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Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.
We’ll have the team news for you momentarily…
Gerrard is on the bench for Liverpool…
We’re underway…
Fabianski attempts to clear a poor backpass and plays it straight to Sterling.
The young winger fails to fully capitalise, but earns Liverpool a corner.
Swansea haven’t really got going yet.
Routledge has just overhit a pass, resulting in the ball going harmlessly out of play for a goal kick.
Early yellow card for Henderson — and it’s deserved.
Routledge skips past the midfielder, who cynically takes him down with a sliding challenge.
Routledge gets away from Henderson again.
Liverpool clear their lines eventually, but the speedy winger has been causing them problems early on.
Swansea have started this game very well.
Their high-intensity pressing is causing Liverpool to give the ball away cheaply on a regular basis.
(A young Swansea fan takes a selfie with Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard earlier)
Gomis sprints through on goal, but he is stopped thanks to a superb recovery challenge from Allen.
According to Sky, Liverpool have now gone eight hours without conceding in an away league game.
Skrtel plays a dodgy backpass to Mignolet.
The keeper manages to clear, but the moment epitomises the nervousness with which Liverpool have started this game.
A long ball from Sterling finds Sturridge, who lays it off to Lallana.
The ex-Southampton man’s first-time shot from just outside the box is powerful, but it’s also straight at the goalkeeper, who makes a comfortable save.
Swansea continue to look the slightly better side.
They need to capitalise while they’re on top though, as you suspect Liverpool will come alive eventually.
As I type, Sterling receives the game’s second booking for a cynical drag back of Routledge.
Better from Liverpool in recent minutes.
Coutinho and Sterling are starting to see more of the ball in dangerous areas, though they have yet to create a clear-cut chance as of yet.
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Lovely link-up play between Gomis and Routledge.
The latter then produces a powerful shot from just outside the box that Mignolet does well to parry away.
Another half-chance for Swansea.
Taylor beats his man down the left before playing it to Sigurdsson on the edge of the box, with the Icelandic international turning and shooting just over.
Fantastic save from Mignolet.
The ball falls to Sigurdsson, whose curling shot is tipped away for a corner.
From the ensuing set piece, Shelvey’s first-time shot is deflected wide.
Swansea are getting closer.
Liverpool have been especially disappointing in attack so far.
Every time they get near the box, a final ball goes astray or the move breaks down somehow.
Ki chests the ball inside the area, but his subsequent cross is straight into the arms of Mignolet.
Swansea still looking the more likely side to break the deadlock.
HALF-TIME: SWANSEA 0-0 LIVERPOOL
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0-0 at half-time and Liverpool will feel a tad fortunate to be level.
Swansea have been the better side, threatening on a couple of occasions, though they have found Mignolet in good form.
Down the other end, the likes of Sterling and Sturridge have failed to capitalise on what little service they’ve received.
Despite only 45 minutes being played, Brendan Rodgers will already be considering tactical changes, as Swansea have dealt with everything they’ve offered relatively comfortably.
The second half is underway…
Gomis was changing his boots, so Swansea had to start the second half with 10 men.
Lallana is down receiving treatment for what looks like a knee injury after colliding with an opponent.
Gerrard is warming up just in case he can’t continue.
Bad challenge from Moreno on Naughton results in Liverpool’s third booking of the night.
A couple of their players need to be very careful now.
Liverpool have looked a little more assured in this second half.
They’ve had the majority of the possession and territory since the break, even if they still haven’t created a genuine chance.
(Prior to the game, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers greets a disabled Swansea fan who he said hello to every match during his time as Swansea City manager)
Fabianski does well to tip Coutinho’s shot away, after the Brazilian meets Sterling’s cross.
As I type, Swansea win a free kick just outside the box, though Sigurdsson’s subsequent attempt is straight at Mignolet.
This man looks set to come on…
Liverpool have definitely been more dominant since the break, but they’re still looking a little lacklustre in the final third.
As I type, Steven Gerrard replaces Moreno.
SWANSEA 0-1 LIVERPOOL (HENDERSON 67)
Henderson is played through on goal and the defender tackles him, but it fortuitously deflects off the Liverpool midfielder and loops over the goalkeeper and into the net.
A bizarre goal if ever there was one, but it’s probably just about deserved based on Liverpool’s improved second-half display.
Here’s a look at the game’s only goal so far.
https://vine.co/v/OVJPQ672Aed
Coutinho with a typically audacious attempt from outside the box that goes just over.
Shortly thereafter, Sterling is played through but his first time shot goes well off target.
Liverpool are looking far more confident in possession since the goal.
Sakho does well to block an attempted snapshot from Gomis.
The Liverpool defence, for all their faults at times elsewhere, has looked solid throughout — as has regularly been the case in recent matches;
Dyer takes the place of Ki for Swansea.
10 minutes remain…
I might curse it, but Liverpool are currently giving a masterclass in how to close a game out.
The Reds are keeping possession well, and Swansea have barely had a sniff at goal in recent minutes as a result.
The ball drops to Sigurdsson on the edge of the box, but again, the Liverpool defence get a good block in.
It’s the midfielder’s last action of the match, as he’s replaced by Emnes.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time…
Liverpool really don’t look like conceding though.
So close!
Coutinho finds Sturridge with an excellent through ball, but the striker’s effort comes back off the post.
FULL-TIME: SWANSEA 0-1 LIVERPOOL
So Liverpool win to maintain their excellent recent run.
They started slowly, with Swansea looking the better side for the first 45.
However, after half-time, the Reds improved considerably, controlling the play in midfield and deserving the goal when it came, while never really looking like conceding thereafter.
It’s a vital three points for Brendan Rodgers’ side, which keeps them well in the hunt for a top-four spot.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction up shortly.
