Luton Town goal-scorer Tahith Chong speaks to Jurgen Klopp after the final whistle (Picture: Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp admitted his Liverpool team did not deserve to beat Luton Town on Sunday evening, as the Reds were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road.
Tahith Chong scored the opening goal for the home side on 80 minutes and looked like he had secured a famous victory, but substitute Luis Diaz scored a headed equaliser in stoppage time.
Liverpool did have chances, especially Darwin Nunez who missed an incredible opportunity but fired over from close range, but the Hatters defended brilliantly to limit their opponents.
Klopp said his team could and should have won, but their inability to break down Luton meant that they cannot claim to deserve a victory.
Credit to Luton, how they defend, how they set-up of course,’ Klopp told Sky Sports. ‘We had a lot of chances and we should have had much more.
‘The goalie had a few saves to make but not too many from close range. It’s a tricky task to stay fully concentrated.
‘I think the first half the biggest chances is Ryan [Gravenberch] with the ball, slalom through the lines and the ball to Diogo [Jota] and he’s in a rush. These moments we were not clear enough, not convinced enough to bring the game in a different direction.
‘If you look at the game we didn’t deserve more than a point. We could have won the game and should have won, but with all the chances we missed and didn’t create that was the result we deserved and the result Luton deserved as well.’
Although disappointed not to win, it was a memorable moment for Diaz, who scored the equaliser despite going through a terrible time off the field.
Klopp was delighted for his winger, but recognised that the goal and football in general is of little importance given the circumstances.
‘It’s a wonderful moment but it doesn’t change the situation. The most important thing is that his father gets released,’ said the German.
Luis Diaz unveiled a message for his father after scoring at Kenilworth Road (Picture: Getty Images)
‘It’s wonderful, a wonderful thing, wonderful that he wanted to be here and he gets that. But that’s it. For us, super important goal, and for him very important of course, and yes very emotional but that’s it.
‘He always can do that, when he’s on the pitch he’s always involved in special things, this season as well. So yeah we knew that he will be a threat. We didn’t know exactly how long he can play because he only had a few sessions with the team.
‘That’s all fine, that’s not the important part today, he scored the goal, that’s wonderful but we still need some improvement in Colombia.’
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The Reds needed a stoppage time goal to rescue a point.