Van Dijk praises Reds for pulling a comeback out of the Hat

Virgil van Dijk hailed Liverpool's "outstanding" reaction after the Premier League leaders roared back from a goal down at half-time to beat Luton 4-1 at Anfield. 

The Reds had surprisingly gone into the break trailing the relegation-haunted Hatters through Chiedozie Ogbene's header.

But second-half goals from Van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott secured an emphatic win and restored the Merseyside club's four-point lead at the top of the table.

Liverpool's captain, who began the comeback with a 56th-minute header, said: "Nobody was satisfied with the first half. We were rushing in the final third and we didn't find the right pass.

"It is quite normal to become nervous up front when you are not making the right decisions.

"The reaction shown today was outstanding and something we need for the rest of the season — today was a big one.

"Luton are a good side, they play football taking some risks. When we won the ball we had to punish them."

Liverpool's focus now turns to Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.

Van Dijk, 32, added: "Today was an important and difficult one for many reasons. 

"I don't think there was any injuries from tonight and now it is time to focus on the final."

Liverpool named their youngest Premier League starting XI since February 2018, with Elliott, Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah all impressing.

Academy graduates Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns also appeared from the bench on a positive night for the club's aspiring stars.

And boss Jurgen Klopp was pleased to see his squad players step up in the absence of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.

He said: "Diaz put it in the back of the net, Gakpo — what a game — and Ryan Gravenberch. They were all exceptional.

"Quansah has stepped up. Same with Conor, Bobby and James. A massive improvement in our young boys.

"The kids came on and did an incredible job."