Luton Town boss Rob Edwards paid tribute to Liverpool’s ‘incredible’ pressing and their ‘speed and intensity’ as Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League leaders came from behind to win 4-1 on the night.
Six weeks ago, Liverpool found themselves 1-0 down at home and facing a shock defeat, Willian giving Fulham the lead in the EFL Cup semi-final. That was until the Reds struck twice in the space of three second-half minutes, turning the game around in the blink of an eye.
Luton Town supporters would have known how those Fulham fans were feeling when Liverpool repeated the trick on Wednesday night. Virgil van Dijk cancelled out Chiedozie Ogbene’s shock opener and, less than 120 seconds later, Cody Gakpo diverted in to give Liverpool the lead in double-quick time.
Liverpool bounce back to beat Luton Town
“We just made them angry,” sighs Edwards, his Luton team threatening to bloody the nose of another Premier League giant before settling for a valiant defeat.
“Second-half, that full-throttle football, the counter-pressing was incredible. The fans were amazing. It was like they had their best team out there with the speed and the intensity they played at.”
Liverpool were without a host of first-team stars at home to The Hatters. There was no Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez or Diogo Jota. It is testament to strength in depth at Klopp’s disposal, however, that he could rely on the talents of Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Conor Bradley and co to step up in their absence.
Luiz Diaz and Harvey Elliott – the latter making his 100th Liverpool appearance – sealed the win late on.
Jurgen Klopp’s side four points clear at the top
“We were very, very good. (But) they were better. We experienced what elite looks like,” Edwards adds. “Their real threat came from their counter-press and their intensity.
“I thought they were brilliant, second-half.”
Liverpool are now four points clear of Manchester City and five ahead of Arsenal. Albeit both clubs have a game in hand.
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