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Luton vs Liverpool live – score updates and analysis

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Liverpool are back in Premier League action today as they travel to play Luton Town in a 4.30pm kick off fixture at Kenilworth Road.

Jurgen Klopp’s men come into the clash in strong form, with four wins in all competitions. Bournemouth were most recently beaten in the Carabao Cup, which followed a hat-trick of home victories over Everton, Toulouse and Nottingham Forest.

We will be bringing you live match updates in our commentary stream, with the latest score and goals as they happen. Follow all the build-up and get confirmed team news too, with Paul Gorst and Ian Doyle in the press box for us today. The match is also live on Sky Sports.


The Reds will be without Andy Robertson (shoulder), Conor Bradley (back), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago (hip) for this afternoon’s game. It remains to be seen what the situation is with Curtis Jones – not pictured in training on Friday – and also Luis Diaz, given the ongoing situation with his father’s kidnapping in Colombia.

Elsewhere, Liverpool transfer target Andre Trinidade was successful in the Copa Libertadores final last night as his Fluminense side beat Boca Juniors 2-1 (aet) to be crowned champions of South America. All eyes will soon turn to the January window to see if Klopp swoops for the Brazilian midfielder.

Send your views in to @LivEchoLFC and subscribe to our free Liverpool FC newsletter, watch our YouTube channel and listen to our Blood Red Podcast – with all the ECHO regulars including Paul, Ian, Joe Rimmer, Sean Bradbury, Theo Squires, Tom Cavilla, Keifer MacDonald and more.


Rob Edwards Luton verdict

Speaking to BBC Sport, the Hatters boss said: “I’m really proud of the whole football club today. It was a big day for us against a big club. We showed a lot of quality in the game.

“I think so [their best 90-minute performance]. It shows you have to for 98 or 99 minutes to get something. I was pleased with our counter-attacking.

“We kept Liverpool thinking there’s something to think about here and the goal was the best example of that.

“The players have improved. There were elements of our game a team like this would have exposed.

“Belief. We’re going around things the right way. We have a lot of injuries. There are five players who could have started.

“I thought Ross was excellent, Andros too. A lot of the counter-attacking moments came from Ross. He is able to get away and find the space. The goal was the best example of that.”

Jurgen Klopp reaction

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Liverpool boss just said when asked about Luis Diaz: “A wonderful moment but it doesn’t change the situation. Most important thing is that his father gets released.

“It is wonderful he wanted to be here. That’s it, for us a super important goal and for him very important and emotional, but that’s it.”

More on Diaz: “He can always do that. When he is on the pitch he is always involved in special things.

“We knew he would be a threat, we didn’t know how long he would play because he only had a few sessions with the team but that is not the most important part today. He scored the goal but we need to see some improvement in Colombia.”

Jamie Carragher verdict

Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Liverpool man has just said: “It was a brilliant game.

“You think of the Premier League and a team the size of Liverpool, and everything Luton have been through and where they’ve come from.

“It was such a tightly contested game and it could have gone either way.

“Luton will be devastated – you always are when you concede a late goal. It’s about three points, but it would have done psychologically for them for the rest of the season.

“The way they set up and caused Liverpool problems, it bodes well between now and the end of the season.”

Full-time: Luton 1 – 1 Liverpool

Liverpool have somehow got away with a 1-1 draw thanks to that great Diaz header. What a moment.

Difficult to execute

Salah can’t bring down Alexander-Arnold’s ball over the top. Difficult to execute but he can normally do that.

Wouldn’t you know it

Well, wouldn’t you know it. A cross comes in from Elliott from the right and Diaz wants it far more than Kabore at the far post and scores a great header. Then reveals a message on his shirt that translates as “Free my dad”.

Diaz message

Diaz reveals a message for his father under his shirt in celebration of the goal. There’s about three minutes of added time left.

Diaz heads home

Diaz heads home Elliott’s cross. Liverpool are level and going for a winner.

GOAL 1-1 (Luis Diaz)

Liverpool are level in the 94th minute.

Eight minutes added on

Eight minutes added on at Kenilworth Road.

Guess it’s a question

Guess it’s a question of how much Liverpool want it now. Can they drag themselves back to get a point?

Konate wide

Konate with a header that just goes wide.

Diaz on

Luis Diaz is on for Ryan Gravenberch.

Forest all over again

Luton were always going to score a notable victory against a top team here this season. Looks like Liverpool are the ones. It’s Nottingham Forest all over again.

That has been coming

That has been coming because Liverpool have been so far off the pace today it has been untrue. Tahith Chong has given the hosts the lead from a counter-attack after they cleared a corner.

Goal given

Goal given. Luton lead through Chong and that might well be that for Liverpool.

Luton break from a Liverpool corner

Luton break from a Liverpool corner and Chong turns it in but the Liverpool players were calling for a penalty from the corner. Guessing it will be checked…

Goal 1-0 Luton (Tahith Chong)

The hosts break from a Liverpool corner and open the scoring.

Another good save from Kaminski

Another good save from Kaminski, this time to stop Gravenberch shot from range.

Important interception from Van Dijk

Important interception from Van Dijk to keep out Chong after he’s brought down a cross to the back post.

Klopp booked

Jurgen Klopp booked. Liverpool wanted a penalty but the referee was having none of it.

A shocker of a miss

That’s quite a shocker of a miss for Nunez that! Liverpool should be winning this but their No.9 has just planted one well over the bar from about four yards out. That has to be hitting the back of the net when the game is tight like this. Awful moment for the striker.

Kaminski denies Nunez

Nunez forces a good save from Kaminski after being released by Salah, who was offside really. Corner for Liverpool.

Nunez misses an absolute sitter

Nunez misses an absolute sitter from three yards after Salah heads down Alexander-Arnold cross. Sidefoots it well over.

Gets it all wrong

Gakpo tries an improvised volley from Elliott cross but gets it all wrong.

Triple Liverpool change

Three subs for Liverpool: Elliott, Tsimikas and Gakpo come on. Jota, Gomez and Szoboszlai off. Can the changes inspire this ordinary performance?

Massive save from Alisson

Huge chance for Morris but Liverpool survive. It’s a massive save from Alisson.

Sums this half up for Liverpool

Alexander-Arnold’s just pinged one over the bar from about 35 yards, at least. Sums this half up for Liverpool. They aren’t looking like breaking through any time soon.

An hour played

An hour played and Liverpool aren’t looking like making their break through any time soon. Still no sign of either Diaz or Gakpo.

Townsend off

Chong on for Townsend, who is now a Senior, for Luton.

Disappointing tragedy chanting

Disappointing tragedy chanting from plenty of Luton fans and not for the first time here today. Their backing for their team doesn’t need that.

Liverpool have been so poor

Klopp looks less than impressed on the touchline and who can blame him. Liverpool have been so poor here

Mac Allister booking

Mac Allister is booked after a loose touch from a short corner presents Townsend with the ball. He fouls him and is carded. He is now suspended for the Brentford game I think. That has summed up the Argentina international’s day so far. He’s been off the pace. He’s not alone there though.

Luton shot

A first shot on target for Luton as Alisson saves comfortably from Ogbene.

More intent

Liverpool have started with a bit more intent in the second half than how they ended the first.

Back underway

No changes for the Reds ahead of the second half. Gakpo and Diaz are in reserve, of course. Let’s see what this second period brings then…

Half-time verdict

That was a pretty awful first half from Liverpool in terms of overall quality.

Yes, Nunez and Jota have forced good saves from Kaminski but there hasn’t been a lot of joined-up thinking.

The midfield has largely been appalling and it’s rare Szobooszlai can have had such an ineffective 45 minutes.

Still, Alisson hasn’t had a shot to save, so the onus remains on Liverpool to break down the hosts.

It hasn’t made for particularly thrilling viewing thus far. It might be time for some changes soon if things don’t pick up.

Liverpool half-time ratings

Alisson Becker 6

Passed the ball out from the back a few times first half.

Trent Alexander-Arnold 6

Given some concerns by Ogbene and didn’t use ball consistently before break.

Ibrahima Konate 6

Allowed to almost run the full length of the field on one attack, but another troubled by Ogbene.

Virgil van Dijk 7

Calm and assured showing from the skipper, who sprayed passes to the wings confidently.

Joe Gomez 7

Decent defensively at left-back and offered himself going forward.

Alexis Mac Allister 4

Gave away possession cheaply too often first half and bypassed far too easily.

Dominik Szoboszlai 4

Well off the pace in the early stages and struggled to get going during the first half.

Ryan Gravenberch 5

A couple of good thrusting runs in the opening quarter but disappeared for periods.

Mohamed Salah 5

Frustrated himself with some loose touches and dribbles down dead ends before break.

Darwin Nunez 7

Liverpool’s most dangerous attacker, struck the crossbar early on and twice tested Kaminski from range.

Diogo Jota 6

Forced a decent stop from Kaminski but another who needed to be involved more first half.

Half time: Luton 0-0 Liverpool

A frustrating first half for the visitors. Far too many below their usual standard.

Ogbene causing problems

Ogbene has been causing problems all game down Liverpool’s right. Just won a foul after being sandwiched by Szoboszlai and Mac Allister, neither have had a good half here

Two minutes added on

Two minutes additional time.

Yellow card for Nakamba

Yellow card for Nakamba. Jumped into one on Mac Allister.

Barkley blasts over

Barkley blasts over from the edge of the area after Mac Allister attempts a backheeled clearance with inevitable results.

Mac Allister on the floor

Mac Allister on the floor after being caught in the eye by fingers of Barkley. “You are embarrassing” sing the Luton fans, which seems a bit harsh on Barkley

Kaminski save

As I typed that Gravenberch played in Jota but his effort went near post for Kaminski to get down and save. Surprised he didn’t try to whip it back into the far corner there the Liverpool striker. Good save from the keeper nonetheless.

Half an hour played

Half an hour played and Liverpool yet to create another real chance since Nunez hit the bar. It’s all being played in front of the Luton players and they are playing well to be fair to the hosts, fighting for everything.

Been a subdued start for Salah

Been a subdued start for Mo Salah. He’s not really been in the game a whole lot. Alfie Doughty is keeping close tabs on him on this left side of Luton’s team.

Doesn’t need to be so rushed

Liverpool could use a few minutes of quite possession at the moment. They look like they are playing at 100mph whenever they have the ball. Doesn’t need to be so rushed. Chances will eventually come.

Not a very good game

Midway through the first half and the game is going pretty much as expected. Luton running around a lot but losing possession a fair bit, and Liverpool looking to play on the break but too often running into a load of Luton players in central areas. Not a very good game so far.

Jota change

Looks like Jota has gone central and Nunez has moved off to the left.



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