Planet Swans ArchivesThe reality of this afternoon was simply that the Swans were second best and got exactly what they deserved from the game having surrendered possession too cheaply on numerous occasions as well as giving Suarez and Sturridge the freedom of Anfield.
It was – I guess – predictable that Michael was going to rest so many this afternoon but it was probably the resting of Ashley Williams that hurt us the most as Monks and Bartley did not seem to gel at the back and personally – on the evidence of today – it would be Monk I would play next week but that’s the managers call.
From the opening minute it was Liverpool who dominated as they controlled a midfield that so often is the Swans strong point and when they did give possession away it was soon back under the control of a red shirt as the game played out largely in the Swans half.
There were flashes from Pablo that he could cause danger on the flank but on the opposite side there was no joy from Lamah, on whom the jury remains very much out. Liverpool had already had what seemed like a strong penalty shout for a foul on Sturridge turned down when the linesman brought attention to a foul on Suarez a few minutes later and Howard Webb pointed to the spot. A hotly disputed decision by the Swans defence but it was not to be overturned and Steven Gerard slotted home the penalty although it was close to a great stop by Vorm.
Liverpool deserved their lead and the goal lifted them more as they continued to find more than their fair share of space in the Swansea defence with a weak shot by De Guzman the nearest the Swans came to troubling Reina in the Liverpool goal.
At half time and just a goal down you thought that the odd change would give us a chance of getting back into the game. That chance went less than 30 seconds into the second half when the Swans again conceded cheap possession and it was Coutinho who got a deflected shot to double the lead.
But there was worse to come – Jose Enrique made it 3 on 50 minutes finishing a flowing Liverpool move and Suarez scored the 4th a little over five minutes later as the Swans crumbled under pressure.
By the time Gerrard handed the ball to Sturridge to slot home a penalty after handball by Routledge the rout (no pun intended) was complete and the pain was close to being over.
Routledge forced a save from Reina but that was the closest all afternoon for the Swans who suffered their biggest defeat since promotion to the Premier League.
Today was an afternoon that will teach the Swans some valuable lessons ahead of next weeks League Cup Final and some of our challenges ahead but we also need to remember we don’t become a bad team overnight but we haven’t the strength in depth to make wholesale changes and always get away with it.
That though is now out of the way and we can turn our attention to next week although some will tell you we did that before kick off today!
Onwards
