Luton Town 1-1 Liverpool
by Gene Sylvester
at Kenilworth Road

24th August 1991 was the last time Luton Town hosted Liverpool at Kenilworth Road in a League match with the points being shared following a 0-0 draw and the Hatters almost made the 5th of November one to remember after taking an 80th minute lead in this match.

But an equaliser deep into injury time from the returning Luis Diaz prevented the home side from celebrating what would have been the result of the season with the match ultimately ending 1-1, sparing his side’s blushes of being the first team to lose to new boys Luton this season.

Diaz returned to the Liverpool squad today following a three game absence after the Columbian had taken leave due to the kidnapping of his father from his Columbian hometown of Barrancas.

Recent reports from Columbia had suggested that that  was light at the end of the tunnel, with a potential imminent release of Diaz’s father on the cards, which possibly prompted the return of Liverpool’s number 7 to the match day squad.

‘Signs in Columbia is optimistic.’ Advised Jurgen Klopp when asked about the current status of the situation regarding the Columbian’s father.

The decision to include Diaz in the squad was a valuable one which paid dividends from a footballing perspective, as the Columbian came off the bench in the 83rd minute to rescue a point for the visitors.

It came following a period of sustained pressure from Liverpool who had pinned the home side back in their desperate attempt to get something out of a game that looked destined to see Rob Edwards boys finally pick up their first league win of the season in front of their own fans, but alas it wasn’t to be..

Harvey Elliott’s floated in-swinger rom the right with his left boot was met high at the back post by Diaz, who out jumped the impressive Issa Kabore to head home past Thomas Kaminski in the Luton goal.

It was heartbreak for the home side who had played their part in an encounter that most had predicted to be one way traffic in the visitors favour.

Despite the late disappointment for Luton manager Rob Edwards, he remained positive after the game when reflecting on the result.

“The overall feeling is bright after the game, but of course we wanted to win game when we are 1-0 up in 85th minute. They are Liverpool Football club and they found a way to get something out of the game today.”

Luton’s opener came fabout courtesy of a lightening breakaway from a Liverpool corner, led by Everton old boy Ross Barkley, whose composure and skill allowed him to wriggle free from the Liverpool press and play a ball into a gaping space down the Luton right which Kabore was onto like a flash.

The combative right-back promptly crossed into the center where where 61st minute substituteTahith Chong slid in to pop the ball past the outrushing Allison Becker to score his first goal of the season and put the home side ahead.

Following the match an understandably upbeat Edwards focused on the positives from the match as opposed to the disappointment of not holding on to the lead to take all 3 points.

“Our starting team probably cost around £4 or £5 million quid which is great. People will see that we are fighting and that we are difficult to beat.”

Luton’s brilliant display on the pitch was unfortunately overshadowed by some sickening chants from the home fans in the stands regarding the Hillsborough and Heysel stadium tragedies.