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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Liverpool vs Swansea, Premier League

Can Brendan Rodgers orchestrate a win against his old team?

Hello and welcome to TheScore.ie’s liveblog of Liverpool vs Swansea. While I finish off the last of my sandwich, why not take a look at tonight’s teams.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Manquillo, Moreno; Lucas, Henderson; Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling

Swansea XI: Fabianski; Richards, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Britton, Shelvey, Dyer, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Bony

No Gerrard for Liverpool. What do people make of that?

When the two teams faced off earlier in the season in the Capital One Cup, it ended with Dejan Lovren’s last minute header snatching a 2-1 win for Liverpool.

Anfield HQ / Vine

There are rumours flying around that Alan Pardew is set to leave Newcastle for Crystal Palace. Amazingly, that would make Brendan Rodgers the second longest serving Premier League manager (not including people who got promoted).

Liverpool will have to be very wary of Wilfried Bony – he has been in scintillating form for a long time now.

For those thinking about having a bet, Liverpool are 3/4, Swansea are 15/4 and the draw is 11/4.

We are off at Anfield!

Lallana has already touched the ball a few times in the hole just outside the box. Bright opening two minutes for Liverpool.

Nothing of real note to happen yet. Neither have side have kept the ball for a sustained period really.

Sterling wins a corner for Liverpool after taking on his man.

Martin Skrtel wins a header over Fernandez but Fabianski holds it.

Can spread a beautiful pass across the pitch to Coutinho but the Brazilian’s ball to Moreno high on the left is poor and intercepted.

The ball broke to Lucas in a good position outside the box but then he remembered he can’t really shoot and Swansea were able to smuggle it away after his pass was blocked.

Lallana has been busy so far. This time he makes a lovely run into the left side of the box but his cross misses everyone.

Somehow Swansea survive. Moreno picks out Sterling in the box and Fabianski makes a nice save. The ball breaks to Lallana but he skies the rebound. Poor miss from the midfielder.

Swansea haven’t had a kick so far but Liverpool haven’t punished them. Still, impressive dominance from the home side.

Coutinho has a shot from the edge of the box but it is tame and Fabianski holds it.

Swansea have strung their first set of passes together but still haven’t threatened the Liverpool defence.

Routledge has a chance to put the ball in the box but the winger blazes the ball over the bar.

Moreno thunders into a Swansea player before Sakho feeds Coutinho on the left wing. The midfielder cuts inside but his shot drifts wide.

Jonjo Shelvey tries to play in Routledge but Skrtel deals with the danger well and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

They still haven’t created much in the final third but the visitors are starting to get on the ball more and more.

Routledge floats a ball onto the head of Nathan Dyer but Mignolet gathers comfortably.

Goal! Liverpool 1-0 Swansea

Adam Lallana slides in Jordan Henderson on the right hand side, who delivers a perfect cross for Alberto Moreno to rifle home from five yards out.

Moreno was actually sort of lucky. Despite being unmarked five yards from the line he hit the ball straight at Fabianski, who could do little to prevent it from going in.

Coutinho comes very close to making it 2-0. He cut inside down the left but Fabianski was able to keep out his stinging shot.

Shelvey makes a marauding run into Liverpool territory but unluckily for him, Can’s clearance ricochets off him and goes out for a goal kick.

Liverpool have done well on Bony so far. The big striker has had to drop deep to see any ball whatsoever but has still been relatively anonymous.

Bony almost gets his head on a dangerous cross but he misses it and Liverpool clear.

Liverpool still look vulnerable at set-pieces. Fernandez heads the ball back across the box and there is a bit of panic before Mignolet claims the ball over Sakho’s head.

Liverpool have a corner after Fabianski turns Coutinho’s drive around the post.

HT Liverpool 1-0 Swansea

Swansea clear and that is it for the first half.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher both think Shelvey should have been sent off for this first half incident with Can.

What do you think?

Beanyman62 / Vine

We are back underway at Anfield!

Liverpool have an early corner.

Skrtel has just been booked after hauling down Routledge on the right wing. Swansea have a free in a dangerous area.

Liverpool 2-0 Swansea

What a howler by Fabianski! He takes a bad touch and then his clearance ricochets off Lallana and into the net. Ann absolute gift for Liverpool!

GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Swansea

Crazy scenes as Swansea pull one back right away. Bony heads a cross into the path of Sigurdsson who buries the ball past Mignolet.

And now Sterling hits the post for Liverpool from a few yards out! What a crazy start we’ve had to this half.

All of a sudden the chances are flying in at both ends. It would be no surprise if there are a few more goals in this game.

Here is that blunder from Fabianski.

Fling app / Vine

Liverpool have a chance to restore their two goal lead after Coutinho wins the ball with Sterling in support but the winger takes too much out of the ball and Swansea clear.

Liverpool 3-1 Swansea

That is a lovely goal by Lallana. Coutinho backheels the ball into the path of the midfielder in a central area and he skips past two challenges before finishing well into the bottom corner.

Bony is off for Gomis. A poor night for the prolific striker.

Sterling almost adds another for Liverpool after being played in by Lallana but he takes the ball a fraction too wide and Fernandez clears it off the line.

This was a beauty from Lallana.
https://vine.co/v/OwhaQg9p3vD

Liverpool come close to adding a fourth after some pinball in the box following a corner. Sterling, Coutinho and Skrtel all have chances but Swansea somehow keep it out.

Liverpool 4-1 Swansea

Henderson’s corner is headed into the net by Shelvey and Liverpool are in cruise control now.

It has taken 70 minutes, but Mignolet has just made his first blunder. Thankfully for Liverpool fans, he just shanks his kick out for a throw-in and no harm comes.

Sterling stings Fabianski’s gloves with a low drive but the keeper is able to hold onto it.

Markovic is on for Lallana.

Coutinho blazes over from outside the left side of the box. Liverpool still looking to add to their lead.

Balotelli is warming up for Liverpool.

Sterling just raised his hand in Ferandez’s face and initially it looked like he tried to strike the defender but the referee allows play to continue.

Sterling is off for Balotelli and on the replays, he looks a little lucky not to get in trouble for making contact with Fernadez’s face.

Balotelli gets the ball in a nice position just outside the box but he stands on the ball and Swansea clear.

Gomis just clipped a powerful drive against the top of the bar. The striker has looked bright since replacing Bony.

Coutinho and Markovic link up well outside the box to tee up Henderson but his shot flies wide.

Routledge has a chance to pull one back for Swansea but his drive creeps just over.

Balotelli almost scores after playing a one-two with Markovic but Fabianski gets down well to save.

Borini is on for Coutinho.

FT Liverpool 4-1 Swansea

It couldn’t have gone any better for Brendan Rodgers tonight as his Liverpool side moved up to eight after a comprehensive 4-1 win. They now host Leicester on Thursday with a good chance to further climb the table.

That’s it for our liveblog tonight. Thank you for joining me and make sure to check TheScore.ie for more live Premier League coverage.

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