- Luton won Championship play-offs last season with shootout victory over Coventry 
- No second-tier team drew more games than Luton's total of 17 last season 
- Recommended bet: Luton to finish bottom

Luton were last in the top flight the summer before the Premier League was launched in 1992, and the Bedfordshire outfit have endured a harrowing time since with a series of points deductions that took them out of the Football League altogether.

The tight surroundings of Kenilworth Road could be a culture shock for some top-flight superstars, but surviving beyond a solitary season will be all the Hatters aim for in their first campaign back in the big time.

Last season

Luton battled their way through the play-offs to get back into the top division, beating Coventry on penalties in the Wembley final.

A strong defence was the basis of their promotion push under Rob Edwards as they conceded just 38 goals. 

However, a division-high number of draws, 17, meant they allowed Sheffield United to get out of sight, and the Blades finished 11 points ahead of them in the second automatic-promotion spot.

Carlton Morris was the star of the show with 20 goals, but Edwards will be looking for his midfield to contribute more this term.

The manager

Rob Edwards had a strange season last year as he started the campaign down the M1 at Luton's arch-rivals Watford.

He had steered Forest Green Rovers to the League Two title, which was enough for him to be given the Hornets job, but he was in the hot seat for just four months before being shown the door.

Edwards took over at Kenilworth Road after Nathan Jones left for Southampton in November and helped organise the Hatters into a team which was difficult to beat.

That did the trick, and now he has been handed the opportunity to manage at the highest level.

Transfers

Luton have been able to make modest additions to the squad, with £5m spent on Wolves wing-back Ryan Giles.

Former Manchester United reserve midfielder Tahith Chong has joined from Birmingham, and the addition of 6ft 5ins central defender Mads Andersen suggests they will see set-pieces as a central element to their attack.

Strengths and weaknesses

Luton are a team that looks to take advantage of their physical strength, and no one will be able to expect an easy ride, especially at Kenilworth Road.

Skipper Tom Lockyer scored five goals during the 2022-23 season, and a quarter of Luton's goals came from set-pieces last term, so if it is not broken, it seems unlikely that Edwards will try to fix it.

Opposition teams will expect a bombardment at Kenilworth Road, but scoring goals was an issue for the Hatters last season, which is a concern.

Morris was a great striking asset, but no other player scored more goals than his striker partner Elijah Adebayo's tally of seven.

Only Blackburn finished in the top 10 of the second tier having scored fewer goals than Edwards' side, and it is an area that has to be addressed.

Best outright bet

All three promoted teams did enough to stay up in the Premier League last season, but it looks unlikely it will happen this time, and it would be a surprise if Luton were in the Premier League for more than one campaign.

They finished 11 points behind Sheffield United last season, and there is still a big gap between the Blades and most of the teams they will come up against in the new campaign.

A lack of firepower is Luton's biggest issue, and it is doubtful whether they will be able to score enough goals to give themselves a chance.

Consequently, they look good value at 5/4 with LiveScore Bet to prop up the rest of the Premier League this season.

Back Luton to finish bottom of the Premier League at 5/4 with LiveScore Bet.