Liverpool will have a new opponent in the upcoming Premier League season, with the three sides promoted from the Championship now complete. Luton Town have joined champions Burnley and Sheffield United in the Premier League for next season. On Saturday, a dramatic playoff final took place at Wembley, with Luton and Coventry City vying to become the third side to earn promotion. After 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty shootout, Luton emerged victorious, securing their place in the Premier League for the first time ever. The Hatters were last in the top flight in 1992, before the Premier League’s conception, and were playing non-league football as recently as nine years ago. They earned back-to-back promotions from League Two and League One in 2017/18 and 2018/19 respectively, and have now sealed a fairytale finish.
Liverpool have only faced Luton three times in the 21st century, all in the FA Cup. A 5-3 win in the third round in 2006 was followed by a 1-1 draw at the same stage two years later, before a 5-0 replay victory. Steven Gerrard scored a hat-trick in that most recent meeting, while their last league clash – a 2-1 win at Anfield in the First Division in 1992 – saw a 19-year-old Steve McManaman score. Luton are now managed by Rob Edwards, the former Forest Green Rovers and briefly Watford boss, who took over in November after Nathan Jones’ move to Southampton. Their top scorer for the season was Carlton Morris, with 20, with striker Elijah Adebayo (10) the other only player to net more than five times. The fixture list for next season’s Premier League will be released on June 15, with Liverpool having faced the Championship winners on the opening day in each of the last four campaigns.