Liverpool vs Luton Town tips and predictions: Goals still in good supply for short-handed Reds
Liverpool's Mo Salah
Liverpool will be looking to apply the pressure in the title fight as they play their game week 26 fixtures against Luton Town at Anfield on Wednesday
The Reds top the table with a two-point lead over Arsenal and a four-point gap to Man City, who may have cut that gap to one by the time this fixture rolls around.
Visitors Luton made the worst possible start on Super Sunday as a Rasmus Hojlund brace condemned them to a 2-0 deficit inside six minutes.
Rob Edwards’ side simply aren’t for folding though, and the plucky Hatters hit back soon after and created their share of opportunities in a 2-1 loss.
It added to their incredible record of close-run games at Kenilworth Road and surprisingly, their form on the road is almost as good.
Town are unbeaten in five matches and seven of their last 10. Brighton, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford are the only sides to beat them by two clear goals.
Liverpool didn’t beat them in the reverse fixture, but we have to think that a fifth decisive loss could be added to their record here.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have won their last five matches at home and nine of 11 overall. They’ve scored 17 times in five outings and average three goals per game through their last 10.
Their record against sides promoted in the previous three seasons is quite incredible. The Reds have won all 16 meetings with these teams across all competitions.
The most infamous of those results was their 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth, but they’ve also put at least three past Brentford, Burnley, Fulham, Forest and Norwich.
In total, Liverpool have won these 16 matches by an aggregate score of 50-12, keeping eight clean sheets in the process.
Their current injury crisis makes it much more likely that Luton can find the net and pose them problems, but they won't be able to keep the Reds out, so goals are the way to go.
Team news
Liverpool’s growing injury list features Alisson Becker, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Domnik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Darwin Nunez.
Connor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Cody Gakpo and Ibrahima Konate can expect to see increased playing time.
Luton Town remain without club captain Tom Lockyer, Mads Andersen and Marvelous Nakamba.
Top scorer Elijah Adebayo is a doubt after hurting his hamstring in the warm-up on Sunday while new-signing Daiki Hashioka isn’t ready to start just yet.
Key stats
- Liverpool have a perfect record against sides promoted in the past three seasons, winning 16 matches by an aggregate score of 50-12
- Liverpool are unbeaten in 24 Premier League home matches
- Luton Town are unbeaten in five away matches across all competitions
- Luton Town have lost six of seven meetings with top-six sides
