Match Report: Reds Roar Past Hatters - Liverpool 4 - 1 Luton Town

It took Liverpool a half to break down the Luton Town defence, but once they did the goals kept coming. The Reds banged home 4 goals in the final 45 minutes to run away from a game Hatters' side to win 4-1. The victory also puts Liverpool 4 points clear at the top of the Premier League Table.

First Half

Liverpool earned a pair of corners in the opening moments, but those chances were cleared. Luis Díaz put a shot wide in the 4th minute. Cody Gakpo tried a bicycle kick in the 10th minute, but the shot went straight to the keeper.

Luton took advantage of their first chance in the 12th minute as Chiedozie Ogbene headed home a deflected ball to give the Hatters a 1-0 lead. Liverpool kept the pressure on continuously in the attacking third, but they could not find the back of the net.

Díaz put another shot on frame near the half-hour mark and then guided a toe poke just wide. Another shot was high after a Luton giveaway Harvey Elliott also put a shot high.  As a result, Liverpool was down 1-0 at the break.

Second Half

Elliott put a shot wide in the 50th minute and then the Hatters goalie secured a pair of big saves on a scramble in front of the net. Gakpo forced another save later in the match Virgil van Dijk headed home the resulting corner to tie the game at 1-1 in the 56th minute.

Just two minutes later, the Reds took the lead. After a quick throw-in, Alexis Mac Allister kicked the ball to the waiting head of Gakpo who nodded the ball home for a 2-1 lead. Van Dijk nearly duplicated his goal in the 61st minute, but Luton made a big save.

Liverpool scored an important insurance goal in the 71st minute thanks to a spectacular individual effort from Díaz who expelled the demons from his near misses with a fierce strike to put Liverpool on top 3-1. To their credit, Luton kept pushing to get back in the game, earning a trio of corners late, but it was Elliott who delivered the final blow, scoring in the 90th minute to account for the 4-1 final.

Seeing Double

When Luis Díaz scored in the 71st minute to put Liverpool up 3-1, it was his 10th goal of the season. That means that so far, 5 Liverpool players have scored at least 10 goals during this campaign: Luis Díaz, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez, and Diogo Jota. It is just the second time in the last eight seasons that five players have scored double figures in goals scored.

Harvey Has A Day

Harvey Elliot made his 100th appearance for Liverpool when he was named to the Starting XI. He is the 4th youngest player in club history to reach the century mark in appearances at 20 years old, 323 days and he celebrated with a goal.

Dominating The Stats

Even though they were tailing at the half Liverpool were still dominating the stats and they continued to do so throughout the match. By the time the referee blew his final whistle, Liverpool had outshot Luton 29-12 (13-3 on goal), 13-4 corner kicks and the Reds held over 60 per cent of the possession.

LFC Globe Verdict

I said in my match preview this was going to be a tough game for Liverpool, and it was. The final score is not indicative of how tightly contested the match really was. Liverpool scored goals in about 90 seconds near the hour mark to completely flip the script. Now the team can turn their full attention to lifting the Carabao Cup at Wembley on February 25th.

Man Of The Match 

While Conor Bradley got a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd when he came off, my Man Of The Match is Luis Díaz. He was the focal point of Liverpool's attack in the first half, unleashing 6 shots on his own. He got his goal in the 71st minute to put the game away.

What's Next 

Liverpool face Chelsea at historic Wembley Stadium on Sunday, February 25th at 15:00 GMT in the Carabao Cup Final.

Goals

Liverpool

1. Virgil van Dijk 56'
2. Cody Gapo 58'
3. Luis Diaz 71'
4. Harvey Elliott 90'

Luton

1. Chiedozie Ogbene 12'

Substitutes

Liverpool 

1. Andy Robertson for Conor Bradley 68'
2. Bobby Clark for Ryan Gravenberch 78'
3. James McConnell for Alexis Mac Allister 89'
4. Jayden Danns for Luis Diaz 89'

Luton

1. Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu for Albert Lokonga HT'
2. Andros Townsend for Cauley Woodrow 58'
3. Jordan Clark for Tahith Chong 63'
4. Issa Kabore for Alfie Doughty 74'