Luis Diaz Nets Late Equaliser to Deny Luton Shock Victory Over Liverpool

Luis Diaz bravely headed in a 95th-minute goal to earn Liverpool a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Luton Town on Sunday afternoon.

Former Manchester United man Tahith Chong had slid in to finish off a flowing counter attack and give the hosts an unlikely lead 10 minutes from time. 

But Diaz, who bravely entered the fray just days after learning his father had been kidnapped by a Colombian guerrilla group, rose to bundle into the net and salvage a point for the Reds.

Town made a positive start at Kenilworth Road when an intricate passing move in midfield led to Alfie Doughty down the left. After Trent Alexander-Arnold had cleared for a throw-in, Ross Barkley received the ball, shrugged off his marker and fired a low shot straight into the arms of Alisson Becker. 

The Brazilian immediately volleyed upfield to Diogo Jota, and after a flurry of passes, Darwin Nunez released a curling shot which was parried wide by Town stopper Thomas Kaminski.

Nunez missed a plethora of chances during what was another skilful but erratic performance as Liverpool’s frontman. He lashed over from long range on 10 minutes, then swiftly controlled Alexander-Arnold’s clipped pass and fired against the top of the crossbar. 

Marvelous Nakamba showed tenacity to win the ball back in midfield and poke to Doughty. The full-back passed to Chiedozie Ogbene whose cross to the back post was deflected to Issa Kabore. From 15 yards, the Manchester City loanee blazed over the bar.

After another curling Nunez shot was comfortably parried by Kaminski, Doughty released Ogbene down the left who drew Ibrahim Konate into a foul. The Liverpool defender was shown a yellow card for blocking the rapid Republic of Ireland winner.

Liverpool should have taken the lead when Dominik Szoboszlai’s free kick from the left was headed into the danger zone by the Luton defence, but Mohamed Salah’s could only lash a left-footed volley high and wide.

Kaminski was drawn into another fine save when Ryan Gravenberch raced through midfield and released Jota. The Portuguese dragged a right-foot shot towards the bottom left corner, but the Belgian stopper plunged to his right and clawed the ball away.

Lowly Luton continued to carve out chances and followed a familiar route to goal when Ogbene rolled in to Doughty who reached the byline and delivered into the box. The ball was deflected into the path of Barkley who failed to balance his body over the ball and thrashed over the bar.

Town showed more promising signs at the start of the second half. First Ogbene curled a tame shot into the arms of Alisson, then Andros Townsend released Kabore down the right flank. His first cross was blocked by Konate, and his second attempt narrowly evaded the diving Morris and was collected by Alisson. 

Ogbene has recently been named the fastest player in the Premier League, and the winger once again exhibited his blistering pace when he raced past Alexander-Arnold and Konate before passing to Morris whose effort was saved by the legs of Alisson.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp introduced Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo midway through the second half to find an elusive goal. The two substitutes combined as Elliott crossed from the right and the Dutchman’s scorpion flick trickled wide. 

Liverpool should have finally broken the deadlock when Alexander-Arnold crossed from the left. Salah miscued his header from close range and Nunez inexplicably blazed over from five yards.

Kaminski was once again called into action after Osho was dispossessed in midfield. Salah charged towards goal and released Nunez whose fierce shot was palmed over by the Luton keeper.

Gravenberch was the next Liverpool player to be denied by Kaminski when his shot from 25 yards sent the sensational stopper diving to his left to parry behind.

From the resulting corner, Virgil Van Dijk’s header was inadvertently handled by the unsighted Barkley. While the visitors appealed for a penalty, the former Everton man dribbled from the edge of the box and glided through midfield. 

Barkley passed to Kabore on the right who curled the perfect pass into the path of substitute Chong. He lunged to poke the ball beyond the onrushing Alisson and into the empty net, sparking pandemonium at Kenilworth Road.

After the customary nervous wait for a VAR check to be completed, Liverpool’s penalty claims were waved away and the goal awarded.

The Hatters thought they had held on for victory after Kaminski marshalled Konate’s header wide, but the Reds rescued a point when the substitute Diaz showed desire to rise above Kabore and with a combination of head and shoulder, finally beat Kaminski.

I’m celebration, the Colombian raised his jersey to reveal a message which read ‘Libertad Para Papa’, translated from Spanish to mean ‘Freedom for Papa’.

Kabore raced forward to force Alisson into one more save before the full-time whistle was blown.

As the players walked down the tunnel, Diaz was consoled first by Town skipper Tom Lockyer, then manager Klopp, a warming display of support solidarity in unimaginable adversity.