Injury-hit Liverpool produce ‘fireworks’ to blow away Luton Town

LONDON – Jurgen Klopp said his injury-ravaged Liverpool produced “fireworks” to come from a goal down to beat Luton Town 4-1 and open up a four-point lead at the top of the English Premier League on Feb 21.

Chiedozie Ogbene had given the Hatters a shock first-half lead at Anfield against a Reds side missing Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, among others.

But Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo turned the game on its head in two minutes just before the hour mark before Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott secured the win.

Victory takes Klopp’s men four points clear of Manchester City and five ahead of third-placed Arsenal, but having played a game more than both their title rivals.

“How the stadium and team together changed that game is exceptional,” said Klopp.

“We just have to be calmer in the decisive moments. Once we became calmer there were fireworks. My word, they were fantastic goals. It is a fantastic night.”

Liverpool’s squad were already stretched by injuries through the loss of Curtis Jones, Jota and Nunez in the first half of the 4-1 win at Brentford on Feb 17.

Salah scored on his return from a hamstring injury at the weekend, but was forced on as a substitute earlier than planned and suffered a setback that kept him out.

Klopp was also without Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara due to injury.

The Reds were forced to work harder for the three points, just days before the League Cup final against Chelsea on Feb 25.

Thankfully, Salah and Nunez could be fit in time to feature at Wembley.

“We have to see, but I said it before the game, as long as we have 11 players we will go for it,” added Klopp.

All of Liverpool’s chances before the break fell to Diaz, but the Colombian was wasteful with his six shots on goal.

Klopp was whipping up the Anfield crowd at every opportunity and his side finally opened the floodgates on 56 minutes, when van Dijk shrugged off his marker to power in Alexis Mac Allister’s corner.

Mac Allister was the creator again seconds later, as Conor Bradley’s throw-in picked out the Argentinian midfielder and his cross was headed in by Gakpo.

And Klopp could finally relax 19 minutes from time when Diaz kept his composure to slot home his sixth league goal of the season.

Elliott then rounded off the scoring by blasting a loose ball into the top corner.

Defeat leaves Luton in the relegation zone on goal difference.

“In the second half their counter-pressing was incredible, we experienced that full-throttle football,” said Luton boss Rob Edwards.
AFP, REUTERS