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

Jacob -

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

First Half

's Irish midfielder #07 Chiedozie Ogbene celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English football match between Liverpool and Luton Town at in Liverpool, north west England on February 21, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

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

Liverpool's Dutch defender #04 celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Luton Town at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 21, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

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 the game at 1-1 in the 56th minute.

Just two minutes later, the Reds took the lead. After a quick throw-in, 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

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Luis Diaz of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Luton Town at Anfield on February 21, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

When 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, , , , and . 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

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: of Liverpool scores his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Luton Town at Anfield on February 21, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Thomas Kaminski of Luton Town looks dejected after Harvey Elliott of Liverpool (not pictured) scored his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Luton Town at Anfield on February 21, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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 at Wembley on February 25th.

Man Of The Match 

While 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 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. for Conor Bradley 68'
  2. for 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'