Ross Barkley's renaissance has Luton fans dreaming of beating the drop
On Saturday Luton Town will be seeking a third consecutive victory in the top flight for the first time since December 1991. Key to their efforts will be Ross Barkley, who will be especially determined to make a positive impression against his former club Chelsea.
Barkley was Luton’s standout performer in the 3-2 victory over Sheffield United on Boxing Day, as he has been in many of their matches this season. The 30-year-old has Luton’s highest WhoScored rating for the campaign to date at 6.89, narrowly ahead of Alfie Doughty (6.87).
It is fair to say that not everyone saw the Barkley renaissance coming. His career had been on a downward trajectory ever since he left Everton in 2018. A regular in his first full season at Chelsea, Barkley soon fell out of favour. A loan spell at Aston Villa was largely uneventful, while Nice decided to release him after a single season in 2022/23.
Luton agreed terms with Barkley just a few days before their opening game against Brighton & Hove Albion in August. He made his debut when the Hatters travelled to Chelsea in gameweek three but was unable to prevent his new side suffering a 3-0 defeat.
Barkley has been virtually ever-present over the last two and a half months, and his importance to the Luton cause becomes clearer with each passing week.
Even Rob Edwards would admit that his squad does not contain a great deal of top-class quality. Luton are not going to pass anyone off the park this term. They rank bottom of the Premier League for possession (35.7%) and second-bottom for pass completion (71.2%). Only Burnley and Sheffield United average fewer shots per game than Luton’s 10.7.
Yet no one can accuse the Hatters of lacking a game plan. Edwards’ side make the most of set-pieces, which produce 44.4% of their shots. In open play they look to work the ball out wide and then deliver it into the penalty area. At the time of writing only Everton (391) have made more crosses than Luton (375).
It is a relatively rudimentary style of play, yet it is hard to imagine an alternative strategy being as effective with this group of players. After back-to-back victories over Newcastle United and Sheffield United, Luton head into the weekend just a point adrift of safety and with a game in hand on the teams around them.
Barkley has brought a touch of class to a team that does not possess much in the way of Premier League experience. Formerly an attacking midfielder at Everton, the ex-England international is thriving in a deeper role this season. He also seems to be relishing the responsibility of being Luton’s playmaker and creator-in-chief.
Barkley’s press resistance and ball-carrying ability have proved pivotal in getting Luton up the pitch. And although the 30-year-old is collecting possession closer to his own goal than he was previously accustomed to, he is still managing to affect the game in the final third: no Luton player who has appeared for more than 100 minutes can match his tally of 2.4 shots per 90.
"Ross, I can’t speak highly enough of him," Edwards said of Barkley earlier this month. "He’s allowed us to change. Quality, he’s just got that. He’s allowed us to evolve and change."
Barkley ultimately failed at Chelsea. In the early kick-off on Saturday, he will be out to show his former employers that he still has plenty to offer in the Premier League.
