Liverpool will host Luton Town at Anfield on Wednesday, looking to continue their title charge with a win in front of their fans.
Liverpool, who face Luton Town this midweek, are currently on top of the league table, but Manchester City and Arsenal are breathing down their necks. They cannot afford to drop points at this stage of the season, and this is a must-win contest for them.
Meanwhile, Luton Town are 18th in the league table, and they are going through a disappointing run of form. They need to grind out points to ensure their status in the top flight next season. It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back strongly and pull off an upset here.
The last time these two sides met in the league in November, Luton Town picked up a 1-1 draw at home. However, they will be the underdogs at Anfield this week. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Liverpool have a number of injury problems heading into this contest, and they could be without several first-team stars. Jurgen Klopp will hope these issues do not derail their hopes of winning multiple trophies this season.
Diogo Jota picked up a knee injury against Brentford, and he will be sidelined for several weeks. Joel Matip and Stefan Bajcetic might not play again this season. Thiago Alcantara is also a major doubt to feature again this term.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold are recovering from their respective injuries. Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez, and Alisson Becker are expected to miss out as well. Liverpool are likely to shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal.
Conor Bradley and Andrew Robertson will start as the full-backs. The two players will look to help out defensively and join the attack from time to time. Ibrahima Konate will start alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence.
Wataru Endo will start as the defensive midfielder, and he will look to protect the backline and break up opposition attacks. Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch will add creativity and control to the side. In the absence of Nunez, Cody Gakpo is expected to lead the line for Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz in the wide areas.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
Luton
The visitors will be without Marvelous Nakamba (knee), Tom Lockyer (heart), and Mads Andersen (calf) because of their respective issues. In addition, Elijah Adebayo should miss out after picking up a hamstring injury this past weekend against Manchester United.
Luton Town are expected to shape up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Liverpool, with Thomas Kaminski in goal. In the back three, Teden Mengi will start alongside Gabriel Osho and Amari’i Bell.
Chiedozie Ogbene and Alfie Doughty will start as the wing-backs. They will look to protect the central defence and nullify the wide threat from Liverpool. Albert Sambi Lokonga will start in middle of the park along with the Ross Barkley. They will look to add drive and defensive cover to the side.
Andros Townsend and Jordan Clark will be deployed in the attacking midfield roles, and they will look to link the midfield with the attack and create goal scoring opportunities in the final this. Carlton Morris is in impressive form and he will lead the line for Luton.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kaminsi; Mengi, Osho, Bell; Ogbene, Barkley, Lokonga, Doughty; Clark, Townsend; Morris
Key Stats
- Liverpool have never lost a home league game against Luton Town.
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last 54 Premier League games at Anfield (W41 D12).
- Liverpool have scored at least three goals in five of their last six matches in the Premier League.
- 17 goals have been scored in the last four meetings between these two teams.
- Luton have conceded nine goals in the last three matches across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian international has been the best attacker in the Premier League this season, and he will look to continue in his rich vein of form. He returned from his injury lay off against Brentford and managed to get on the scoresheet and pick up an assist as well.
Liverpool will need him to step up in the final third and make a defining impact once again. The 31-year-old attacker has 19 goals and ten assists across all competitions, and he will be eager to add to that tally in the coming months to guide the Reds to multiple trophies.
Prediction
Liverpool 2-0 Luton Town
Despite a number of injury problems, Liverpool are the better team here, and they should be able to grind out all three points. The fans will be expecting a comprehensive victory to boost the spirits ahead of the Carabao Cup final at the weekend.
Liverpool have enough depth and quality in their side to emerge victorious against Luton Town. While the Hatters will take the game to their hosts, The Hard Tackle predicts Jurgen Klopp and his charges to eke out a hard-fought 2-0 win this midweek.
