Liverpool have kept their hand firmly in the Premier League title race after they twice recovered from surrendering their lead to beat a resilient Swansea 4-3 in a gripping Anfield encounter. With only one goal left to aim for this season for the Reds – a top-four finish – there should be no excuse for a loss of concentration as the club look for their first top-flight triumph since 1990.
But that’s exactly what happened, as they let a 2-0, and then a 3-2, lead slip against the plucky Welsh outfit, before the Merseysiders’ prolific attack made amends, as Jordan Henderson struck late on to secure three points for the hosts.
Red boss Brendan Rodgers has installed a quick-start attitude to his side this season, and today was no different as they opened the scoring after just three minutes,Daniel Sturridge slotting into an open net for his 21st goal of the season after a perfect slide-rule pass from Raheem Sterling.
The home side then took advantage of the Swans’ defensive hesitance to double their lead in the 20th minute, Sturridge again involved with some trickery on the right before sliding the ball to Henderson, who was given plenty of time to line up a curling shot which sailed past the rooted Michel Vorm.
Ex-Red Jonjo Shelvey proved the Jacks’ greatest attacking threat – before being forced off with a hamstring injury at half-time – with a number of decent deliveries from various areas of the pitch, but striker Wilfried Bony was unable to link-up with his team-mate.
And the midfielder took matters into his own hands moments later when he pulled one back for the visitors with an almost exact copy of Liverpool’s second, Nathan Dyerproviding the pass from the right and Shelvey beating Simon Mignolet with a sumptuous sidefooted finish into the top corner.
The sides’ previous encounter saw one of the most bizarre games of the Premier League campaign so far, with Shelvey playing a part in all four goals in a thrilling 2-2 draw. And Liverpool suffered similar defensive frailties this time around as Swansea soon levelled, Bony seeing his deflected header loop over the helpless Simon Mignolet.
But it took Liverpool just ten minutes to reclaim their lead, Sturridge completing a brace with a neat close-range header from Suarez’s left wing cross
Having rediscovered their rhythm Liverpool looked more comfortable toward the end of the first-half, but despite their confidence on the ball, Garry Monk’s men were quick to pounce on any mistake, with a late Bony effort being tipped round the post by Mignolet.
Only two minutes of the second-half were played before Swansea were awarded a penalty after Martin Skrtel brought down Bony, who coolly dispatched the spot kick to equalise yet again with his own brace, and they were close to taking the lead for the first time when Jonathan de Guzman’s shot was well saved.
Liverpool looked rattled as the end-to-end encounter continued but the Welsh outfit failed to take their chances, and the Reds capitalised when Henderson popped up in the box to put away the winner with 15 minutes left, swiping the ball home on the second attempt after a inspired 40-yard pass from Steven Gerrard.
There may still be doubts over the Reds’ chances of title glory this season, but while their delicate defence persists to leak goals it matters little if their forwards maintain their scoring form, as the win puts them only four points behind table-topping Chelsea.
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