Relegation-threatened Swansea City created history against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the early kick-off fixture at Anfield on Saturday. A dull, flat and goalless first half gave way to a remarkable second when Fernando Llorente gave Paul Clement’s Swansea side a two-goal lead after the break only for Roberto Firmino to lead a comeback and level matters.
The Reds had then sensed another statement victory in their pursuit of the title but another defensive lapse enabled Gylfi Sigurdsson to seal Swansea’s first league ever win in the Welsh clubs history at Anfield.
Liverpool’s Adam Lallana and Swansea’s Tom Carroll, who hit the post, had the best chances, to put their respective sides ahead in a quiet first half, but that all changed after the restart as the game burst into life.
Lovren needlessly conceded a corner with a misguided header and from Sigurdsson’s delivery Liverpool lost every subsequent challenge in their penalty area. Federico Fernández beat Ragnar Klavan and Lovren in the air and the ball rolled off Llorente’s shins on to Wayne Routledge with his back to goal and after he controlled the centre-forward stabbed the loose ball beyond Simon Mignolet from close range in the 48th minute.
Swansea doubled their lead just four minutes after their first as left-back Olsson broke down his side and released Carroll down the left. The midfielder swept a perfect first-time cross towards the penalty spot and there was Llorente again, towering above three defenders, to steer a textbook header beyond Mignolet’s grasp.
Swansea were in dreamland, but three minutes later Roberto Firmino halved the deficit with a firm header past Fabianski after James Milner’s deep cross found the Brazilian at the back-post. Olsson claimed he was pushed in the back, however, replay’s showed other wise and the home side was back in the game.
Georginio Wijnaldum created the equalizer with a fine piece of control to kill Milner’s high ball and cross in from the left but it was all about Firmino again. Two defenders were in close attention yet unable to prevent the forward taking the ball on his chest and sweeping a sublime first-time finish inside Fabianski’s right post.
And Anfield was now beginning to feel a momentum swing. Only for Iceland international Gylfi Sirgudsson to crush hopes once again for the Anfield faithful.
Leroy Fer and Llorente combined for debutant Carroll to attack the Liverpool rearguard. He evaded two challenges and over-ran the ball into the path of Klavan, who could only divert his cleearance across the penalty area towards Sigurdsson. The Swansea attacker then made no mistake with his left foot finish as he sent the ball back across Mignolet’s goal.
That is probably the end of Liverpool’s title challenge, but really today is mainly about Swansea. Especially Paul Clement, who’s had his first win as the clubs newly appointed manager.
Here are how the fans reacted on Twitter :
#LIVvsSWA crying out for inventive individual or combination play to break the rigid structure.Good tactical game so far.
— obioma aguocha (@sportingadvice) January 21, 2017
Look on Klopp’s face was priceless ?? #LIVvsSWA
— Sashwat (@sashwat38) January 21, 2017
Like time was frozen… Liverpool defenders just watch Swansea score from corner #LIVvsSWA #EPL
— Jordan (@NotGonnaFranK) January 21, 2017
Looking forward to being at Anfield Saturday for Swansea Game #southlondonderryKLOPPitesontour#LiverpoolFC #LivvsSwa#YNWA
— Sth Lderry KLOPPites (@SLKLOPPites) January 18, 2017
Swansea started off by paying respect to #LFC and that’s an error cz reds don’t need to get comfy at all #livVsSwa
— Arnold (@arnoldsauz) January 21, 2017
SWANSEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2-3!!!!!! #LivvsSwa Finallyyyy a win!!!!!! #Swansea #TomCarroll #FernandoLlorente @SwansOfficial
— Istyak Uddin Khan (@simplyIsty) January 21, 2017
Why Liverpool FC.. Why?
Bournemouth, Burnley and Swansea.. Seriously??#Klopp #LivVsSwa 🙁#LTF— Anant (@kamalanant) January 21, 2017
Games like this make the Premier league the best in the world #LivVsSwa
— #TheToneAndSmythShow (@tonydpoison) January 21, 2017
This game is bonkers!! #LIVvsSWA
— Rajiv Patel (@RajivSPatel) January 21, 2017
U know its bad when a horse scores two against ya #Firmino #LIVSWA #LIVvsSWA
— Marcos El Shaarawy (@teasdale33126) January 21, 2017
