But this was another unconvincing home display from Liverpool in a dour game affected by the blustery conditions, the Reds enjoying plenty of possession but, as has been the case too often this season, finding it hard to break down a well-organised visiting defence.
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A tough start to the Premier League season has forced Swansea City’s board to consider making some serious changes to the team.
Klopp characterized the result as a “perfect” conclusion to a “perfect” week, in which Liverpool also beat Manchester City in the Premier League and Bordeaux in the UEFA Europa League. Swansea have not won a match in November and the momentum that Klopp and his squad have built up the last two matches should lead to three points.
There is no doubt that Swansea were disciplined and determined as they tried in vain to end a run that has seen them drop from the top four towards the bottom three.
Whether awarding the penalty was the right decision or not, Swansea couldn’t provide a clinical response to take at least a point from the game, but fans should be pleased with the effort that was displayed in Merseyside as a much improved performance was shown. They played 20 and 24 minutes respectively as second half substitutes.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will decide late whether to risk his playmaker against Swansea.
Monk says Swansea’s recent struggles have been a result of collective failings rather than poor individual performances. I did think penalties had to be deliberate. I don’t know many teams who win 3-0, or 4-0 every week so we have to fight for it. flawless. Maybe we could have done more in the final third but we have restricted a very good attack-minded team to pretty much nothing.
“Roberto came from a club in Germany in Hoffenheim and it is a small one – very good players – and he was playing under not the biggest pressure”, he said. Swansea left-back Neil Taylor was judged to have handled Ibe’s cross as he turned away from the ball with his arm in the air.
There were starts at Anfield for England internationals Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne but in more encouraging news for club and country Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge stepped up their returns from injury with second-half appearances from the bench.
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“But if you perform like that, if you have those principles and that work ethic, that will happen”.
