Swansea 1 Liverpool 2
Pre-match thoughts
As expected Klopp brought back Lovren for Klavan so we can assume
this is our manager’s chosen first choice team when all are fit
Swansea stared the game off well and seem to have watched Klopp speaking
about tactics on Sky’s showcase programme “Monday Night Football” because they were working around our normal pressing game.
They should have taken the lead when debutant striker Borja Baston headed over from close range.
GOAL – Fer 1-0 -We did not heed the early warning
and went a goal down after 8 minutes through Swansea midfielder Leroy Fer’s tap
in from another corner – disappointinly Clyne was essentially to blame for failing to win
the header.
The achilles heel from set pieces continues to raise its ugly head. But even more worryingly new keeper Loris Karius continues the
feeling of anxiety and nervousness we experienced with Simon Mignolet in goal. Karius
has now failed to save the first two shots on his goal in the league. Not a
great start!
This was the first time we'd trailed since the Burnley defeat last
month and it was interesting to see how we would react to the early setback.
We were still struggling to get into the game then suffered a further
setback when the in-form Lallana went off injured after 20 minutes with a groin strain. So our
first choice team didn’t last that long!
Sturridge came on for Lallana and
was hoping to get his first league goal of the season against a team he had enjoyed success against.
Swansea continued to be the better side and should have gone into the
break 2-0 up with Sigurdsson placing a free-kick on the forehead of Borja, but
again he headed over – hopefully he would rue those wasteful chances.
The first half was one to forget, not mustering a single worthwhile attempt on
target, yet at the same time feeling uncomfortably familiar against a side we
are expected to beat. Granted, Swansea came into this game with a point to
prove, but we had been up to that point, far too easy to roll over.
Halftime thoughts
Despite failing to register a shot on target in the first half we all
know aside from Man City we have a clinical group of attacking players but we
needed Klopp to give them a real rollicking to snap out of their lethargy. A draw would be the minimum expectation
from this position and a win would be a great way to go off before the international break.
We came out looking distinctly better with a clear shift in the
games momentum. Mane and Sturridge combined well, but the resulting
shot was cleared.
GOAL Firmino 1-1 - Then our increased endeavour and industrious
work got its just rewards with an equaliser coming from an uninspiring free
kick from Coutinho, but Henderson’s excellent follow up cross into the box was
met by the head of Firmino – we were now back in the game and looking to step
up for the win.
Good pressure from us meant pressing Swansea on the back foot.
This is was the team we’ve gotten used to over the past four games. There’s were still
30 minutes left for us to win this game - or concede a soft goal off of another
set piece!!
We were beginning to hit our stride now and Coutinho almost added a
vital second after a fine move ended in a one-two with Georginio Wijnaldum and the Brazilian shooting just wide
Swansea regained a modicum of control, thanks to some smart substitutions (fresher legs), and we are seeing less of the ball,
conceding corners and generally not pushing as ard for the win.
GOAL Milner(pen)
1-2 – Firmino is clumsily brought down in the box with the referee pointing to the spot. James
Milner are very own 'iceberg slim' chips the ball home for us to turn the game on its
head!! That is now Milner’s 4th penalty in our 7 league games – he is
now our top scorer this season.
There was late defensive panic with the game in injury time when a
sweeping cross from Swansea full back Rangel was met by Van der Hoorn from
close range but surprisingly he slid the ball wide with our defence completely
exposed and keeper Karius totally beaten. Our lucky escape was the last piece
of action and we breathed a sigh of relief at the final whistle!!
Final thoughts
Great result but not necessarily a brilliant performance but these are
the sort of gritty performances that will get us where we want to alongside
the days when we play our swashbuckling football !!
We now go into the international break in fine fettle and also hoping
that Lallana and Lovren, respectively have enough time to recover from theirgroin injuries.
Man of the match
Firmino – His excellent headed equaliser and winning of the penalty
helped us overcome the early setback.
Special mentions
Clyne – Was at fault for the Swansea goa, but showed character to recover excellently and
gave Naughton a tough game throughout.
Karius – So far does not breed confidence to the team – he looks to me like
a keeper that has lost his confidence since breaking his hand trying to punch a
ball away in pre-season. We need him to regain that confidence or his errors
will cost us a game.
SWANSEA (4-3-3): Fabianski; Rangel, Van Der Hoorn,
Amat, Naughton; Fer (Fulton 73mins), Britton, (Ki 63) Cork; Routledge (Barrow
63), Borja, Sigurdsson
Subs not used: Taylor, Mawson, Nordfeldt,
McBurnie
Goal: Fer 8
Booked: Cork, Britton
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Karius; Clyne, Matip,
Lovren , Milner; Henderson, Wijnaldum (Can 84); Firmino, (Origi 84), Coutinho,
Lallana, (Sturridge 23); Mane
Subs not used: Klavan, Moreno, Lucas, Mignolet
Goals: Firmino 54, Milner 84 (pen)
Booked: Henderson, Sturridge
Referee: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 20,862
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