(Premier League 2023/2024): Highlights Liverpool - Luton Town

Jürgen Klopp has had to build them up again after a bruising day at Brentford at the weekend, and send them out for a midweek game against Luton Town, as they look to maintain their grip on top spot in the Premier League. One thing they will know come the end of tonight is they've been in another game, because Luton do not let you have a moment's peace. Liverpool have a cup final this weekend to deal with, but tonight it's all about the Premier League and the aim of picking up three more points. Klopp knew he was going to have to make changes with the injury sustained down at Brentford at the weekend, it was a resounding win for Liverpool, it was an excellent performance, but it came at a cost. This is the side he's selected tonight, two changes he's decided on in Gerrard Consant and Joe Gomez, but the enforced changes, Ryan Gravenberg, Harvey Elliott and Cody Gappo all coming in, Liverpool already know they are without the likes of Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, for the foreseeable future. And as a blow as well tonight, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, not involved at all. Luton Town are unchanged from the defeat against Manchester United at the weekend, they lost their top scorer Elijah Adebayo just before kick-off, Corley Woodrow forced to come in very late, Rob Edwards has been very complimentary about him in the build-up to this game. They've also without Jacob Brown, he's had a knee operation, and they join the likes of Tom Lockyer, who we all know about, and we continue to wish well, Mads Andersen and Marblis Nkamba, who are also on the sidelines. This is going to come to Elliott, it's going to go the other way, it's a lovely ball, it's out the pass, and Liverpool go again! And it's another big chance that Luis Diaz can't take. What a miss, great ball from Elliott, a bad touch, brings it inside, trying to... Got to hit the target anyway. That's Doughty, this is Woodrow, and that's Chong, that's beautifully done! And it's in, and that's the risk that Luton have. They scored four in their last away game in the Premier League at Newcastle, and they've taken the lead at Anfield. The first shot was too hot to handle for Kelleher, and it's his Irish team-mate, Girodzo Beni. Who knocks it in. They needed to get that goal, they didn't, and this is what can happen. It's well played, Chong whiffs it across, Kelleher can't get his feet together. And Beni steps up on the far post and knocks it in. It's a soft goal, really. Better defended, Kelleher just comes away from his near post, Beni nods it in on the far post, now you have to fight. McAllister, Elliott will try to get there, but again, that three-centre-back trio that Luton has does work so well. Liverpool will try and find a way through that well-drilled defence now. Gakpo to Luis Diaz, might need a bit of magic. And he snapped it early towards goal, it's comfortable for Kaminsky. Even in them situations, Luton players, they stay tight, Diaz is not having an easy shot. McAllister, here's Luis Diaz. There's a big gap to run into for Diaz, and he takes the opportunity. Gakpo for Endo, that's nice, to step away from Woodrow. And a little scoop for Luis Diaz! But it was lovely in its making, and he just couldn't quite supply the finish. Just could not get his foot to it. Great by Endo, centre the park, and it was great the vision that he shows. Great little chip over the top, Diaz just cannot get there. Agonisingly wide, he gets a touch with his left foot, can't get enough on it. Here's Chong, the touch wasn't great. Being better, could have released Carlton-Morris, that's McAllister. That's Gakpo, it's a beautiful touch. Grant Gravenberg can't quite take it in, and he's tried, he can now. And Kaminsky makes a regulation save. He's made a few of them, hasn't he? This one's straight out on by Gravenberg. Now Elliott, couldn't thread that through for Cody Gakpo. Gravenberg does well, this is Luis Diaz. Well, it was a wobbler and a shaker, and he wanted it to dip, but it wouldn't. Everything at the moment, scoring Liverpool, breaks to Diaz, one thing in mind, hit it. Dips, but not quickly enough. Frustration will grow, although it must be said the crowd are staying firmly behind their team. Van Dijk's leaked, that's Gomez, that's a Liverpool throw. Luton thought they were hard done by there, as Carlton-Morris went down. Endo, Luis Diaz, it's a lovely take. Harvey Elliott, his shift but again never really set. Conor Bradley has made a magnificent... This is the only time he's got in in the game, Bradley. He's on that right-hand side, rolling into him, he doesn't see him. Endo, lovely ball, Bradley rides one challenge, looking now for support. He's found support, Luis Diaz! What a block that is by Mendy. Absolutely brilliant from the former Manchester United man. Liverpool come again, it's Gomez, it's Luis Diaz. They're appealing for handball. Need a break, yes, hit his hand, that could be goalward bound. His hand is behind him, but it's hit it. Now Endo. Liverpool will feel if they get one, they could get a few. Bradley, who's cut out by Bale, and they manage to get the second ball away. Liverpool playing like a team, in a hurry. It's still trying to find a way through, Chong, he's lost it to Gat- And that's a good stop from Kaminsky. Keeps pressure on, don't let up. Is there redemption in this game for the Reds? Is there a platform for Liverpool to win it? Maybe there is! Cody Gatpoe, that's a foul. And he goes on, enough of a challenge, oh, Bradley. What a save, that is from the goalkeeper via deflection. The keeper gets so lucky, he just sticks his left leg out, it's deflected from Bradley, deflection, sticks his left leg out, catches it right in the meat. Fresh legs, more in a defensive-minded situation right now. McAllister! Oh! You go asleep in this Premier League, they will hit you. Luton have gone asleep for the first time in this match. Quick throw-in, quick cross, goal. The Liverpool lead has been offside, the keeper with another save with his feet. Here they come again, McAllister... Oh, dang! What a save again, Minsky. With a brilliant stop with his right hand, and because there's a head injury inside the penalty area the play will be stopped. The reaction of the Liverpool players is one of, hmm... But you did see it was a thermal hit that he took. Keeper does great again, he's made some saves tonight, Minsky. Well, he could look behind, he'd have seen himself on the telly. But a Dutch great looking on, oh, here's Luis Diaz. Still Luis Diaz, and that's his man, but finally he makes it count, he puts Liverpool into a clear lead in the game. They've got breathing space, they might have three points as well. Brilliant, and his dad is absolutely delighted as well. He's missed a few chances but he's kept going, he's kept getting in there. He comes up, trumps this time. Oh, great finish, isn't it? Faints to hit it across to Keeper, and then just rolls in as near post. Here's Elliott, and Luis Diaz, said he might get two, and would have done but for Kaminsky, in fact he probably would have had four or five. But for Kaminsky, here he is again, Robertson. Yeah, another good save by Kaminsky, this time low down to his right. Luis Diaz again. Said he'd probably get a couple, didn't he? Yeah, good save, that one. Risky, Barkley's lost it, that's Endo, this is Cody Gagpoel. And he just couldn't control it in the end. Gagpoel could have knocked it in, could have all gone home, great closing down the midfield again, Endo this time, Barkley, one touch too many, Endo's on top. Straight away, good ball through, should hit the target from there. Got it all wrong, completely wrong. But they've dug deep, and they're looking for another goal. Dan's would have been in had Robertson been able to thread it through. Here is Jadon Dan's, it's a lovely turn, Gagpoel for four. It might be one for Eliot! That's sealed in style by Liverpool. On a night they needed a big performance, they have found one. Harvey Eliot makes it four. It's Young guns to the fourth for Liverpool, on a night without so many big stars. It's a big, big win. Robert wins the ball here at midfield, gets whacked on the Achilles more or less, Dan plays a lovely little ball round the corner, he's onside Gagpoel. Great block again by the defender, what a pick-out by Eliot, top corner. No better way to mark your 100th appearance for Liverpool than with a goal, and that's exactly what Eliot's done there, very stylishly. Well, it was a night where Liverpool needed their mentality once again. And the monsters were back at it with the most exhilarating of second-half performances from Jurgen Klopp's side. A special comeback from Liverpool, led by their captain Virgil van Dijk, and once they got one, they were simply not to be stopped. It was purely perfection from Liverpool in that second period. Luis Diaz got himself a goal as well in the first half, tried so many times, and the other, Cody Gagpoel, with a close-range header to put them in front. It's all smiles for Jurgen Klopp, and for debutant Jadon Dans, and a night where Liverpool can enjoy their night, because my, oh, my, they earned it. Liverpool 4-1 Luton.