Liverpool 4-3 Swansea City, match report

Liverpools Daniel Sturridge sweeps past goalkeeper Michel Vorm. Picture: Reuters

Brendan Rodgers’ side continue to be plagued by a porous defence but moved within four points of Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea after emerging victorious from one of the games of the season.

Henderson had the final word in his side’s 4-3 success, forcing home from point-blank range in the 74th minute after his initial effort had been saved.

However, Rodgers’ former team played their part with a stirring away performance capped by Jonjo Shelvey’s first-time strike and a brace by Wilfried Bony.

“We know we can score goals and if we’re not having one of our better days we have the character and resilience to keep fighting,” said Rodgers.

“The strong part of our game came through. Our offensive game is very aggressive and we’ve got goals in the team but we’re disappointed with the goals we conceded.”

The frenetic pace was set in just the third minute, when the hosts scored a wonderful opener on the break. Raheem Sterling robbed Angel Rangel inside his own half and executed an inch-perfect 30-yard pass for the advancing Sturridge.

Sterling’s ball, bending into the striker’s path off the outside of the boot, still required Sturridge to round Michel Vorm and he did so with aplomb before locating the open net.

Liverpool nearly caught Swansea off guard moments later when Sterling’s curled effort was beaten away by Vorm at the near post.

The hosts doubled their lead against the run of play after 21 minutes. Sturridge’s flash of pace – breezing past Neil Taylor as he cut in from the right wing – created the space, but the finish was even better. Henderson, lurking on the edge of the area, controlled the ball with his left boot, eyed up the top corner and dispatched a precision finish with his right.

Swansea’s response was immediate and emphatic. Just two minutes after conceding they created their own version of Liverpool’s second, Nathan Dyer playing the Sturridge role as he drifted inside, and Shelvey was on hand to match Henderson’s finish, stroking the ball into the top corner from a similar position.

There was no celebration against his former club and Anfield responded with a warm ovation.

The goals kept coming, with the visitors making it four in the 27th minute. Martin Skrtel was harshly adjudged to have fouled Shelvey and, when Jonathan De Guzman’s delivery was headed on by Bony, the ball deflected past Simon Mignolet via Skrtel’s shoulder.

Swansea had the momentum, but once more the Reds proved lethal in the final third as they reclaimed the lead after 36 minutes. A patient build-up stretched Swansea and when Luis Suarez floated a cross for Sturridge, he rose to nod home his 20th goal of the season.

There was no further scoring before the break, though Luis Suarez did see an audacious strike from 45 yards drift a couple of yards wide with Vorm back-tracking.

Less than three minutes of the second half had passed when Swansea equalised for the second time, Skrtel again cursing his luck as he conceded a questionable penalty in a tangle with Bony. He was at least spared a second yellow card, but Bony made no mistake from the spot.

Attack continued to dominate defence, with Suarez denied at the near post after a flowing move, and De Guzman twice going close at the other end.

Referee Mike Jones had decisions to make too, Simon Mignolet close to handling outside the area and Suarez calling unsuccessfully for a penalty following a collision with Jose Canas.

A seventh goal seemed inevitable and Liverpool grabbed it with 16 minutes remaining.

Steven Gerrard produced a 40-yard pass to Suarez, who controlled on his chest and saw his shot blocked by Williams.

Henderson fired the loose ball at Vorm, who allowed it to squirm out of his grasp as the England midfielder followed up to finish the job from a yard. The two goals he bagged meant he doubled his season’s tally in a day.

Swansea threatened to equalise for a third time in the closing stages, but the Reds went even closer as Gerrard’s deflected effort crashed off the post.

Scorers:

Liverpool - Sturridge (3,36), Henderson (20,74)

Swansea City - Shelvey (23), Bony (27, 47pen)

Referee: M Jones

Attendance: 44,731