Borini's Injury Takes Gloss of Liverpool Demolition

You can only beat what’s in front of you, even if Michael Laudrup handed us the whip hand, making seven changes from the side which thrashed Queen’s Park Rangers which is understandable with a hot favourite’s chance of winning next Sunday’s Capital One Cup final against Bradford City.

That saying, we were simply wonderful, stunning in parts.  Rodgers gave the impressive Philippe Coutinho a start with Allen, Skrtel, Henderson and Sterling reverting back to bench duty and Sturridge, Lucas and Agger joining the Brazilian for a start.

Liverpool were impressive from the first to the last, dominating to such a level that five-nil doesn’t tell the full story.  Thirty-three shots with 18 on target against 4 shots and with 3 on target for Swansea gives more of a perspective.  We could and should have been way ahead before Gerrard’s penalty with Sturridge missing a golden opportunity to head in after Downing had roasted the full-back to deliver an inch perfect cross with this right foot.

Coutinho then fluffed his lines from 6 yards after Sturridge was brought down for what looked like a certain penalty.

Liverpool wouldn’t have wait long for a penalty when Agustien unnecessarily tackle Suarez misjudging his tackle.   Gerrard showing no ill effects from the miss against WBA hit a crisp penalty into the corner past the diving Vorm.

If the shots in the first half lacked a killer instinct, we started as if wanting to make amends in no uncertain terms.   Returning to our potent best with Sturridge back in the side, three goals in 11 minutes simply devastated Swansea.

Coutinho collected a pass from Suarez, who showed a decisive turn of pace to go past two defenders before slotting home.  The next goal was all about pass and move with the intricate passes between Suarez, Sturridge and Enrique slicing through the Swansea defence like a can opener, before Enrique buried his shot high into the net.

The fourth was vintage Suarez leaving, as he has he done on some many occasions, defenders trailing, in this case Bartley and Monk, before easing the ball home.

Liverpool were awarded our second penalty following Routledge’s handball, which Sturridge, given the opportunity by his captain, dispatched with vigour.

With a spirits up following the dispiriting losses to Zenit and West Brom the mood changed quickly, when Borini only recently back from a three month lay-off with a broken bone in his foot, saw his season tragically cut short with a dislocated shoulder.

With Zenit on the horizon Suarez once again is the soul striker available has he has been for so much of the season.

Man of the Match: Luis Suarez – The irrepressible Uruguayan was involved in everything that was good, prompting, probing and delivering passes with expert deftness.  His exciting combination with Sturridge again raises the what could’ve been question, had the ex-Chelsea forward been at Anfield from the start of the season.

Suarez linked nicely with Philippe Coutinho who showed incisiveness, and if he can cope with the rigours and demands of the Premiership, he may well press Downing for his place.

Critical Eye: Stewart Downing delivered a peach of a cross, having skinned the left-back and for once lifted the ball on to Sturridge’s head and for second league match in a row should’ve had an assist.

Fair play to him if he can continuing his upward curve and if he can deliver crosses like that against top class defenders then he just may save his career at Anfield.

Team: 25 Reina, 2 Johnson, 3 Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 8 Gerrard, 10 Coutinho (Henderson – 60min), 19 Downing, 21 Lucas (Allen – 72 min), 7 Suarez (Borini – 78 min), 15 Sturridge

Subs: 42 Gulacsi, 37 Skrtel, 14 Henderson, 24 Allen, 31 Sterling, 33 Shelvey, 29 Borini

Ref: Howard Webb   Attendance: 44,832