Liverpool 1 Sevilla 3: Liverpool succumb to old frailties

Never have I seen a match where one missed tackle changed the whole momentum of the game.

Liverpool looked formidable in the first-half dominating possession and pressuring Sevilla down the flanks and shutting down the midfield not allowing the Spanish team’s midfield play makers anytime on the ball.

For all the dominance we had in the first-half there was an inability to create any real clear cut chances.  Daniel Sturridge looked back to his awesome best, sharp around the area and looking for goal at very opportunity.  The England striker got on the end of Nathaniel Clyne’s cross just beyond the back post to head back across the area for Firmino who unfortunately didn’t read the knock down before it was hooked clear.

We looked comfortable with Emre Can looking every inch the top class midfield general asserting his power going forward having an early long range shot saved by David Soria. He and Milner closed down the opposing midfield to such an extent that Sevilla were reduced to hitting long balls up the field to Gameiro who had very little chance of getting into the game.

Unable to give Sturridge any worthwhile service the striker then did what comes naturally producing a goal of stunning brilliance.

Picking the ball up on the left, the striker with very little back lift curled a left footed shot past Soria into the corner of the net with the outside of magical left foot.  It was the type of goal that deserves to win finals and the type goal that if we didn’t know it already showed the world that Daniel Sturridge at his best is a very special talent.

Liverpool were flying.  And could of taken control of the match when Lovren met Milner’s corner with a powerful header into the net, only for the goal to be chalked off as Strurridge had strayed into a off-side position.

Before the interval, Milner pulled his right footed shot wide from outside the box and Sturridge shot wide from close range after Nathaniel Clyne provided the ammunition with a cross from the right.

Liverpool went into the break seemingly with one hand on the cup, but as anyone who knows football knows it’s a game of two halves (as my friend Francoise said at the end of the game).

Seventeen seconds into the second-half and Sevilla were level.

Moreno’s defensive header lacked power and eventually fell to Mariano Ferreira and in trying to cover for his earlier mistake, Moreno with a token tackle was easily nutmegged leaving the Ferreira time to pick out the previously subdued Kevin Gameiro for the equaliser.

It was a hammer blow.  We came out as if we’d taken a siesta in the interval.  We were lacklustre and all of a sudden we were under pressure and whereas there was plenty of space to raid on the flanks there was now none.  Clyne our outlet in the first-half was now forced back into a conventional role and Moreno on the other side was having the nightmare ride of his life.

Liverpool began to flounder.  The midfield our strength in the first-half was beginning to choke under the fumes of the motor of Sevilla’s midfield going past at will.  Firmino and moreover Coutinho were being swallowed whole by the experience of this multiple winning Europa Cup side.

It was hard to take when one considers the dominance we had during the first-half, but the difference was that Sevilla were able to turn their dominance into goals and by the seventieth minute the impressive Koke had struck twice killing our dreams stone dead.
Sevilla were ruthless seizing on Liverpool’s inability to pick ourselves up from Gameiro’s early goal.

All the more galling was the mental fragility, in essence we capitulated.  We were found wanting and not for the first time this season threw away a match we should have won. The transformation was unimaginable at half-time.

We left Sturridge alone upfront and as we tired Sevilla picked us off as if they were shelling peas.

Klopp’s passion has brought us two final’s this season, but in the end our lack of real class hurt us and in the cold light of day we ended up only eighth in the league.

We need a total overhaul and with no European football of any sort we are now fishing out of the same pool as Chelsea who have infinitely more financial muscle to flex.  Man United in a bid to get back into the Champions League will spend heavily as will Spurs and the under pressure Arsenal and even Leicester with the influx of television money and the drive to do well on their first Champions League escapade.

Make no mistake we are under severe pressure.  We have to be canny in the transfer market as with only the Premier League and the domestic cups to go for we not in a position to build a large squad and common sense may come to fore in that the strikers that we have already may have to take us into the next season barring Benteke.

Klopp will have to show his pulling power in attracting midfielders and defenders to the club to bring in a more stronger mentality and quite simply better players.  Right now there is a desperate need for a quality left-back and a goal keeper, who incidentally did nothing wrong in the final, but had a poor season.

Liverpool will do well to hang on to Philippe Coutinho, who if he stays will be 25 should qualify for the 2017-2018 season.  One of Liverpool’s few world class talents he was poor and as much as Moreno played well he failed to provide the full-back much cove.

Providing Can with dynamic support in the midfield will provide with the spectre of the option of pairing Sturridge with Ings or Origi (will Sturridge even be at Anfield?).

It’s a disappointing end to the season and one wonders what may have been had Sturridge been fit from day one, but football is about hard facts and the plain fact is we weren’t good enough.

Man of the Match:  Kolo Toure

WBA 1 Liverpool 1: Liverpool underlings fail another audition

The final Premier League of the season a week before our biggest game for at least three seasons.

Eleven changes with the likes of Lucas, Skrtel, Flanagan, Ibe, Ojo, Allen and Benteke all fighting for a place on the bench in the final.  Jordan Henderson’s return to the bench meant a sure fire addition to the Europa Cup Final squad.

Danny Ings scheduled to come back to first team duties next season from a ruptured cruciate ligament done training in October was named on the substitutes bench, a testimony to his drive and determination.

Better finishing and we may have been on the end of heavy beating.

Rondan missed a host of chances as once again a Liverpool defence failed to handle the speed and power of an opposition striker.  Skrtel and Lucas failed to instil any confidence.  Liverpool had plenty of possession throughout without being able to get behind the Baggies defence.

Disappointment of the match was Christian Benteke.  He spoke beforehand of his willingness to stay beyond this season as there was unfinished business.  Right now with his physical attributes he should be bullying defences throughout matches in the same way his compatriot Divock Origi does from the start of games.

Instead, we get an apologist for a powerhouse striker, bumbling and falling about with the slightest touch.

Benteke is devoid of confidence when called upon to lead the line.  He makes the wrong runs and is forever caught on his heels appearing a fraction of section too late to get on the end of crosses.  While some may say Liverpool do not play to his attributes and those crosses are few and far between, those attributes I speak of should make him a nightmare to play against.

Instead, Bentenke at his best as magnificent a headerer of the ball in the Premier and is so much more than that, has been been reduced to a bit part player.  Right now, when he starts matches Benteke couldn’t find the net with a map and compass.

Conversely, when he comes on as a substitute he has shown the ability is there, thus one can only think it’s down to mental attitude.

In the match itself, Liverpool lost out to goal which could and could have been avoided. Allen, lost the ball with a careless pass picked up by the impressive Leko who burst past the Welshman’s token tackle before slotting in Rondon, who slammed home his finish inside the near post.

Bogdan it what was probably his final start for Liverpool will have been disappointed to have been beaten on his near post.

Liverpool soon regain parity with a stunning goal. And what a goal.

Jordon Ibe scored a goal of world class proportions.  Picking the ball up on the right just inside the half, the winger left Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans in a crumpled heap before speeding off towards the area, where cutting inside he induced Jonas Olsson legs into betraying him as he collapsed outbalanced to the ground as he buried a left shot into the bottom corner.

It was a stunning goal and the embodiment of Jordon Ibe’s footballing ability.  It was just a pity that he came nowhere near that piece of play again, often losing the ball with misplaced passes and poor control.

Next season is an important season for the layer and one wonders whether he will be farmed out on loan, but where ever Ibe is he most push on.

Like so many matches recently, this was an opportunity missed for us as a victory could have given us a Europa place for next season.  Too many thrown away points recently could have seen us challenge for a Champions League place and if we’ve learnt anything from our performances this season, let alone Leicester’s, is that we have to find some assemblance of consistency or else it will be another season of opportunities lost in the League.

The multiple changes highlighted the need for major surgery in the transfer market.  We were inadequate with an inability to turn quality possession into chances and weak in defence. Bogdan, Skrtel, Lucas, Allen and Benteke, despite his protestations, must wonder if they will ever play for Liverpool again in the Premier League again.

Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1: Liverpool withstand Hazard's brilliance

A week from the game when Liverpool will be in the midst of the Europa Cup final battle with Sevilla.  Is there any wonder that we lacked intensity, the movement was not there and passes were going astray, our minds clearly locked in St. Jakob-Park.

As if for a trial run Liverpool started with the same line-up which won through on that unforgettable night against Villarreal.  The first quarter hour elicited hope with string pressing and and Daniel Sturridge at the head of affairs looking lively.

If the performance against Villarreal was powered on high octane this one spluttered with a lack of fuel injection only coming to life at the start at the end of the match and on occasions in between where we were concerned.

While one does expect many of these players to make the final League game of the season, with places at stake for final the lack of intensity suggested those picked in their heart of hearts knew even with  Jurgen Klopp’s history of taking strong and controversial decisions a final place is almost a surety.

The best player on the pitch by a country mile was Eden Hazard.

Graceful, yet explosive from a standing start.  His goal was a thing of beauty. Moving into top gear, the balance of a supreme sportsman, able to go either way the sign of a special talent, he left Liverpool defenders trailing in his wake before curling an inch perfect shot into the corner of the net.  A goal and half and then some.

I'm using a new paragraph to describe some of the challenges on Hazard which was lame to say the least as in no way do I wish to take away from the brilliance of his goal.  But it was the signature of our inability to tune in and match Chelsea’s precision like rapier thrusts channelled through Hazard and Traore.

The atmosphere was subdued. It felt as if the crowd were on a downer, still catching their breath from last week's epic.

Philippe Coutinho lacked his usual cutting edge and to be fair he has recently. Completely outshone by the other number 10, apart from a goal bound shot being blocked earlier he was relatively innocuous.
Flashes of brilliance from Daniel Sturridge in the first half, especially a couple of incisive passes in the danger zone couldn't hide the fact that we struggled to breakdown a Chelsea backline shorn of John Terry and with an emergency stop gap in the form of John Obi Mikel.

At a guess one surmised a Klopp roasting at half-time, as we we  increased possession and had two clear cut chances.

First Daniel Sturridge sent through saw his right foot effort successfully saved by Amir Begovic and then Kolo Toure in the next move had his header loop into the hands of the keeper from close range.

Bertrand Traore’s effort from  outside the area was well saved by Mignolet who had a good night producing some solid saves .  Mignolet again came to the rescue a minute from time saving from Pedro.

Those misses for Chelsea would prove vital  as two minutes into injury time from a ball swung in from the left, from Ojo on for Toure, Begovic could only palm the ball into the path of Benteke to head in.

Man of the match: Simon Mignolet – much pilloried by yours truly delivered some top saves which kept us in it until Benteke’s equaliser.

Liverpool take the sting out of the Hornets

Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)

Liverpool 2: (Allen 35', Firmino 76')Watford 0

Pre-game Thoughts

With us doing so well to qualify for the Euro League final last Thursday this was another opportunity to rest several players namely Lallana, Can and Sturridge for their brilliant performances vs Villareal. Bringing in eight changes including Flanno, Stewart and Allen to provide added aggression in the team and Benteke to be the focal point of our attack in Sturridge’s absence. Lucas Leiva is named captain.

 It's weird to be legitimately sad that this is a Premier League game, and not another European Night.

We have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League games at Anfield (W5 D5).

Still, it's our penultimate home league game of the season and I hope we show the same commitment and desire as we did on Thursday to enable us to win and get revenge for one of our worst away league performances this season when we lost 3-0 earlier in the season as Vicarage Road.  Hopefully Flanno sets the tempo with an early crunching tackle to rattle the Watford players !! Game on!

We start off quite slow and three minutes in and we're lucky not to be down a goal which has already beats our efforts from our last match against the Hornets!

Ighalo blows past a nearly-stationary Martin Skrtel and would have been through on goal had Alberto Moreno not tracked back (for a change!!) and put the striker under pressure. Could have easily been 1-0 there.

We are struggling to handle Ighalo again today. He's already had three half-chances in the first 8 minutes. He very nearly chipped Mignolet from 40 yards. He had the Belgian keeper beat, but the effort just cleared the crossbar. 

Watford look so up for this challenge and we were struggling to get to grips of the game.

Coutinho then goes close with our first effort on goal. He's been put through a couple times on the left-hand side, and this most recent venture into the box saw the Brazilian cut it back onto his right foot, and attempt to curl the ball into the far post. The shot was deflected out for a corner. Good stuff from the little magician so far.

We were starting to enjoy a nice spell of possession as we continued to look for a way to get behind Watford's backline. Moreno decided he had had enough, and blasted a long shot well over the bar and into the stands. 

Halfway through the first half we had earned about 5 corners with a striker to aim for but sadly not one ball arrived at the head of our much maligned target man Benteke which was very disappointing to say the least.

The poorly positioned Skrtel loses Ighalo again on a ball over the top that the experienced defender should really do better with. However, he recovered just enough this time to put the ball out of play for a corner. 

Skrtel then remembers that he used to be a rated good defender by coming up with an important block on a shot from outside the box.
 

GOAL 1-0 to Liverpool !!!! After struggling to handle Watford so far we then take the lead with little Joe Allen scoring with about 10 minutes left in the first half. The Welsh international earns a free kick. Coutinho takes the free kick and finds Benteke in the box with an inch-perfect chip. Benteke nods it into the path of an on-rushing Allen, who slides home calmly for only his second league goal this season. Excellent assist by Benteke!!!

Halftime Thoughts: So, leading by a goal at the half is more fun than trailing by two, as was the case last time we faced Watford. We have had the lion's share of the possession so far, though Watford have looked far more dangerous than us on quite a few occasions on the counter. It would be nice we could now hold a halftime lead, maintain this in the second half and secure a win, something we've struggled with in the Premier League recently.

Whatever our manager has said to the lads at halftime has seemed to have stepped up our performance because we start the second half in a more positive frame of mind and nearly cap it off with an excellently worked goal.

Coutinho and Benteke look like they have played up front together for years with their telepathic understanding this afternoon, but the Brazilian's final touch lets him down. Phil played Benteke in on goal with a peach of a through ball. Benteke played it wide and then squared it for Coutinho who made the long run into the box. Coutinho only needed to pass the ball into the net, but mistimed his effort and the ball dribbled harmlessly over the touchline.

The defender formerly known as Martin Skrtel then does his usual impression of a clueless defender by trying his hardest to give away a penalty. Seems like a good bet that he'll succeed before the final whistle if he stays on the pitch for the full game.

Great save by Mignolet! He's not had much to do today, but he came up big on that occasion. Ighalo gave Moreno the slip, and then fired a shot in a one on one situation from just inside the box. Migs was at full stretch to get a palm to that goal-bound effort, and we maintain our slim lead.

Benteke takes a Britos karate kick to the chest, and the Watford player is duly booked. It didn't look to have any malicious intent behind it, as Britos appeared to be unaware of Benteke. Still looked quite painful but all the squad wants to make the Euro final team so he shrugged off the pain and continued playing like a soldier !!!

Coutinho, who has looked the best player on the pitch by some distance, comes off in the sixty-first minute for his Brazilian compatriot, Roberto Firmino. Firmino immediately gets involved in the attack, and hits a shot straight at the keeper.

I was earlier alluding to the fact that I wanted Flanagan to set the tempo by rattling a Watford player early in the game but he chose to wait until the 63^rd minute for which he was booked. The young Scouse fullback goes in for an old-school challenge on their midfielder/wide player Abdi, and, well, you can't do that these days !!!

Allen gives away a free kick in a very dangerous area just outside the box, but Abdi's effort just clears the bar.

Seventy minutes in and Watford are really  pushing for that equalizer with their first sustained pressure of the match.

GOAL 2-0 to Liverpool !!! Roberto Firmino doubles the lead! Some smart pressing by Ojo causes a deflection on a pass, which falls right into the path of Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian drives straight at the Watford defense and shoots a low, hard shot at goal. Watford keeper Gomes probably should have done better to keep it out, but his palm wasn't strong enough and the ball carried on into the back of the net. 

A lack of concentration almost gets Watford back into the game with their passing cutting straight down the middle of our defence – playing Ighalo through on goal only for him to hit the side netting with a powerful shot

Youth brigade! Ojo whose pressing helped create Firmino’s goal, is withdrawn. On comes Cameron Brannagan. Brannagan has been very unlucky not to be entrusted with playing in the league games as he has shown maturity and poise above his 19 years – he is actually 20 tomorrow – so maybe Klopp wanted to give him an early birthday present!!

The ninth one on one for Benteke ends exactly like the other eight before them with the keeper making a predicted save.

Great link-up play between Lucas and Firmino. Lucas plays Firmino who did well to get back onside before the pass. Firmino gets to the byline and fires a low cross that Benteke just can't manage to get on the end of. Then Ibe fires the shot from a tight angle hitting the post and then into the side netting and the chance is gone. There were at least three players awaiting the pass from Ibe but he again made the wrong decision. 

Last substitution of the day, Randall comes on for Alberto Moreno, who has put in a good, if unspectacular, shift today but received a standing ovation from the home fans for his performance plus his efforts on Thursday night.

Brannagan puts in a peach of a cross to pick out Benteke at the back post, but the striker can't put the big chance away as the headed effort harmlessly flies over the crossbar.  Final whistle goes with us getting a 2-0 win.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mignolet: Flanagan, Skrtel, Lucas (capt), Moreno (Randall 89): Allen, Stewart: Ojo (Brannagan 78), Ibe, Coutinho (Firmino 61): Benteke.

Subs not used: Bogdon, Toure, Sturridge, Chirivella.

Goals: Allen 36, Firmino 76

Watford (4-4-2): Gomes: Cathcart, Prodl, Britos, Anya: Abdi (Amrabat 69), Suarez (Guedioura 52), Watson, Jurado (Bergheus 57): Ighalo, Deeney (capt).

Subs not used: Pantilimon, Nyom, Paredes, Ake.

Booked: Britos.

Referee: Lee Mason

Attendance: 43,341 

Man of the match – Coutinho again folks !!!– 60 minutes for the little magician today but he was outstanding and should have capped his performance with a goal.

Sheyi Ojo has provided three assists in his four Premier League starts for Liverpool. What a great prospect!!!

Benteke led the line well and showed a great understanding with Coutinho whilst Coutinho was on the pitch and also provided an assist today for Joe Allen – just missed the chances that fell his way again !!!

Stewart had a more steadier game than his poor performance last week at Swansea and Brannagan came on and again didn’t look out of place at this level setting up a great late chance for Benteke.

Full Time Thoughts: Kind of a weird match, but it always was going to be after the madness on Thursday night. Eight changes to the squad? No problem. The cobbled together B-squad puts together a comprehensive performance, Watford on another day would have come away with at least a draw.

The result doesn't do much league-wise, as we remain in 8th place with the Saints surprisingly going to Spurs and winning earlier today.

Food for thought - If we hadn't thrown away two-goal leads at home against Sunderland, Newcastle & Southampton, we'd be level with City, with a game in hand.

More importantly no major setbacks injury wise going into the Chelsea game on Wednesday.

Liverpool 3 Villarreal 1: Liverpool win 3-1 on aggregate

What a night.  Another one of those memorable Anfield nights embellished by a guilt edged performance that simply battered Villarreal into submission.

Emre Can was immense.  Returning only three weeks after the initial prognosis was a season ender with damaged ankle ligaments.  He simply oozed majesty and maturity controlling the game from the off and that he lasted full 90 minutes was nothing short of amazing in a high octane packed performance where we pressed so hard that Denis Suarez blessed with dazzling skills was frustrated into launching into despairing tackles.

The atmosphere was tinged with electricity, buoyed by the sounds of You’ll Never Walk Alone reverberating around the ground coming off the back of the unlawful killing verdict at the Hillsborough inquest.

Liverpool were at in from start pressing high up the pitch with such intensity that we forced Villarreal out of their comfort zone and into a more hurried game.

It didn’t stop the away side testing Mignolet earlier on when Mario’s shot was expertly saved after a slight deflection from Soldado assist.

We were soon ahead.  Nathaniel Clyne cross from the right caused mayhem in the box and Roberto Firmino, who was magical all night returned with the ball with equal panic causing Bruno to inadvertently deflect the ball in.  It was just the start we needed.

We came inches from scoring a second when Lallana running on to delicious curling Milner pass, just failed to latch on to the ball as it went just wide of the far post with goalkeeper Alphonse Areola frozen to the spot.

Klopp will have been happy with the performance at half-time, if disappointed with the failure to get a second, with Villarreal using spoiling tactics at every turn and Soldado and Suarez losing the plot under the intense pressure with the aforementioned and Ruiz picking up needless yellow cards.

Early in the second-half Cédric Bakambu running through into the area, saw his chance snuffed out by a brilliant cover tackle by the imperious Lovren who has suddenly become the player Liverpool thought they were buying for £20 million.

Soldado who once upon a time seemed destined to be one of Europe’s top striker’s headed wide from a Jonathan dos Santos cross from the right.

Seven minutes later and Liverpool went further ahead when Sturridge, whose play had  looked sharper than a haircut from my local barber, fastened on to deft ball from Roberto Firmino to side foot his shot under Areola and against the inside of the post before seeing the ball roll across the line.

Anfield erupted, exploded with Daniel Sturridge wheeling away pumping his arms ahead in an emotion charged celebration.  Not for him this time the trademark dance, it was a release of frustration of not being picked in certain games of being doubted by some.

After the celebratory pack and dissipated he pumped his arms in the direction of the Anfield Road End, this was a player who wanted to play and had done what he is best at, putting the ball in the back of the net.

With Villarreal needing just one away goal to go through a moment of madness then pursued.  Victor Ruiz’s late stamp on Lallana saw him receive a second yellow card.

Rampant Liverpool wanted more and Firmino’s powerful left-footed forced the keeper to palm over.  Moreno as is wont almost caused thousands of hearts and more to miss a beat when he rashly pushed Denis Suarez inside the penalty area, fortunately for us there was no penalty award.

Nine minutes from time after sterling work from Firmino in getting behind the defence and to the by-line, he pulled the ball back to Sturridge whose scuffed shot was flicked in by Lallana loitering with intent in front of the goal.

We had reached our first European final in nine years and our second cup final of the year.  Anfield under Klopp has found itself again becoming a cauldron like days of old.

Man of the match: Emre Can – Never skipped a beat, literally controlled the game from start to finish provided the presence, steel and drive going forward we so badly missed in the first leg.

Sturridge gave us the clinical edge scoring one and having a hand in all three games.  His celebration said it all.

The whole team played in a rarefied atmosphere with Firmino quite simply on fire with Milner, Lallana and Lovren not far behind.

Another European final, where we belong.

Swansea 3 Liverpool 1: Swansea hammer lacklustre Reds

It was the first Premier League game match for us since the unlawful killing verdict from the jury at the Hillsborough inquest.

Captain’s Martin Skrtel and Ashley Willams presented a wreath bearing the number 96 to Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher at just 18, was one of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster.  Mr Devonside held the wreath aloft to a tumultuous minutes applause.

The game itself saw Jurgen Klopp make 8 changes from the first leg game against Villarreal with Klopp bringing in a number of youngsters to make the average age 23 years and 218 days the youngest in the Premier League era for the club.

Daniel Sturridge’s exclusion against Villarreal meant his inclusion was a pre-requisite in a bid to retain his fitness.
Within the first five minutes it was obvious Liverpool were struggling to contain the movement and power of the Swansea midfield, which wasn’t helped by the sloppiness and our apparent willingness to gift the ball away.

We finally created something off note after Jordon Ibe crossed only for the inform Daniel Sturridge to miscue his volley wide of the target.

With Liverpool unable to shake themselves from their lethargy Swansea continued to poor forward and Ayew slipping in ahead of Lovren fired his shot over.

It was no surprise to see Swansea take the lead.  Sigurdsson’s corner was met by Ayew running past Sturridge and rising above Lovren to head home.

Apart from a few moments of decent possession we could not get a grip on the game and it was Swansea who almost increased their lead.  Taylor and the speedy Montero linked with Routledge before he found the unmarked Cork who volleyed, only for Ward to make a superb save before springing back up to punch out the rebound.

Smith having his toughest 90 minutes in a Liverpool shirt was booked for a reckless tackle.

The waves of Swansea attacks kept coming unabated and Amat waltzed in unchallenged to unbelievably head over from 4 yards.

Ward pulled off yet another good save from Ayew after the striker skipped past Martin Skrtel before firing in a shot.

The second had to come and in did.  Philippe Coutinho with mind seemingly already on the second leg was easily dispossessed centrally before, Cork loped towards the area unchallenged before picking his spot to curl his effort inside the far post.

Liverpool were being eaten alive with Chivirella struggling in the fires of the engine room.  The Spaniard at this moment to my mind is better deployed in the hole, where Liverpool are well stocked than in the middle of the park.

Daniel Sturridge almost brought us back into the game as Ojo played him in producing a delicious chip which floated over Fabianski, but unfortunately wide of the post.  The striker frustrated with the lack of service had a speculative effort from distance which looped through to Fabianski on the full.

Lucky to be only two-down at the break and with eyes firmly stuck on next Thursday Klopp replaced Coutinho with Benteke and Lucas on for Chivirella.

The changes had an immediate effect with Lucas adding more stability to the midfield and more cover in front of Skrtel and Lovren.

Enjoying more possession without much cutting edge, Liverpool struggled with holding on to possession losing the ball with ill directed passes and slow build up.

As the clocked ticked round to 65 minutes the next three minutes perfectly highlighted Liverpool's problems.

Ojo’s perfectly delivered corner dropped in the centre of the goalmouth for Benteke to break free of his marker Sigurdsson to head in past Fabianski for his ninth goal of the season.

Two minutes later and the game was as good over.  Lucas doing a very good impression of a Sloth, was caught moping on the ball by Montero who headed straight for the area, before the threat was momentarily halted by Clyne, only for Skrtel and then Ojo to miss out on opportunities to clear before Ayew bursting into the area slammed a shot through Lucas weak block and into the back of the net.

Liverpool’s day hit rock bottom when Smith, given a torrid time by Routledge earned himself a second yellow card for a needlessly high challenge on the winger.  It was a chastening afternoon for the youngster and one he is good enough to get over after getting very little support from first Ibe and then Ojo.

Skrtel also earned himself a yellow form a foul of Sigurssson.

It was an ignominious afternoon, beaten by Swansea side who up until that point had been relatively solid at home.

The lopsided balance of inexperience kids with a sprinkling of experience heads caused Liverpool to be overwhelmed from start to finish and with Southampton going on to beat Man City later on in the day, Europa qualification through the league now seems in the balance and dependent on results and Man United winning the FA Cup.

Man of the Match: Danny Ward – pulled off some fine saves under incessant pressure from Swansea.  Impressed again from with his distribution on the ground and undoubtedly will have a future as number two at Liverpool.

I cannot remember a worse performance all season. We struggled to get into the game and apart from a brief window which saw Benteke resurrect some brief hope we were very rarely at the races.

It was a disappointing performance where we overwhelmed in all areas and our failure to create left Daniel Sturridge little to work with.

Sturridge appeared to go off in a huff at the end of the game after appearing not to thank the fans.

In response Jurgen Klopp said the following, "If someone forgot to say thank you to the fans, then it's my fault and nobody else's.

"If you think we ignore the fans it's not what we wanted. I went too immediately. Hopefully our fans know how close we are to them. After a game like this, he wants to leave and go home, recover and do a lot of things."

"The first two goals were too easy and too simple for Swansea. We deserved the defeat and they deserved the win but I think a big part of this result was our performance so we have to accept this, recover and prepare again and play much better.

"Our performance was not as good as possible. With this line up, we tried to bring fresh legs and fresh minds. I'm only frustrated and disappointed because I know we could have played better.

"It's not important now but if we could have played a little bit better, closer to our 100 per cent then it would have been a completely different game."

"Now, in this moment, we take each game as it is from now on."

"So it's the Europa League, then next Sunday, it's the Premier League. Do you really think we say 'let's put everything in this game and ignore the rest of these games' - that's not how we can work.

"We played really well in the last few games with different line-ups and today we didn't and that's less surprising than the good games we played with ten changes and things like this.

"After Bournemouth, after Stoke, after all of these games, everyone says 'how good are these young players?' and they are good, but that's how it is.

"Life as a professional footballer player is not always a honeymoon, so you have to prove yourself and deliver. Today, it didn't work too well but that's not a problem for the future, it's only problem for today... It's not about the squad or something, it's only about today."