Fantasy five for Liverpool as they crush Swansea

-


Liverpool showed their attacking prowess once again on Tuesday as they hit rock-bottom Swansea for five at Anfield. Sadio Mande was rested for the game, but the other three members of Liverpool’s ‘Fab Four’ made sure that it was a Merry Christmas for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

They got off to the perfect start when Roberto Firmino robbed Jordan Ayew in midfield and fed Mohamed Salah. He found Philippe Coutinho on the edge of the box and the Brazilian curled a superb effort into the top corner with minimal fuss to give his side the lead. Liverpool were in complete control in the first half though they struggled to find a second. Andrew Robertson fired wide from the edge of the box, before Emre Can saw a tame effort saved by Lukasz Fabianski.

Further efforts from range from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Firmino failed to test the Pole, before the latter waste a great chance on the stroke of half-time. Salah won the ball back and set Firmino away but he dragged his effort wide of the near post after cutting away from the last man. With that, Liverpool were made to do with a one-goal lead at the break but it didn’t stay that way for long. Just six minutes into the second half Firmino made amends for that miss, side-footing home at the far post after an inch-perfect free kick from Coutinho. Salah twice went close to getting his name on the scoresheet soon after, before Leroy Fer scuffed and effort wide after meeting Wayne Routledge’s cross from the right. From that point on, it was all Liverpool and just after the hour mark the ‘Reds’ made sure of the victory with two goals in a minute.

First, Robertson’s cross from the right was only cleared as far as Trent Alexander-Arnold, who duly smashed the ball into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar. Immediately from the restart Swansea brought more trouble on themselves. Fer gave the ball away and inadvertently sent Salah racing away, with the Egyptian unselfishly squaring for Firmino to tap home.

The game resembled an attack v defence drill at this point, but there was still time for another goal as Oxlade-Chamberlain did well to regain possession in the Swansea box before looping a volley into the far corner with the outside of his right foot. Dominic Solanke twice went close late on, but it was still a more than comfortable victory for the hosts, with Swansea looking very much like a side doomed to relegation. The result sees Liverpool maintain fourth spot in the Premier League, ahead of the visit of Leicester on Saturday. Next up for Swansea is a trip to out of form Watford.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Van Dijk first training with Liverpool team-mates

-
Image
As Liverpool continued their preparations for Friday's clash with Everton, there was a fresh face training among Jurgen Klopp's squad. Virgil van Dijk, who became the world's most expensive defender when he completed a £75million move from Southampton this month, joined his team-mates for the first time on Wednesday night. The defender could make his debut in the FA Cup third round on Friday. And he appeared in good spirits ahead of the Merseyside derby at Anfield. As Liverpool continued their preparations for Friday's clash with Everton, there was a fresh face training among Jurgen Klopp's squad. Virgil van Dijk, who became the world's most expensive defender when he completed a £75million move from Southampton this month, joined his team-mates for the first time on Wednesday night. The defender could make his debut in the FA Cup third round on Friday. And he appeared in good spirits ahead of the Merseyside derby at Anfield. Van Dijk took part
Read more

Chelsea appoint New Chief Executive

-
Image
Today Chelsea Football Club announces the appointment of Guy Laurence as our new Chief Executive. Guy will start his position with the reigning Premier League .  He will report directly to the club’s Board of Directors and take overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the club, including the continuing development of our commercial activities in the UK and around the world, focusing on increasing club revenues. Chairman Bruce Buck said: ‘ We look forward to Guy joining the club during an exciting period for Chelsea on and off the field. He will be working with the owner and the Board to increase our commercial revenues and maximise digital opportunities, identifying new ways to best serve our supporters here in the UK and further grow our international fan base.’ Guy has excellent pedigree in senior roles, most recently as President and CEO of Rogers Communications, one of Canada’s largest communications and media businesses. He has also previously held seve
Read more

Transfer update : Real Madrid stunned as top star claims he is joining Manchester United

-
Image
Bale has been a long-time target for United but is believed to have turned down moves to Old Trafford twice before. It had been thought, however, that Jose Mourinho was prepared to end his interest in the Wales star, due to the imminent arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal. Don Balon claims that the 29-year-old has told Real that he will be joining Sanchez at Old Trafford, although whether that will be in January or the summer is unclear at this stage.  The former Tottenham attacker has struggled for injuries over the past 12 months and has been rumoured to be part of a dramatic shake-up of the playing and coaching staff at The Bernabeu. Real president Florentino Perez is said to be ready to wield the axe after a disastrous La Liga title defence, with boss Zinedine Zidane and some of the clubs highest profile stars, including top man Cristiano Ronaldo, set to be moved on.  The report goes on to state that Bale has been in secret talks with United over the last few weeks a
Read more