Good afternoon and welcome to today’s second Premier League liveblog as Liverpool welcome Swansea City to Anfield. Kick-off is at 4.15pm and we’ll be following all the action right here.
We’ll also be keeping a close eye on the day’s other evening fixture, Norwich City v Arsenal.
Lets get straight to the teams and here’s how Liverpool will line-up this afternoon. Daniel Sturridge missed Thursday’s Europa League game through injury but is fit enough to take his place on the bench.
And Garry Monk has selected this XI:
No Philippe Coutinho for the Reds today with Lucas also unavailable due to suspension. Coutinho missed the midweek win over Bordeaux with a hamstring complaint and has failed to recover in time for this one.
For the visitors, Jonjo Shelvey misses out through suspension while Portugal international Eder is preferred to Bafetimbi Gomis.
It’s a busy day of Premier League action with four games on the schedule. Tottenham and Chelsea played out a goalless draw earlier while West Ham and West Brom are currently locked at 1-1 with 20 minutes remaining.
At Carrow Road, Norwich face Arsenal and we’ll provide any goal updates from that one throughout the course of the afternoon.
A little over half an hour until kick-off in the final Premier League games of the weekend. In the meantime, get in touch with your thoughts and opinions as to how the game at Anfield will pan out.
Can Liverpool continue their good form under Klopp or will victory at Anfield kick-start Swansea’s faltering season?
Voice your opinion in the comments section, by emailing us at ryan@the42.ie or tweeting us @football_ie.
He might be a decent bet if Liverpool are chasing a goal.
While Jurgen Klopp has enjoyed a honeymoon period at Liverpool, his counterpart today, Garry Monk, finds himself under increasing pressure.
The Swans have won just once in their last nine Premier League outings and are languishing in 15th position as we near the the busy festive period.
Monk insists his side’s spirit will help them end their poor run of form and believes ‘one or two results’ can change things very quickly.
But today’s game is the start of a difficult run of fixtures for the Welsh club with Leicester and Manchester City next on the schedule. What their under-fire manager would give for a result on Merseyside this afternoon.
James Milner wears the captain’s armband again today but Jordan Henderson returns to the matchday squad after missing the last three months with a heel problem.
For those wondering, today’s game isn’t on TV so your best bet is to stick with us right here and you won’t miss a kick. Sky Sports’ offering is Norwich v Arsenal.
Strong winds have forced Police to cordon off certain areas of the ground before kick-off.
Full-time at Upton Park where West Ham have shared the honours with West Brom.
Mauro Zarate’s stunning first-half free kick set the Hammers on their way but substitute Rickie Lambert forced the equaliser, his shot deflecting in off Winston Reid.
As he has been in recent weeks, Steven Gerrard is at Anfield again this afternoon. He’ll begin training with his old side from Monday as he looks to keep himself ticking over during the MLS off-season.
Both sets of players are out on the pitch and pre-game formalities are almost complete. Before we kick-off, there will be a minute’s applause for Liverpool legend Gerry Byrne, who passed away this week aged 77.
Kick-off! Liverpool set the ball rolling and we’re underway at Anfield.
Swansea, chasing their first league victory on this ground, are lining-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Eder spearheading their front line. It will be important that the visitors don’t allow their striker to become isolated as the game wears on.
Liverpool have started on the front foot, looking to impose themselves on the game early doors.
Quick word on the conditions at Anfield. It’s extremely windy, although the gusts aren’t as strong inside the ground. Just starting to rain, too.
Not much to speak about during the opening exchanges. Liverpool are doing all the early running but Swansea will be content to keep things quiet as they settle into the contest.
Encouraging signs for the visitors. For the first time, they get the ball down inside the Liverpool half and Naughton links with Eder nicely. The full-back then looks to return the favour but his cross is over hit.
Off the post! Swansea are cut apart far too easily. Lallana has acres of space and plays in Jordan Ibe. The young winger does well to get in behind Taylor but he dallies in possession and it allows Kyle Bartley to get back.
But the defender’s challenge deflects the ball off the foot of the post and Swansea are fortunate there weren’t any red shirts on hand to convert the rebound.
Bright start by Liverpool and they really look in the mood this afternoon. Worrying times already for Garry Monk as he watched his defence scythed apart at will. They’ll need to tighten up quickly or else it could be a long 90 minutes for the guests.
That said, they do offer a threat in attack with Sigurdsson, Routledge, Ayew, Éder all given licence to venture forward when the opportunity presents itself.
Swansea have always played one way and that’s to play out from the back but they’ve been caught out on a couple of occasions already. Liverpool are pressing high and not giving the opposition any time or space in possession.
It’s becoming a familiar sight in recent weeks. He must be itching to get back out there.
Benteke very nearly forces his way through but Naughton gets back to avert the danger.
It’s almost like attack versus defence at the moment with Swansea penned inside their own half. It’s been an uncomfortable opening 17 minutes for Garry Monk but his side remain on level terms.
Jordan Ayew, normally a dangerous attacking outlet for Swansea, is being forced to help Taylor defensively and finds himself operating in an auxiliary wing back role at the moment.
Rare period of possession for Swansea and they work it well towards Eder. The striker finds himself in a pocket of space and he has the opportunity to run at the Liverpool defence but Emre Can stands firm.
At the other end, the home fans are calling for a penalty as Benteke and Williams wrestle with each other in the box.
We’re just 22 minutes in but Swansea are already holding on here. They’re struggling to clear their lines and the ball keeps coming back in one direction.
Moreno’s cross finds Ibe at the back post but the youngster’s footing goes and the chance is gone as Williams comes across to hack it out. Swansea are all over the place defensively.
All hands to the pump for Swansea and Ashley Williams is single-handedly keeping the Reds at bay. The Welsh international is in the way of Clyne’s low cross.
James Milner, meanwhile, goes into the referee’s book for a late challenge on Jordan Ayew.
Swansea have weathered the storm, for now. A brief period of respite for the visitors but Liverpool continue to dictate proceedings.
Arsenal have taken the lead at Carrow Road through Mesut Ozil on the half hour mark.
Rare foray into opposition territory for the Swans. You get the feeling they’re just growing into the contest after an uncomfortable start. Daniel Sturridge is out warming up and receives a good ovation from the Liverpool fans.
Swansea are growing in confidence are are suddenly asking a few questions of the Liverpool defence. 10 minutes until the break and we’re still scoreless.
Garry Monk will be pleased with the way his side have responded to that early onslaught. They’ve started to get a foothold and are just beginning to stamp their authority on the game.
The Kop are just trying to spur their side on again as we approach the break. Dangerous cross from Clyne from the right after manufacturing a yard of space for himself – but nobody is there to capitalise and Swansea clear.
Bartley and Benteke have locked horns over the course of this first-half but the Swansea defender is too physical on this occasion and Anthony Taylor awards a free-kick in a dangerous position.
Moreno, Can and Milner stand over it. 20 yards out.
It’s Moreno who strikes but it was always too high. Meanwhile, Norwich have levelled matters at Carrow Road through Lewis Grabban.
One added minute at the end of the first-half. Swansea will be pleased with their work so far.
Half-time! And Anthony Taylor brings the opening period to a close.
After a bright opening, there hasn’t been much to talk about at Anfield. Liverpool enjoyed much of the possession but it’s been a game devoid of clear-cut chances and quality in the final third.
Over at Carrow Road, Norwich and Arsenal head into the break level at 1-1 with Robbie Brady playing his part in the Canaries’ equaliser.
Back underway at Anfield. Liverpool attacking the Kop.
Will we see this man at some stage?
Quiet start to the second-half but it’s Swansea who have come out of the traps quicker. Ki Sung-Yueng tries his luck from range but it sails well over Mignolet’s bar.
It’s all very flat at the moment. In the game following their last Europa League fixture, Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. Will history repeat itself for Klopp this afternoon?
Not a lot to speak of in the ten minutes since the restart. It’s been a bit scrappy and stop-start with neither side able to take a stranglehold.
All a bit pedestrian from the Reds in attack with Swansea happy to sit deep, absorb the pressure and look to catch Liverpool on the break.
Plenty of possession for the hosts but they don’t look like finding the breakthrough at the minute.
The story of Liverpool’s day. Promising and patient build-up play but when it comes to the final pass, the quality just hasn’t been there. A little over half an hour remaining at Anfield.
Penalty Liverpool!
That looks incredibly harsh. Ibe gathers the ball on the right and he looks to whip a cross around Neil Taylor. The ball strikes the Swansea full-back on the upper arm and the assistant flags for a spot-kick. Milner to take.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Swansea (Milner)
And Milner dispatches clinically.
You can see why the assistant awarded the a penalty but Taylor is a matter of metres away from Ibe and he wasn’t even looking at the ball when it strikes him. On the flip side, he shouldn’t have turned his back and had his arm outstretched.
Monk makes an instant change with Jack Cork coming on for Leon Britton. Now the visitors have to force the issue.
Swansea have responded well to going behind. They’re enjoying plenty of possession but have so far lacked the penetration to trouble Liverpool. At the other end, Bartley goes in rashly on Milner and collects a yellow card.
And here he comes! Klopp is introducing Sturridge and Benteke is the man to make way. Big ovation for the England international from the Kop.
Second change for the visitors as Routledge makes way for the equally speedy Jefferson Montero. Swansea have plenty of pace in their ranks but have been unable to get in behind the bank of red shirts.
He couldn’t watch.
In the drama of that Liverpool penalty, we missed the introduction of Jordan Henderson. He replaced Firmino for his first appearance since August.
And Henderson has made an instant impression, picking out Milner on the right with a nice switch of play. The England international drags his effort just wide with no one in Red on hand to divert home as it made its way across goal.
Corner for Swansea as they search for an equaliser. The ball falls to Montero at the edge of the box and after his initial effort his blocked, he wins a set-piece.
The visitors crowd the box but the delivery is too close to the goalkeeper and the chance is gone.
12 minutes to go and there’s a bit of anxiety in the air all of a sudden as Swansea begin to throw numbers forward.
Swansea are certainly growing in stature and are starting to believe now. A corner falls to Cork and his deflected effort is headed goalwards by Williams but it’s off target and the pressure is relieved.
Just seven minutes left on the clock at Anfield but Swansea are still very much in this game. They’ve dictated the contest for the last 10 minutes and created a couple of decent openings.
Liverpool have managed to take the sting out of Swansea’s push for a late equaliser. The job isn’t quite done yet but the Reds look comfortable at the moment.
James Milner’s penalty currently separates the sides and looks set to be the difference.
Liverpool looking to kill off the game as Henderson, in typically industrious fashion, goes marauding down the right. He does brilliantly to latch onto the ball and win a corner for his side. The Reds now just winding down the clock.
But there will be 5 additional minutes at the end of this game.
Last chance saloon for the Swans. Gomis wriggles away from his man and fires a low effort towards Mignolet’s goal but it takes a slight deflection and it’s a corner to the visitors.
But that is awful from Sigurdsson. His set-piece goes straight out of play and the chance is gone. Garry Monk is fuming.
That should be it now. Klopp makes his final change – Ibe replaced by Touré and there’s just 60 seconds left on the clock.
Full-time! And that’s it. Liverpool have completed an excellent week with another three Premier League points.
We’ll leave it there, thanks for staying with us throughout the afternoon. Plenty of Premier League reaction to follow over the course of the evening.
