show people that I’m doing well puts a lot of people’s minds at ease. The opinions of where I’ve been mentally and physically are far of the reality.

Do you think about it often?

I don’t think about it. The only thing is waiting on test results because of the situation, I can’t play sport and for someone who lives and breathes sport that has been the hardest bit about it, that’s the only time I think this is limiting me. I can go out for a walk and play golf so it has become my best friend.

After what happened I had a ICD fitted so it’s like a defibrillator in my chest so technically I’m safer now than ever before despite the episode. It’s there, just in case and you hope you never have to use it, it’s there just in case.

I was joking earlier and saying I’m invincible as when I’m 85 and I die of old age, it will just shock me back to life so I’m going to live forever.

Have you and Christian Eriksen, Daley Blind and Charlie Wyke - who all suffered similar incidents - spoken?

I’ve spoken to all three. They have been fantastic. Touch-wood this never happens again but if it does, I will go speak to them.

Everyone has just told me to take my time. That was the common message. Don’t focus on football, focus on yourself. The only thing that matters is your opinion, your family and the specialist opinions.

Credit to Luton and Rob Edwards who have said the same.

Listen to the full episode of the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer has been speaking about the "incredible" support that his manager Rob Edwards and the rest of the club have shown him in his recovery.

The defender suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Bournemouth in December and the team have been taking his shirt to matches. He said he hoped "it gave the lads a lift after what happened".

Speaking about his manager on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Lockyer said: "He's an incredible human being, that's why the players want to run through brick walls for him. He's a family-first type of man and everyone can buy into that."

Listen to the whole episode of the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Ollie Kay
Fan writer

Yes, we get it, mainstream media. We are the darlings of the Premier League. You like our 'scrappy' play. You love our 'dishevelled, League One standard' stadium. You are all behind us to stay up.

But, please, can you stop giving us this attention? Mainly because, right now, it’s just patronising. Instead, attention should be turned towards the standard of refereeing in the Premier League, with decisions sometimes seemingly favouring 'the big six'.

If we stay up, we will do it on merit, and without the new bandwagon-jumpers.

Against Manchester United, we showed that we are capable once again. However, it is always difficult to win a football game when the big decisions go against you.

We will continue to do what we do best, in spite of major calls not going our way and time not being added on when El Grande United are time wasting from the 15th minute.

The fact is we gave United a two-goal head start after 10 minutes and still could have realistically got a point out of it.

Everyone knows what we are about. Just keep quiet and let us crack on with it. We have work to do.

Onwards to Liverpool!

Ollie Kay can be found at We Are Luton Town, external

Here are the key facts and figures before Wednesday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Luton Town.

• Liverpool have never lost a home league game against Luton (P14 W8 D6), with this their first such meeting since a 2-1 Reds win in January 1992.

• Only four promoted teams have won their first Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield - Newcastle United (1993-94), Barnsley (1997-98), Watford (1999-00) and Blackpool (2010-11).

• Liverpool have lost just one of their past 54 league matches at Anfield (W41 D12), going down 2-1 to Leeds United in October 2022. They are unbeaten in 24 since that defeat (W19 D5).

• Luton are unbeaten in three away league games (W1 D2), picking up more points (five) and scoring more goals (eight) in this run than they managed in their first eight away Premier League matches before this (four points, W1 D1 L6, seven goals).

• Liverpool's substitutes have been directly involved in 20 goals in the Premier League this season, with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo each scoring and assisting from the bench last time out against Brentford. Indeed, 20 is the joint most the Reds have registered in a Premier League season, along with 2015-16.

• Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in 24 Premier League goals for Liverpool this season (15 goals, nine assists). Should he assist one more goal, he will become just the second player in the competition's history to register both 10 or more goals and assists in five different campaigns, after Wayne Rooney (five).

• Carlton Morris has scored in Luton's past two away league games, against Burnley and Newcastle. The player who most recently scored in three successive away Premier League appearances for a promoted side was Aleksandar Mitrovic for Fulham from October 2022 to January 2023.

We asked you for your thoughts on Sunday's Premier League match between Luton Town and Manchester United. Here are some of your comments...

Luton fans

Aj: I thought Luton fully deserved a draw with a wonderful fighting display after going 2-0 down. A big thank you to both teams for providing a wonderful game.

Nick: Luton really poor in first 10 minutes but dominated after that. Have to cut out the defensive errors. United should have been down to 10 or even nine players by half-time, but the usual standard of refereeing prevented Casemiro, Shaw or Maguire being red carded. Another decent performance, but need to get some points.

Sue: As a Luton Town season ticket-holder and fan for over 45 years I am so proud of that team - they gave it their all. The first goal was a stinker. We don’t make mistakes like that very often. We didn’t give up. What a game. Keep it up and the Town will stay up.

Man Utd fans

Peter: Another great result, ruined by a poor performance. Why do United's wins feel like a loss? Shaw is massively overrated. Defensively he’s a liability. We have no ball winners in central midfield, Garnacho's performance levels have dropped to average at best, Fernandes is still erratic with his decisions and passing, and we rarely win any tackles or even get close.

Martin: United will never compete with the big hitters in the Premier League or Europe until they learn to control possession. Rarely under Ten Hag do they boss games. Luton are a bottom three side. They've made it difficult at Kenilworth Road for most teams but bossed the game on Sunday. I'm a big United fan but they are a very difficult watch.

Andy: The usual lack of game management created disorganisation and rash challenges. Casemiro looked tired and unfit. Second half was improved with substitutions. But for good goalkeeping, United could have been out of sight. Tenacious Luton performance.

BBC Sport's Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on Monday.

Victoria Gaskin, Wirral: You said at the start of the season that Luton Town would be relegated. Do you stand by that prediction?

Phil: I don’t exactly stand by it any more, Victoria. Maybe I sort of lean on it. I have to confess I have been surprised, pleasantly, by just how good Luton Town have been this season.

I was at Kenilworth Road yesterday when they pushed another of the so-called elite, Manchester United, very close. They play with such energy and belief, as well as being backed by an amazing atmosphere. If they keep playing as they are then I wouldn’t rule them out for staying up.

There's more of McNulty's Q&A here