Swansea 0 Liverpool 0

In what was always going to be a difficult game away to Swansea, Brendan Rodgers returning home with his charges, came into the match unbeaten in 7 Premiership games looking to put themselves into a position to compete for a European place. Jordan Henderson came in for a midfield berth after impressing recently and Downing re-entered the fray for the injured Wisdom.

Liverpool were impressive in the first -half against a team renowned for keeping possession we carried a threat with Suarez buzzing around Williams and his cohorts. The Swansea defender had stated in his book that he had wanted to “knock out” Suarez in last seasons game at Anfield because of his diving.

Sterling, who once again showed a maturity beyond his years in getting back to provide cover in the right back position on numerous occasions, rattled the bar with a thunderous volley which left Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel stranded. Glen Johnson who continues to play with an attacking joie de vivre should have put Liverpool in front when he danced through the Swansea backline, but to be fair Tremmel saved well.

On another day Jose Enrique’s disallowed goal to which he ghosted in on the end of a delightful Suarez chipped cross could have been given with the advantage normally going to the attacker.  The decision, albeit the correct one, was marginal in the extreme. Routledge kept Pepe Reina on his mettle with a sharp shot which he turned away at the near post which was Swansea’s only meaningful effort of the half.

If the first-half was open at full of vitality and vigour without any real cutting edge on both sides of the fence, the second was a more sedate affair with both sides seemingly aware that losing was not an option.  Williams connected well with a header from De Guzman’s corner which Allen cleared off the line defending the far post.  Although Hernandez stinging free-kick from outside the area saw Reina save well after Joe Allen’s mistimed tackle, it was the away team that found the impetus to raise ahead of steam in the last quarter of the match.

Jonjo Shelvey, coming on to replace Henderson late on, unleashed a tremendous angled drive which Tremmel diving to his right palmed away.  It was the last meaningful action of a match where possession was divided evenly.

Kop-Post Man of the Match:  Raheem Sterling – The England winger was unlucky not to score with a powerful which struck the upright.  But, the most impressive part of his play was his tracking back.  Time and time again, he went back to support Glen Johnson making tackles and interceptions, picking the ball up on occasions running the ball out or passing to colleagues to set up attacks.  He is showing maturity beyond his years and augurs well in his progression to the upper echelons of the game if he keeps this level of demeanour.

Team:  25 Reina, 2 Johnson, 3 Enrique, 5 Agger, 37 Skrtel, 8 Gerrard, 14 Henderson (Shelvey – 77’), 19 Henderson (Cole -77’), 19 Downing (Cole – 77’),  24 Allen, 31 Sterling, 7 Suarez

Subs: 1 Jones, 16 Coates, 23 Carragher, 4 Sahin, 10 Cole, 33 Shelvey, 30 Suso