Luton Town 1-1 Liverpool - Luis Diaz pounces for dramatic late equaliser to deny hosts shock Premier League victory

Luis Diaz put aside a week of personal anguish to emerge from the bench and rescue a 1-1 draw for Liverpool at Luton Town.

The Colombia forward’s involvement was again uncertain after the kidnapping of his parents last week, but he returned following a two-match absence to head in a 95th-minute leveller.

It was a late blow for The Hatters, who thought they were on the verge of a famous win when substitute Tahith Chong slid home on the counter-attack 10 minutes from time.

Jurgen Klopp’s visitors had started brightly and carved out several opportunities in an open first half, but could not find the breakthrough with the lively Darwin Nunez clipping the bar with one of a number of attempts.

Liverpool tried to step it up a gear following the interval, but it was the hosts who should have gone in front when Carlton Morris was brilliantly denied by Alisson after superb work by Chiedozie Ogbene.

Nunez then had his blushes spared by the offside flag when he blazed a miss-of-the-season contender over the top before the hosts stunned the Merseysiders on 80 minutes.

A lightning break from a Liverpool corner ended with substitute Chong sliding a low shot beyond Alisson to send Kenilworth Road into ecstasy.

The home team looked like seeing out the win but Diaz emerged as a late substitute to head in Harvey Elliott’s cross deep into time added on. The Reds forward celebrated by lifting his jersey to reveal a message: ‘Freedom for Dad.’

The result means Liverpool miss the opportunity to close to within a point of leaders Manchester City and are now three adrift of the champions in third spot. Luton’s point shifts them up to 17th and out of the drop zone on goal difference.

Liverpool will hope to return to form when they travel to Toulouse in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday before hosting Brentford on Sunday. Luton visit Manchester United on Saturday.

The headline following the match will be about Luis Diaz and his commitment to the Liverpool cause. The 26-year-old is currently in emotional turmoil after his parents were kidnapped last week, but he answered his manager and team-mates’ SOS here to snatch a last-gasp draw.

It took the spotlight away from what was looking like a famous Luton Town victory as the hosts executed their game-plan perfectly and gave the high-flying visitors a real scare. Indeed, Rob Edwards and his team are clearly learning as their Premier League adventure progresses and if they continue this sort of performance, no-one will relish coming to Kenilworth Road.

Liverpool will be pleased to have avoided a defeat after a below-par showing and with the latest news suggesting Diaz’s father is expected to be released in the near future, the bigger picture is that some things remain far more important than football and that outcome - rather than lamenting points dropped - is what everyone associated with the club is really hoping and praying for in the days ahead.

The Hatters winger was the outlet throughout the majority of the contest and ensured the hosts posed a major threat on the break. If he can replicate performances like this they could be key to Luton’s survival hopes going forward.

LUTON: Kaminski 8, Kabore 8, Osho 8, Lockyer 8, Mengi 8, Doughty 8, Nakamba 7, Ogbene 9, Barkley 8, Morris 6, Townsend 7. Subs: Chong 7, Adebayo 6, Brown n/a.

LIVERPOOL: Alisson 7, Alexander-Arnold 6, Van Dijk 7, Konate 6, Gomez 7, Mac Allister 6, Gravenberch 7, Szoboszlai 6, Salah 6, Jota 6, Nunez 6. Subs: Gakpo 6, Tsimikas 6, Elliott 7, Diaz 7.

13’ – LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Nunez makes a wonderful diagonal run to latch on to TAA's sublime through pass, but lashes a rising shot against the top of the bar.

33’ – LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Kaminski flings himself low to his right to keep out Jota's first-time effort after a lovely run and pass from Gravenberch.

65’ – LUTON CHANCE! Ogbene surges beyond Alexander-Arnold and Konate and squares a deflected pass towards Morris who sees a hurried shot brilliantly blocked by Alisson.

80’ – GOAL! – Luton 1-0 Liverpool. Dreamland for The Hatters! Chong slides in to tuck in a cross from Kabore on the right after Liverpool were caught cold on the break from their own corner.

90+5’ – GOAL! – Luton 1-1 Liverpool. It had to Luis Diaz! The forward comes off the bench to rescue the visitors as he rises at the back post to nod in Elliott's cross.

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.