And when given an opportunity to single out individual teammates for the overall lacking performance and throw them under the bus, the skipper took a hard pass.
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“I’m really happy here and I only want to play and score more goals”, Llorente commented, while Sigurdsson said he paid no attention to media speculation about his future.
Although Jurgen Klopp’s Reds were not their usual fluid selves in the final third, it was their inability to keep the ball out of their own net that eventually undone them, with two of the Swans’ goals coming via some shoddy defending.
“Mentally, here that of course is important”, Klopp said.
Asked whether Liverpool struggle to overcome so-called “smaller” sides, Gerrard replied: “It’s been like that for a long time”. Liverpool’s Adam Lallana led the way with 8.3 miles covered, but Jack Cork (8.1) and Tom Carroll (8.0) were not far behind the England global, with Sigurdsson (7.8) also making the list.
Two Swansea City men make Garth Crooks’s team of the week – and one gets in the European side!
Carroll was involved again with a driving run into the box, and a deflection off the shins of Ragnar Klavan saw the ball fall to Sigurdsson, who kept his cool to slot past Mignolet.
Swansea continued to push their luck, and were almost undone by a spectacular Roberto Firminho acrobatic attempt after the Brazilian did well to latch on to the impressive Adam Lallana’s through ball. He has fantastic pace, a good left foot, individual skill. By seeking to smother Swansea at 2-2 they were already playing like it was injury time despite there being 20 minutes to go.
“I expect 100 percent from us, I expect 100 percent from our crowd, that’s all-in each game”.
Liverpool dominated the vast majority of the game, with 74% possession, but Swansea’s defensive organisation and clear game plan to soak up pressure paid off to give Paul Clement his first win as Swansea manager.
It was all hands to the pump in front of Fabianski’s goal, and although Lallana, Divock Origi and Lovren all came close to bagging an equaliser, Swansea just managed to hold on for a famous three points.
The Reds are now fourth in the English Premier League table, 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea who they host next Tuesday at Anfield.
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Nicol was furious about the decision, which could be argued was down to the fact that Klopp maybe didn’t feel as though he was match sharp to start the game after sitting out.
