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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Liverpool v Swansea, Premier League

The league’s bottom side caused one of the shocks of the season by claiming all three points at title-chasing Liverpool.

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the first Premier League clash of the day which will have implications at the top and the bottom of the table, as title-chasing Liverpool host struggling Swansea.

And the teams are in!

There are two changes to the Liverpool side that picked up a point at Old Trafford on Sunday with Philippe Coutinho retaining his place from the midweek FA Cup victory over Plymouth, while Nathaniel Clyne is also fit to start.

Joel Matip is included among the substitutes.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner: Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum; Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino.

Substitutes: Karius, Matip, Moreno, Lucas, Woodburn, Origi, Sturridge.

Liv hendo

The big news for the visitors is that both of their new signings make their debuts with Tom Carroll and Martin Olsson hoping to give Paul Clement’s side a much-needed lift.

But Leon Britton and Ki Sung-Yueng miss out today with calf strains.

Swansea: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson; Carroll, Cork; Routledge, Fer, Sigurdsson; Llorente.

Substitutes: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Amat, Fulton, Dyer, Borja, McBurnie.

In case you’re wondering today’s lunchtime game is on BT Sport 1, not on Sky Sports, where you would usually find the early Saturday kick-off.

Some food for thought ahead of today’s game:

  • Swansea have won just once in their last seven games – losing the other six.
  • The Welsh-based side have never won at Liverpool in the league in 15 attempts – three draws is the best they could offer, but have won twice in cup competitions.
  • Only Barnsley have let in more goals at this point of a Premier League season. The Swans have conceded 49 times in 21 games so far this term, the Tykes let in 51 during the 1997-98 season.
  • If Jurgen Klopp’s men win this afternoon, their tally of 48 points will set a new club record for most points after 22 matches in a Premier League season.

Remember, if you want to fire any predictions or just voice your opinion, drop me a line in the comments section, email me at shanec@the42.ie or tweet at @the42_ie.

It’s a hard job, but somebody has to do it.

Liverpool v Swansea City - Premier League - Anfield PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

This is how the table looks as Liverpool aim to go second and close the gap to four points on league leaders Chelsea.

PL Top

Bottom side Swansea could jump out of the relegation zone with a win….stranger things have happened.

PL Table bottom

Here we go! Kick-off at Anfield. 

Both sides starting in a 4-3-3 formation, but as we’ve seen before with Liverpool -especially at home – that structure is far from rigid.

Liverpool dominating the ball in the first two minutes and a diagonal cross from Henderson goes out for a goal kick, with the skipper failing to find the on-rushing Wijnaldum in the box.

When Swansea get the ball, they are passing with precision and purpose, but Liverpool’s high press has seen several moves break down at the halfway line in the early stages.

WIDE! Best chance of the game so far!

Henderson whips in a curling ball on the edge of the box to the head of Can, but the German heads the ball wide, when he really should have hit the target.

Early warning for Swansea.

First meaningful action for Mignolet in the Liverpool goal, but Routledge’s cross is easily gathered.

CLEAR! Good defending from Fernandez in the Swansea box as a curling cross is cleared with Lallana ready to pounce.

OVER! What a goal that would have been!

Terrific foot work from Firmino set up him free down the right flank, his dinked cross is met by Lallana but his acrobatic finish soars over the crossbar!

All Liverpool, so far.

Liverpool v Swansea City - Premier League - Anfield Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

OFF THE POST! Good play by Swansea sees Tom Carroll free in the box, his cross is deflected off Lovren from a tight angle and hits the outside of the post!

Stars on and off the pitch today!

Will F

Although Will could be on a spying mission today..

Chelsea Will

Beautiful play from Coutinho as he sets Milner free down the left with the outside of his boot, but the former England international can’t find a fellow Liverpool man with his pull-back from the byline.

CHANCE! A teasing cross from Milner with his right foot is just an inch too high for Firmino in the Swansea box.

This little man in red is always a joy to watch.

Liverpool v Swansea City - Premier League - Anfield Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

He’s kicked every ball this lunchtime, what a platform it could be for Swansea if they could pick up anything today from Anfield.

Liverpool v Swansea City - Premier League - Anfield Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

BLOCK! More good, but last-ditch defending from the Swans.

Coutinho robs Naughton just outside the box, and finds his Brazilian teammate Firmino, but his shot is blocked by Mawson, who threw himself in the path of the ball.

BOOKING! A yellow card for Klavan who make sure he stops the run of the debut boy Olsson, by body checking the Swede.

WIDE! The ball falls to Lovren from 25 yards out and his first-time effort is well wide.

Second-half instruction: don’t try that again.

No goals yet at Anfield, but we do have news of a goal from Loftus Road as Galway man Ryan Manning scores his first QPR goal.

QPR

HT: Liverpool 0-0 Swansea

The visitors have held on and will be more than satisfied with their 45 mins. Big second half to come for both sides.

A big second half has started on Merseyside!

GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Swansea (Llorente 48′)

It all started from a less than convincing header from Lovren, who conceded a corner.

Then, Sigurdsson’s deep outswinger corner was met by Fernandez, a scramble in the box led the ball falling to the grateful Llorente, who pokes the ball home!

Game on!

Liverpool v Swansea City - Premier League - Anfield Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

GOAL! Liverpool 0-2 Swansea (Llorente 52′)

What a header from the Spanish international.

Good interplay between Olsson and Sigurdsson down the left flank and a delicious ball from the latter is gobbled up by Llorente who powers his header past Mignolet.

Nobody predicted this!

Liverpool v Swansea City - Premier League - Anfield Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Swansea (Firmino 55′)

Game on!

This time the Brazilian nets with a superb header of his own from a teasing ball from Milner. Frantic stuff at the moment.

SUB! In all the madness Daniel Sturridge takes the place of Philippe Coutinho.

Klavan is perhaps lucky not to see a yellow card, after he blocks the run of Llorente, although a second yellow card for that incident would have been harsh.

CLOSE! Another out-swinging corner from Sigurdsson is met by the head of Mawson, but Fernandez doesn’t react quick enough to direct the ball on target.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Swansea (Firmino 69′)

Magic from Firmino! It’s 2-2!!

Milner finds the darting run of Wijnaldum, who shows great skill to control the ball, his cross his chested by Firmino, he adjusts his body to fire a half-volley past Fabianski!

What a last 20 minutes we have on our hands!

Swansea can breathe again after an almighty scramble in their box is cleared.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-3 Swansea (Sigurdsson 74′)

Unbelievable stuff – Swansea are back in front!

Good work by Tom Carroll, who has been impressive on his second debut for the club, he ghosts past Lovren before Klavan’s tackle diverts the ball to Sigurdsson, and the Iceland international coolly finishes past Mignolet.

SUB: Origi is on for Can for Liverpool.

SUB: First change of the day for Swansea with Rangel taking the place of Olsson.

10 minutes to go. Don’t rule anything out just now.

SAVE! A driving shot from distance by Lovren is tipped over the bar by Fabianski.

Swansea are five minutes away from their first league win at Anfield. What a massive three points it would be in the context of their season.

SUB: Second change for Swansea with Borja Baston replacing Fernando Llorente.

CHANCE! The ball pinballs around the Swansea box and somehow Lalllana’s deflected cross hits the top of the crossbar, Sturridge then pulls the ball back to the head of Lallana and his close range header loops over the bar.

WIDE! Sigurdsson’s free-kick from 25 yards goes harmlessly off target.

Five additional minutes!

Liverpool have a chance to float the ball into the box from a free, but Swansea clear.

Three minutes to go and Liverpool are playing direct football, but Swansea are holding on….just.

SUB! Final changes for both sides Fulton on for Fer and Matip on for Wijnaldum.

Fabianski gathers a lofted ball from Milner and surely that is all three points for Swansea.

FT: Liverpool 2-3 Swansea 

One of the biggest shocks in the Premier League season so far, as Swansea win their first-ever league win at Anfield.

Swansea are out of the bottom three for the time being, while Liverpool will be hoping other results this weekend don’t compound this slip up.

Thanks for joining us and we will have all the reaction to all of the Premier League matches throughout the day.

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