Liverpool is crawling towards Wembley to complete the first leg of Jurgen Klopp’s farewell quadruple bid.
After trailing Luton for the second time this season, the injury-plagued Premier League leaders rallied for a convincing victory with to second-half goals from Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott.
Virgil van Dijk celebrates Liverpool’s equaliser.
Cody Gakpo gave Liverpool the lead.
Klopp’s side has already recovered 22 points from losing positions in 26 Premier League games this season, and they lead Manchester City by four points at the top.
Rob Edwards’ relegation-threatened side led for half of the game after Chiedozie Ogbene’s early goal.
However, Klopp’s skeleton crew managed to pull off another comeback to extend their lead in this thrilling three-horse title fight.
They turned a deficit into a lead in 125 seconds early in the second half.
Liverpool’s injury list reached double figures as Klopp refused to risk Darwin Nunez or Mo Salah ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final against Chelsea.
With so many senior players out, Van Dijk delivered a real captain’s performance, heading the equaliser, coming close to adding a second, and constantly running upfield to put Luton on edge.
The Hatters remain in the relegation zone based on goal difference, but the manner they continue to upset the big boys shows they may have the mettle to stay up, especially if rivals Nottingham Forest and Everton suffer further point deductions.
Liverpool’s injury woes are reaching epic proportions, with Diogo Jota, Dominik Szoboslai, Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Ibrahima Konate, and Joel Matip among the injured.
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The majority of Klopp’s substitutes were adolescents, as the strain of competing on four fronts became apparent.
Still, it had been precisely a year since Liverpool’s previous defeat at Anfield, a 5-2 Champions League loss to Real Madrid.
The Reds started well enough, pressing Luton back with Diaz curling a shot barely wide and Gakpo firing an overhead kick straight at Thomas Kaminski.
However, Luton were starting to fancy their chances even before their early opening, with Alfie Doughty driving wide across goal from a Tahith Chong pass.
The Hatters then opened the scoring against Liverpool after 12 minutes for the second time this season.
Caoimhin Kelleher saved a Chong drive at the near post, but the ball looped up for Ogbene to score with a soaring header, sending The Kop into stunned stillness.
Liverpool have fallen behind in 12 of the Premier League’s 26 games this season.
Normally, Klopp has the depth to turn a game around from the bench when necessary, but this time his options were limited.
On the half-hour mark, Diaz stretched to scuff a volley wide after Wataru Endo’s scooped pass.
Cody Gakpo finished the Reds’ turnaround.
Luis Diaz scores Liverpool’s third.
It was growing frustrating for Liverpool. Kelleher was using long balls, Jarrell Quansah was seeking to start assaults, and the Hatters were dominating in midfield.
Elliott, making his 100th appearance for Klopp’s side, was having a bad game, with ballooning shots and overhitting passes.
Former Everton midfielder Ross Barkley was the most brilliant player on the pitch in the first half, and referee Andy Madley irritated the crowd by failing to make every 50-50 judgement, as they are accustomed to.
Wing-back Ogbene was a constant threat on the right, and Luton deserved their half-time advantage.
“Conference champions, you’ll never sing that,” screamed the Hatters fans, proud of their unique journey from non-league to the Premier League and looking forward to their big night out at one of English football’s great cathedrals.
Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, the player who has been through every step of that journey from the depths, arrived as a half-time substitute for Albert Sambi Lokonga.
But then everything changed as Liverpool, targeting The Kop, launched a barrage of strikes.
Diaz had two close-range attempts blocked by Teden Mengi and Amari’i Bell, with the latter escaping a VAR check for handball.
Then Kaminski made a superb save at his near post to deny Gakpo following a defensive error by Chong.
Liverpool, however, drew level from the resultant corner. Alexis MacAllister swung in the centre, and Van Dijk held off Ogbene while timing his run perfectly, stooping to slam home a header.
The pressure on the Luton defence became unbearable, and Klopp’s team quickly took the lead.
Kaminski had stuck out a foot to deny Conor Bradley, but the Northern Irish full-back quickly produced a throw-in from which Mac Allister sent a strong first-time cross for Gakpo to nudge beyond the keeper.
The Luton custodian was working hard now, denying Gakpo with his feet before making a sprawling save to keep away another Van Dijk header.
The third came on 71 minutes, when substitute Andy Robertson won possession high up the pitch and fed Diaz, who surged past Kaminski to secure the game.
Elliott scored the fourth in the 90th minute, following outstanding work from Jayden Danns, who made his Premier League debut as a substitute.
Liverpool continues to find good players despite losing a lot of them.
And no matter how many times they fall behind, they always manage to triumph.
Chiedozie Ogbene fired Luton into the lead.
Harvey Elliott made it 4-1 for the Reds late on.
You can see how the game progressed in our live blow below.
