Marvellous Nakamba, the Town midfielder, is certain that the Hatters must “embrace” the challenge of taking on Liverpool in today’s Super Sunday match at Kenilworth Road.
With Spurs facing Chelsea tomorrow, the Reds, who are third in the rankings and much favoured to win both the Premier League championship and the Europa League this season, know that a victory might put them atop the standings for at least a day.
Big favourites to win as well, very few people outside of Bedfordshire are giving the Hatters a chance. However, Nakamba, who permanently joined Town in the summer, understands that it’s days like these that remind the team of why they worked so hard to win the Championship play-offs the previous season.
“I think it’s a big game for everyone,” he remarked, “for Luton, for the fans, and for everyone around the club.”
Being in the running with the world’s top players is an exciting time; all we need to do is seize the opportunity, push one another, compete, and have fun.
“Playing this sort of game should thrill us as a team and as footba
ll players.
It’s a terrific moment to experience it, accept it, and compete at that level because the club worked hard to get here.
“Being in that circumstance is beneficial for the players and the team.
“We just need to stay together as a football team, enjoy the moment, and compete at this point.”
Nakamba will have to work hard to contain one of the top midfields in domestic football, as Liverpool spent over £110 million in the summer to sign Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, who came from RB Leipzig and Brighton & Hove Albion, respectively.
The two seem to have clicked right away as they back a certain Mohamed Salah, who has scored 10 goals in all competitions so far this season, continuing where he left off last season.
“They’re one of the best clubs in the world, of course, so for us we just have to look at ourselves and be positive about it,” Nakamba went on.
“This is what we dream of, to find ourselves competing in that situation and to be playing against those players; for me, to be playing against the best when I grow up.”
The Zimbabwean international, who cost £11 million to sign from Belgian team Club Brugge, is expected to start his 11th straight Premier League match this afternoon. This is by far his greatest run at this level since joining English football in 2019.
After an incredibly productive loan stint at Kenilworth Road last season, he agreed to come to Luton in the summer with hopes of achieving this.
“Every football player wants to play every single time,” he stated.
“The group is together and we are sticking together. We support each other in training and push each other in training.”
“We simply hope we achieve a good outcome, and that everyone is supporting whoever is playing.”
Nakamba and England midfielder Ross Barkley might very well start together again; they did so last Saturday in the Midlands when Town lost 3-1.
The former player for Vitesse Arnhem expressed happiness about the combination, saying, “He has played for the Three Lions, Chelsea, Everton, and I also played with him at Aston Villa before.
“I’ve known and respected him; he’s a talented player.
“Seeing those kinds of players at the club and for me personally is always a good feeling.”
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