Liverpool host Luton in a giant recreation for each on Wednesday evening, with the Reds seeking to make it seven wins from their final eight Premier League outings.
Liverpool vs. Luton
Premier League (26) | Anfield
February 21, 2024 | 7.30pm (GMT)
The Reds had been on prime kind on the weekend, profitable 4-1 away to Brentford, and Man City‘s 1-1 draw with Chelsea acted as an added bonus later within the day.
Subsequent up is the midweek go to of relegation-threatened Luton, as Jurgen Klopp‘s males purpose to enter the Carabao Cup closing filled with confidence.
Right here’s all it’s worthwhile to know forward of the sport.
1. A must-win earlier than Carabao Cup closing
That is one the place three factors are completely important.
Luton head to Anfield hovering simply above the relegation locations – they’d be comfortably within the drop zone with out Everton‘s 10-point deduction – and so they might be weary after giving their all in defeat to Man United.
The Arsenal loss apart, Liverpool are flying in the mean time, profitable six of their final seven league video games, and so they must win right here to maintain scoreboard strain on Metropolis and the Gunners.
With the Carabao Cup closing taking priority on Sunday, the Reds’ title rivals will doubtless make floor, so something aside from a victory over the Hatters would really feel disastrous.
2. Luton placing up a powerful struggle
There was arguably a snobbery surrounding Luton early within the season that noticed some questioning if they may get the worst factors tally within the Premier League historical past.
Their direct model of soccer wasn’t appreciated and it seemed as if they didn’t have sufficient high quality to compete.
Rob Edwards’ facet have finished admirably thus far, nevertheless, together with a draw at house to Liverpool, who wanted a stoppage-time equaliser from Luis Diaz to avoid wasting their blushes.
Luton additionally took Arsenal to the dying seconds, earlier than dropping in merciless vogue, and Kenilworth Street is a clumsy place to go to, standing them in good stead for the remainder of the season.
The Hatters should still go down, however they’ve proven an enormous quantity of combating spirit and Liverpool know they will’t be taken frivolously on Wednesday.
3. Who’s out for Liverpool?
The accidents simply carry on coming for Liverpool – Klopp should really really feel cursed at this level.
Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota, two of the Reds’ most in-form gamers, are each now out after going off at Brentford with points, with the latter anticipated to be unavailable for “months,” according to Klopp.
Darwin Nunez was additionally changed at half-time in that recreation although might be accessible towards Luton, however the likes of Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai are nonetheless out.
Joel Matip, Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak are all absent, too.
4. Predicted Liverpool XI
Klopp is certain to have one eye on the Carabao Cup closing assembly with Chelsea, however the league ought to nonetheless be seen because the precedence in the mean time.
Just a few modifications are to be anticipated, nevertheless, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Jarell Quansah are available for Ibrahima Konate on the again.
Joe Gomez might additionally begin at left-back over Andy Robertson, making certain Klopp doesn’t overplay the Scot after his prolonged damage absence.
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch is the favorite to switch Jones, following a superb cameo at Brentford, whereas warning over Nunez and Mo Salah might immediate modifications in assault.
Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott would doubtless are available alongside Diaz if required.
Attainable Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Elliott, Diaz, Gakpo
5. Gamers to observe for Luton
Luton arrived within the Premier League with a workforce filled with relative unknowns, with all due respect, however two veteran English gamers stand out as their large names.
Each Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend arrived on free transfers, and so they have finished properly general, significantly the previous.
Barkley has been deployed as extra of a deep-lying midfielder this season – and his kind has even led to requires the England call-up forward of Euro 2024.
The previous Everton man might be additional motivated to trigger an upset at Anfield!
One other participant to observe on Wednesday is old-school striker Carlton Morris, who scored towards United on Sunday and has netted seven instances within the league in 2023/24 thus far.
High scorer Elijah Adebayo is out with a hamstring damage, although.
6. Klopp’s press convention
Chatting with the media on Tuesday, Klopp talked up Gakpo’s qualities, forward of a interval that might see him function lots:
“The numbers are 100% alright, and even higher. Cody had a little bit of a wrestle within the season, it was my fault. Can Cody play within the midfield, sure, he can. Is it his place, no.
“With the defensive issues which he was not used to, it price him confidence and you can see that in moments.
[…]
“He’s all the time a menace, has a superb end. Good dribbler and may preserve the ball for us. Plenty of tremendous issues we are able to use.”
This looks like a key spell for Gakpo within the absence of Jota, with sure sections of the fanbase nonetheless not totally satisfied about his all-round impression.
The Dutchman does have 10 targets to his title this season, nevertheless, and that tally wants to extend within the coming weeks.
7. Luton out to finish Anfield hoodoo
Anfield has been a troublesome place to go to for many sides all through historical past, however Luton‘s document there makes for significantly grim studying.
The truth is, the Hatters have by no means tasted victory there of their whole historical past, with Wednesday’s recreation their nineteenth journey to Liverpool’s well-known floor.
Eleven of their earlier visits have led to defeat, with the opposite seven being attracts.
The newest conflict was a 5-0 win for the Reds in an FA Cup third-round replay in 2008, with Steven Gerrard scoring a hat-trick.
8. Do you know?
If he options vs. Luton, Elliott will make his a hundredth look for Liverpool in all competitions.
In doing so, he would grow to be the fourth-youngest participant in Liverpool historical past to achieve the landmark on the age of 20 years, 323 days.
The one gamers to be youthful had been Michael Owen (19 years, 363 days), Raheem Sterling (20 years, six days) and Robbie Fowler (20 years, 167 days).
Fowler went on to make 369 appearances for the membership, with Owen on 297 and Sterling on 129.
Elliott would be the 234th participant to function 100 or extra instances for Liverpool, with Fowler thirty sixth and Owen sixty fourth within the all-time record.
9. Andy Madley beneath the highlight
Andy Madley will referee Wednesday’s recreation.
Funnily sufficient, the 40-year-old took cost of the corresponding fixture at Kenilworth Street again in November.
This would be the fourth time Madley has overseen a Liverpool recreation this season, with the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace and 4-0 triumph at Bournemouth officiated by him as properly.
Simon Hooper is on VAR responsibility which, whereas not splendid, does as least imply he’s not the referee!
10. Observe the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Luton isn’t stay on UK tv, as a consequence of TNT Sports activities’ Champions League deal not permitting home motion to be proven.
As a substitute, be part of us on TIA’s matchday stay weblog for minute-by-minute replace from Sam Millne, as he appears to conserving you entertained all through the night from 6.45pm (UK).
Come on you Reds!
