Liverpool put the pressure on Arsenal and Manchester City ahead of their weekend games with Newcastle and Bournemouth respectively by coming from behind to beat Luton. Jürgen Klopp lived every second on the touchline but his side did the business in the end.
Luis Díaz had two chances in behind — one of them a one-versus-one where the ball seemed to get stuck between the Colombian’s feet — but it was the visitor who went in front. Caoimhín Kelleher couldn’t keep out an initial near-post shot before Chiedozie Ogbene headed in at the far post.
Aside from that, there was not much in the way of quality on show at Anfield in the first half. Ryan Gravenberch and Harvey Elliott were among those to smash shots over the bar, while there were audible moans and groans at times when passes went astray. That was far too frequent for the Reds.
In the second half, things turned. In the stands, the volume was increased; on the field, the intensity was ramped up. Almost as soon as Virgil van Dijk had powered home an equalizer, Cody Gakpo had headed in a goal to make it 2-1.
Díaz, who never gave up, was able to finally get his 10th goal of the season with around 20 minutes to play, putting a bit of daylight between the Reds and Luton and Elliott netted a fourth near the end. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.
Luis Díaz keeps going when frustrated
Díaz was on nine goals in all competitions for Liverpool so far this season heading into the game but it looked like the winger was set to have a frustrating outing here. For a long time, while he got into some promising positions, he was unable to get the ball out of his feet on some occasions and struggled to find the final touch on others.
He wasn’t the only one, but while a big upturn was needed in the second period. Even then, it didn’t always look like that was coming but it did eventually. Andy Robertson, on for Conor Bradley, intercepted a pass, and the Colombian was away. Thomas Kaminski had thwarted him a few times but he finally found the back of the Luton net.
With Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez absent from the squad altogether, Liverpool had youngsters including Kaide Gordon and Jaydens Danns on the bench but nothing like its usual depth. It was captain Van Dijk who instigated things and Díaz who sealed the points.
Jürgen Klopp gets his wish
Klopp was visibly gesturing for a bit less of the audible frustration from the crowd and a bit more patience at least once in the first half, as well as giving an enthusiastic clap to encourage Gravenberch and Elliott, among others, whose shots had flown over the bar. The German got his wish in the second half as Anfield more than played its part.
