Luton manager Rob Edwards saw his relegation-threatened side beaten 4-1 by Liverpool on Wednesday night despite leading 1-0 at the interval
Luton boss Rod Edwards admitted his side couldn’t stem the Liverpool tide after riling the home side by taking a 1-0 lead at Anfield. Chiedozie Ogbene headed the away side into a shock lead at half-time on Wednesday night, with Luton on course to climb out of the relegation zone.
But Liverpool came roaring back after the interval with three goals in a dominant 15 minute period. Virgil van Dijk headed the home side level before Cody Gakpo’s goal just two minutes later. Luis Díaz then all-but secured the three points for the Reds and Harvey Elliott wrapped up the win in added time.
Liverpool was at its best during the second 45 minutes with the Anfield crowd playing its part by ensuring a raucous atmosphere as Jürgen Klopp’s side went for all three points.
And Edwards admitted: “We just made them angry. Overall it was a really good first half, second half I thought we saw Anfield; we saw Liverpool; we saw their full-throttle football. Their counter-pressing football was amazing.
“In the end, a great learning for us to see what the best looks like. I know they had some players missing but their second half performance was like the best out there. I thought we were very, very good, they were better.
“You look at our group, there won’t be many who have experienced Anfield like that. Hopefully in the future we can come back. You almost have to live through some of that to get better.
“We didn’t use that space in behind and they suffocated us. The lads kept going. We were still pushing at the end, didn’t sit back and accept defeat. I am proud of the players but tonight we came up against a better team. We experienced what elite looks like.
“Second half their real threat came from their counter pressing and intensity. It is disappointing to concede from a set-piece and a throw-in. I don’t think we looked like a bad team, we just struggled in bits.”
Edwards was involved in a heartwarming moment after the game as he congratulated Liverpool youngster Jayden Danns on his debut. The Luton boss told the youngster he played against his father Neil, who turned out for the likes of Crystal Palace and Blackburn, as he made his way off the pitch.
According to Liverpool.com Luton is not the first, and certainly won’t be the last team, to let a lead slip at Anfield. When the ground is like that, even the biggest clubs in the world can be swept away and Liverpool was excellent in the second half. The Hatters did certainly cause some problems before that and is having a real go at trying to stay in the Premier League.
