LIFE in the Premier League for Luton Town has not been easy. The new kids on the block have struggled since the get-go and this weekend they face the wrath of Liverpool.
The Hatters have won just once and lost seven out of their 10 games played, with the only victory thus far being against Everton in late September.
They next welcome another Merseyside club, hosting Liverpool at Kenilworth Road in this week’s round of matches.
Having suffered back-to-back defeats to Burnley (1-2) and Tottenham Hotspurs (0-1) at home last month, Luton will want to try their utmost to avoid a third in a row.
Luton’s defence is, however, one of the worst in the league, having already shipped 20 goals.
They are only better than three other struggling clubs – Bournemouth (21), Burnley (25) and Sheffield United (29).
There have been fewer than 10 goals knocked in, with striker Carlton Morris their top scorer with three, followed by Elijah Adebayo with two, while Chiedozie Ogbene, Mads Andersen and team captain Tom Lockyer all have one strike each.
Given their current struggles, Rob Edwards and his team will be hopeful that they can prevent an onslaught from Liverpool.
Unlike the out-of-sorts and erratic Everton, Luton may find the Merseyside giants and 19-times league champions much tougher opponents.
Liverpool, with a well-stocked forward line, should see Mohamed Salah, who has eight league goals and four assists so far this season, start alongside Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
Luis Diaz, whose father was kidnapped at gunpoint in Colombia last Saturday and still not yet located, will most likely sit out this match, given that he is not in the right frame of mind to play.
In midfield, Domink Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister should start the match, with the third and last spot up for grabs between Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott.
Gravenberch appears most likely to be the one given the nod by Juergen Klopp, as the Dutchman has impressed in his last few matches.
Kostas Tsimikas will continue to deputise for the injured Andy Robertson at left back and should be starting alongside Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Reds’ defence this season has been quite tight, allowing only nine league goals, which coincides with a rejuvenated van Dijk, who is seemingly back to his colossal best.
Only Arsenal and Manchester City’s defensive records are slightly better, with eight and seven goals let in, respectively.
