Luton Town

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

Luton Town ran another of the Premier League’s elite close but could not quite recover from early self-inflicted wounds against Manchester United.

The Hatters have lost very narrowly to Arsenal and Manchester City at Kenilworth Road this season while Liverpool could only draw – evidence of the atmosphere and the effort of Rob Edwards’ team and how this unity is a galvanising force.

Once again, there was so much to admire but Luton were facing an uphill struggle from the moment Amari’I Bell gifted Rasmus Hojlund an opener after 37 seconds, the £72m Dane adding a second seven minutes later.

Carlton Morris’s 14th minute header gave them hope and Luton Town gave Manchester United some real moments of stress before going down 2-1.

There was still, however, plenty on show to give Edwards and Luton encouragement that they can still survive in the Premier League, showing great character and resilience despite those two early blows and the loss of influential Elijah Adebayo to injury in the warm-up.

Luton face another mammoth task against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday. They will be huge underdogs for that one but there is still plenty of hope when a prognosis is given on their longer-term hopes of staying in the top flight.

Mark Chapman introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League matches.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

Sheffield United v Brighton

Luton v Man Utd

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town ran another of the Premier League’s elite close but could not quite recover from an early self-inflicted wounds against Manchester United.

The Hatters have lost very narrowly to Arsenal and Manchester City at Kenilworth Road this season while Liverpool could only draw – evidence of the atmosphere and the effort of Rob Edwards’ team and how this unity is a galvanising force.

Once again, there was so much to admire but Luton were facing an uphill struggle from the moment Amari’I Bell gifted Rasmus Hojlund an opener after 37 seconds, the £72m Dane adding a second seven minutes later.

Carlton Morris’s 14th minute header gave them hope and Luton Town gave Manchester United some real moments of stress before going down 2-1.

There was still, however, plenty on show to give Edwards and Luton encouragement that they can still survive in the Premier League, showing great character and resilience despite those two early blows and the loss of influential Elijah Adebayo to injury in the warm-up.

Luton face another mammoth task against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday. They will be huge underdogs for that one but there is still plenty of hope when a prognosis is given on their longer-term hopes of staying in the top flight.

Rob Edwards, spoke to Sky Sports after Luton's defeat to Manchester United: "We can't give Man United a two goal lead like that. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb. Ultimately, 2-0 against a team like that is really difficult. No excuses. We play that way, we take the risk. We are going to make mistakes but it cost us today.

"It was a commitment to the gameplan, it didn't collapse. We had a lot of control but we were vulnerable to the counter attack. I was really pleased with how the players responded. We looked like a good team."

"We've lost the last two but we got points in the previous one. We're playing well, we're performing well. No one can argue against now. It doesn't get any easier now. We need to recover quickly and then we go away to Liverpool."

• Luton have scored at least once in each of their past 12 games in the Premier League – the longest run by a promoted team since Burnley between December 2016 and March 2017 (also 12). Indeed, among current Premier League sides, only Tottenham (37) are on a longer active scoring run.

• Only Manchester City and Arsenal (both 8) have won more Premier League away games than Manchester United (7) this season, with the Red Devils winning all three they’ve played on the road in 2024.

• Luton’s Carlton Morris has either scored or assisted in each of his past five appearances in the Premier League (four goals, two assists) – only Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka (x2), and Rasmus Hojlund have had longer runs this season (all six games).

• Rasmus Højlund scored Manchester United's earliest ever Premier League away goal (37 seconds), as well as giving them their fastest ever 2-0 lead in an away Premier League game (7th minute).

• Aged 21 years and 14 days, Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund became the youngest player ever to score in six successive Premier League appearances, surpassing Joe Willock's record (21y 272d).

Manchester United earned a vital win in their fight for European qualification thanks to Rasmus Hojlund's double in a fast start at Luton Town.

Hojlund steered the visitors ahead after only 37 seconds, doubling the lead six minutes later when he deflected in Alejandro Garnacho's shot.

Luton quickly improved and pulled a goal back through Carlton Morris' close-range header before dominating.

Ross Barkley's header hit the bar but United won to consolidate sixth place.

Erik ten Hag's side had chances to score a third goal as space opened up behind the Luton defence, but Garnacho wasted their best opportunity while Hatters keeper Thomas Kaminski produced a string of fine saves.

Luton remain fourth from bottom, one point above the relegation zone, after their second consecutive defeat.

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