Preview: Luton Town vs. Liverpool - prediction, team news, lineups

The Reds sunk Bournemouth 2-1 in EFL Cup action in midweek, while the Hatters became Aston Villa's latest victims in the West Midlands with a 3-1 beating.

Match preview

Since Unai Emery took the reins at Aston Villa, few teams have gone toe-to-toe with the Lions on their own patch and lived to tell the tale, so few could knock Luton for falling victim to the Europa Conference League contenders' superiority last time out.

Stretching their remarkable winning home run in the Premier League to 12 matches, Villa struck through John McGinn and Moussa Diaby before Tom Lockyer put the ball past his goalkeeper, but there was time for Emiliano Martinez to join him in the own-goals club in the 83rd minute.

While Luton were being put to the sword at Villa Park, Bournemouth were busy downing Burnley for their first Premier League victory of the new term, thereby demoting Luton below them and into the relegation places; the Hatters enter gameweek 11 sat in 18th spot and could drop lower if Burnley overcome Crystal Palace on Saturday.

October was certainly a Halloween horror show for the newly-promoted side, who entered the month on the back of gleaning three points against Everton but would only take one point from their subsequent four fixtures, holding Nottingham Forest to a 2-2 draw at the City Ground.

Home defeats to Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur were further blots on Edwards's notebook, and unless Luton can defy the odds and keep Liverpool's attackers at bay this weekend, they will become the first Premier League team since Leicester City's crop of 1994 to concede in each of their first 11 games in the competition.

Storm Ciaran may have battered the Vitality Stadium and its surroundings, but there was no raining on the Liverpool parade during the fourth round of the EFL Cup, as Jurgen Klopp's charges ensured that their numbered ball would be in the pot for the quarter-final draw.

The Reds were briefly made to pay for a moment of lackadaisical defending, as Justin Kluivert headed home at the back stick to cancel out a Cody Gakpo opener, but the Cherries were only on level terms for six minutes as Darwin Nunez cut inside and unleashed a rocket into the roof of the net.

Before Klopp's men can think about a December date with West Ham United in the quarter-finals, the Reds have a top-four Premier League position to maintain, as an emotionally-charged 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend saw Liverpool quickly usurp Luton's conquerors Villa back into the Champions League places.

Only three points separates Klopp's in-form troops - who have triumphed in each of their last four matches - from Tottenham Hotspur at the summit, and the Reds have scored at least twice in each of their last six matches continentally and domestically, but precedent is not entirely on their side.

Indeed, Liverpool have been beaten in both of their last two meetings with newly-promoted Premier League teams on the road, and not since January 2008 have they battled Luton in a competitive setting, where Steven Gerrard netted a hat-trick in a 5-0 FA Cup crushing.

Luton Town Premier League form:

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Luton Town form (all competitions):

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Liverpool Premier League form:

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Liverpool form (all competitions):

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Team News

One positive from Luton's loss to Villa was that Edwards's side did not sustain any fresh injury or suspension concerns, although no fewer than six players are in the care of the medical team ahead of Liverpool's visit.

None of Mads Andersen (thigh), Daniel Potts (ankle), Albert Sambi Lokonga (thigh) or Reece Burke (thigh) will be fit to face Klopp's side, while Jordan Clark (ankle) and Amari'i Bell (thigh) will need once-overs in the coming hours.

Having now come off the bench in successive fixtures, ex-Everton winger Andros Townsend may now be in contention to make the first XI for the Hatters, but Edwards should not make changes to his defence-heavy setup in abundance.

Meanwhile, Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz was absent from the win over Bournemouth amid the ongoing situation with his parents in Colombia, as authorities are still searching for his missing father following their shocking kidnap at the weekend.

While the situation remains unresolved, Diaz is unlikely to be considered for selection by Klopp, who also has Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Andrew Robertson (shoulder) unavailable for the time being, while Ben Doak (muscle) will need a late fitness test.

Despite breaking the deadlock on a stormy South Coast evening, Cody Gakpo's spot will be under threat from Diogo Jota and fellow goalscorer Nunez, while Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Trent Alexander-Arnold will be among those to return to the first XI.

Luton Town possible starting lineup:

Kaminski; Kabore, Osho, Lockyer, Mengi, Doughty; Nakamba, Barkley; Chong; Morris, Adebayo

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Jota

We say: Luton Town 0-2 Liverpool

Not even a free-scoring Tottenham - albeit a 10-man Tottenham - could score multiple goals at Kenilworth Road during their recent stopover in Luton, and the hosts will benefit from an extended recuperation period.

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