Liverpool recover from early setback to stretch lead at top
LIVERPOOL 4 LUTON 1
THE Premier League title race that just keeps on giving did just that at Anfield on Wednesday night, after Chiedozie Ogbene had headed his Luton side ahead early on before Liverpool turned the scoreline around in the second half.
Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher produced an unconvincing save that deflected towards Ogbene, which allowed his international teammate and fellow Cork man to head Luton into a surprise lead, sparking dreams of a first-ever win there for their travelling fans.
It would also have prompted wild celebrations in the blue half of Manchester and red part of North London, leaving both City and Arsenal with the chance to go top of the table at the weekend.
But a Liverpool side badly depleted by injury and, whether they would admit it or not, surely with thoughts on a weekend cup final, stormed back with three goals in 15 second half minutes, for Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Louis Diaz.
Harvey Elliott wrapped it all up in injury-time, sweeping a loose ball into an empty net after Gakpo’s progress had been halted by Teden Mengi.
The equaliser, on 56 minutes, started the recovery as van Dijk slipped two markers with brutal efficiency before heading in Alexis Mac Allister’s right-wing corner from seven yards.
Barely 90 seconds later and the points looked as good as secured as Conor Bradley’s quick throw-in found Mac Allister who delivered another perfect cross, this one headed in by Gakpo from four yards.
And, as Luton pressed gamely for an equaliser, substitute Andy Robertson won a loose ball in midfield after 71 minutes, forcing it forward for Diaz to exploit a stretched Luton defence and bury his team’s third.
Kelleher’s shaky moment had come after 12 minutes, as he tried to
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