Milner spots on as Reds sink Swansea
AFP
AFP, SWANSEA (UK): James Milner propelled Liverpool to second place in the Premier League as his late penalty secured a 2-1 win against Swansea on Saturday.
Milners spot-kick sealed an impressive comeback for Jurgen Klopps team and enabled the Reds to move within two points of Premier League leaders Manchester City, who face Tottenham on Sunday.
Liverpool trailed to an early Leroy Fer goal at the Liberty Stadium and looked second-best before Roberto Firmino took control to inspire his sides fourth successive league victory.
Brazil forward Firmino scored Liverpools equaliser early in the second half and won the crucial penalty that Milner converted in the final minutes.
Struggling Swanseas fifth defeat in seven league games will increase the pressure on manager Francesco Guidolin, who has had to deal with speculation he is set to lose his job.
Ryan Giggs and Bob Bradley are among the names reported lined up as potential replacements for Guidolin.
Klopp made one change to the side that thrashed Hull 5-1 at Anfield a week ago, with Dejan Lovren, a rejuvenated presence in the Liverpool defence this season, returned to the starting line-up in place of Ragnar Klavan.
There was a solitary change, too, in the Swansea team following their 3-1 defeat by Manchester City as striker Borja Baston starting a Premier League game for the first time in place of the injured Fernando Llorente.
Former Atletico Madrid forward Borja was in the thick of the action, but wasted an early chance to endear himself to the locals by heading over from Wayne Routledges fine cross.
Liverpools defence was looking surprisingly fragile despite Lovrens return to action and Fer made the most of the instability to put the home side ahead.
Borja atoned for his earlier lapse when he rose above Joel Matip at the far post to win Gylfi Sigurdssons corner.
He nodded down into the goalmouth where Mike van der Hoorn nudged the ball towards the target before Fer applied the finishing touch form close-range.
There were suspicions of offside but Fer got the benefit of the doubt and sprinted off in celebration of his fourth goal this season.
A Liverpool backlash was expected but Swansea belied their lowly status as they enjoyed the upper hand against high-flying opponents.
Fer exemplified their self-belief when he tried his luck form distance, only to see his shot veer off target, before Jack Cork had a shot on the stretch comfortably saved.
Borja should have doubled the lead midway through the first half when Lovren misjudged Sigurdssons free-kick, but he headed wide of the target.
Klopps worries deepened when Adam Lallana had to be withdrawn with a groin injury, a problem that will put the attacking midfielder in doubt for Englands upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia.
Little was going right for Liverpool and Daniel Sturridge was rightly booked by referee Micheal Oliver for diving in the Swansea penalty area.
However, Liverpool looked invigorated after half-time and Swansea were suddenly on the back-foot as momentum swung in the visitors favour.
