Liverpool-Luton Town is a match valid for the 26th day of the Premier League and is played on Wednesday at 8:30pm: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
Liverpool is certain to keep the top of the standings at least until next weekend: in case Manchester City beats Brentford in the rematch – Pep Guardiola’s team will take the field twenty-four hours earlier – it would not overtake the Reds, who currently have a two-point lead over Arsenal and four over the defending champions (who, precisely, have one game less).
The match with Luton Town is actually not a recovery but an advance. On Sunday, in fact, Liverpool will take on Chelsea in the League Cup final, scheduled at Wembley. Jurgen Klopp, however, wants no distractions. The league, now, must be the priority, and it will be crucial for Salah and his teammates to keep a minimum lead ahead of the direct clash with the Cityzens next March 10. Only after the match with the Hatters will attention begin to focus on the League Cup. The Reds are chasing their third consecutive success after those with Burnley (3-1) and Brentford (1-4), the best way to file away and forget the ugly February 4 defeat at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal.
Last Saturday, Liverpool managed to dispatch the Bees practice with great ease despite three starters having to leave due to injury after the first half (Jones, Nunez and Jota). On the other hand, the German coach enjoyed the return to goal of captain Salah, who was once again available after the physical problems that had forced him to leave his Egypt side in the African Cup of Nations.
Luton Town won’t let up
For Luton Town it is another commitment on paper prohibitive after the one with Manchester United last Sunday, which was decided by a double from Atalanta’s Hojlund (1-2).
The Hatters ended up discounting the poor start (two goals conceded after the first 7 minutes), but the one with the Red Devils is all in all a more justifiable knockout than the one they suffered seven days earlier with bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, which was able to surprise violate the Kenilworth Road stadium (1-3). At the time of writing, we still do not know whether Luton has plunged back into the relegation zone: the advantage over third-last-place Everton (before the Toffees’ match with Palace) is only one point. Coach Rob Edwards hopes to be able to count on starting striker Adebayo, who was absent against Manchester United, but his recovery is by no means a foregone conclusion.
The Prediction
For 24 games Liverpool has not known defeat in Premier League home challenges. This is enough to give confidence to the Reds, who will not miss this opportunity. Newly promoted Luton, orphaned of its most prolific player, could run out of goals.
Liverpool-Luton Town
likely lineups.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.
LUTON TOWN (3-4-2-1): Kaminski; Bell, Osho, Mengi; Ogbene, Barkley, Lokonga, Doughty; Townsend, Chong; Morris.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-0
