Reds deny Swans in seven-goal thriller

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 4:3 Swansea

A double each by Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson saw Liverpool deny Swansea a spirited comeback and record their sixth win in eight games in 2014 after a frantic thriller at Anfield.

The home side could not have asked for a better start after Sturridge latched onto Raheem Sterling's pass before rounding Swans keeper Michel Vorm to clip in and open the scoring after not even three minutes.

And Henderson doubled the score after just 20 minutes with a nice curl into the top corner off a Sturridge lay-off.

If Brendan Rodgers men thought they were cruising to a third consecutive Premier League win against his former side, they were more than fooled and left stunned as the Welsh visitors produced a perfect comeback with two goals in four minutes.

Former Red Jonjo Shelvey pulled one back with a cracker of a strike which Anfield's breath taken and applause echoing in all corners of the ground.

And the Kop was left stunned again when Wilfried Bony's header deflected in off Martin Skrtel to make it two all and a perfect response by Garry Monk's men.

But Sturridge nodded the hosts back in front soon after off Luis Suarez cross, to give Liverpool the lead at the break.

However, it did not last long, as seconds after the interval, Bony calmly levelled the score again from the spot after Skrtel had bundled him over inside the box, making it an afternoon to forget for the Slovakian defender.

It was a breathless encounter, both sides producing numerous chances to take the lead, but it was man of the match Henderson who had the last say, netting the rebound after Vorm had denied Suarez, to make it 4-3 and three points to Liverpool.

This win takes Liverpool four points ahead of Tottenham in fifth, the same margin that separates them from the top.

Liverpool Goals: 1.: 2:52min Daniel Sturridge (15), 2.: 19:57min Jordan Henderson (14), 3.: 35:09min Daniel Sturridge (15), 4.: 73:39min Jordan Henderson (14).

Swansea Goals: 1.: 22:16min Jonjo Shelvey (8), 2.: 26:01min Wilfried Bony (10), 3.: 46:59min Wilfried Bony (10) penalty.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 2 Johnson, 5 Agger (4 Toure- 63.min), 37 Skrtel (booked 26.min), 38 Flanagan; 10 Coutinho, 8 Gerrard, 14 Henderson; 31 Sterling (24 Allen- 58.min), 7 Suarez, 15 Sturridge (12 Moses- 79.min). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Jones, 9 Aspas, 20 Cissokho, 53 Teixeira.

Swansea Team: 1 Vorm; 3 Taylor, 6 Williams, 4 Chico, 22 Rangel; 7 Britton, 20 de Guzman (11 Hernandez- 73.min); 15 Routledge, 8 Shelvey (21 Canas- HT), 12 Dyer (54 Ngog- 78.min); 10 Bony. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 2 Amat, 19 Tiendalli, 25 Tremmel, 57 Emnes.

Opta Match stats: Liverpool-Swansea
(Attack)
Attempts: 21-14
On target: 10-5
Blocked: 5-2
From outside the box: 8-7
From inside the box: 13-7
Shot Accuracy: 62.5%-41.7%
(General Play)
Possession: 53.4%-46.6%
Duels won: 53.2%-46.8%
Aerials won: 34.8%-65.2%
Interceptions: 16-23
Offsides: 2-0
Corner: 3-5
(Distribution)
Total passes: 524-445
Long passes: 10.3%-10.6%
Passing accuracy: 83.6%-80.7%
Passing accuracy opposition's half: 71.6%-67.7%
Total crosses: 11-13
Successful crosses: 36.4%-23.1%
(Defence & Discipline)
Tackles: 25-21
Tackles Won: 76%-71.4%
Clearances: 19-20
Fouls conceded: 9-11
Yellow cards: 1-0
Red cards: 0-0

Referee: Michael Jens
Attendance: 44,731
Man of the match: Jordan Henderson

Liverpool thrash sorry Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 5:1 Arsenal

Liverpool thrashed Arsenal 5-1 in an unforgettable lunch-time clash at Anfield. Brendan Rodgers' men came into the match all guns blazing, stunning the Gunners with four goals in the opening 20 minutes.

Martin Skrtel opened the scoring after just 51 seconds, whipping in Steven Gerrard's free kick, totally unmarked inside the six-yard box, sending the ball past a helpless Wojciech Szczesny with his knee.

And the Slovakian defender double the score under nine minutes later, heading the skipper's corner into the top corner over the jumping Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the line.

The Reds looked dangerous every time they went forward, especially on the wings, and should have been 3-0 up on 12 minutes when Daniel Sturridge chipped a golden chance wide after Luis Suarez sent him clear on goal.

The Uruguayan forward saw his shot smack off the post seconds later for Kolo Toure to stab the rebound wide.

But moments later, Liverpool's top scorer picked out Raheem Sterling with a perfect pass to give the young winger a simple finish at the far post to make it 3-0.

And three minutes later, Philippe Coutinho found Sturridge with a perfect cross behind Laurent Koscielny for the striker to slot it home nice and easy to make it 4-0.

Arsene Wenger's men were beaten after 20 minutes, enjoyed more possession in the second half, but fired nothing but blanks.

Liverpool made it five on 52 minutes when Sterling broke clear on goal and netted the rebound after Szczesny saved his initial effort.

Arsenal did get a consolation goal, much to the amusement of the traveling fans, after winning a penalty when Gerrard brought down Oxlade-Chamberlain in the box. Mikel Arteta converted the kick and pulled a late - and only - save out of Simon Mignolet.

But it was too little, too late, and did not mask the embarrassment and one clear thing: this was Liverpool's day and the result smashed the Premier League title race all open again!

Liverpool Goals: 1.& 2.: 0:51 & 9:28min Martin Skrtel (37), 3.: 16:00min Raheem Sterling (31), 4.: 19:17min Daniel Sturridge (15), 5.: 51:07min Raheem Sterling (31).

Arsenal Goals: 1.: 68:25min Mikel Arteta (8) penalty.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 20 Cissokho, 4 Toure, 37 Skrtel, 38 Flanagan; 10 Coutinho, 8 Gerrard, 14 Henderson (booked 47.min); 31 Sterling, 15 Sturridge (24 Allen- 66.min), 7 Suarez (9 Aspas- 86.min). 4-3-3

Subs not used: 1 Jones, 6 Luis Alberto, 12 Moses, 34 Kelly.

Arsenal Team: 1 Szczesny; 17 Monreal (28 Gibbs- 61.min), 6 Koscielny, 4 Mertesacker, 3 Sagna; 10 Wilshere (booked 59.min), 8 Arteta; 19 Cazorla, 11 Özil (7 Rosicky- 61.min), 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain; 12 Giroud (booked 47.min) (9 Podolski- 60.min). 4-2-3-1

Subs not used: 21 Fabianski, 23 Bendtner, 25 Jenkinson, 44 Gnabry.

Opta Match Stats: Liverpool-Arsenal

(Attack)

Attempts: 22-11

On target: 12-6

Blocked: 1-4

From outside the box: 7-7

From inside the box: 15-4

Shot accuracy: 57.1%-85.7%

(General Play)

Possession: 42.7%-57.3%

Duels won: 53.8%-46.2%

Aerials won: 41.7%-58.3%

Interceptions: 10-11

Offsides: 4-0

Corners: 6-6

(Distribution)

Total passes: 373-497

Long passes: 15.5%-7%

Passing accuracy: 78.8%-87.1%

Passing accuracy oppositional half: 63.8%-79.8%

Total crosses: 16-20

Successful crosses: 31.3%-20%

(Defence & Discipline)

Tackles: 35-16

Tackles won: 85.7%-75%

Clearances: 37-38

Fouls conceded: 14-14

Yellow cards: 1-2

Red cards: 0-0

Referee: Michael Oliver

Attendance: 44,701

Man of the match: Raheem Sterlinghttp

Toure howler costs Liverpool at West Brom

Sports - Football - Premier League - West Brom 1:1 Liverpool

A Kolo Toure howler cost Liverpool two points as his giveaway handed Victor Anichebe the leveller for West Brom to earn them a point at the Hawthorns.

It was the first Premier League draw between the two, the last one a 0-0 in 1984, 18 league meetings since having always produced winners.

And Brendan Rodgers' men looked on course for a win after a flat half in subdued atmosphere, which saw Daniel Sturridge tap one in to put the visitors ahead.

The Reds were nowhere near their best but in command when the SAS produced a fine buildup, Philippe Coutinho putting Raheem Sterling in nicely, before the youngster ran and passed in to Luis Suarez, whose quality slot into the box left Sturridge with an easy finish for his 14th of the season.
The Baggies weren't helped when their defender Jonas Olsson had to come off injured with a hamstring and be replaced by Diego Lugano just before the break.

But Pepe Mel must have said something right during the break, because his side came out a different team, much more open, attacking and in command.

Gareth McAuley produced a brilliant save from Simon Mignolet with a strong header off a Chris Brunt corner before the skipper pulled a superb stop out of the Belgian keeper himself.

A frustrating half for the visitors was crowned by Toure's blunder, the Ivory Coast defender passing the ball back to substitute Anichebe, who made no mistake from 25 yards out, levelling the score with a right-footer across and in.

The game ended tense with end-to-end-stuff and scruffy tackles and clumsy play, unable to produce a breakthrough for either side.

The draw keeps Liverpool in fourth, but opens the gap to the top three further.

West Brom Goals: 1.: 66:25min Victor Anichebe (16).

Liverpool Goals: 1.: 23:56min Daniel Sturridge (15).

West Brom team: 1 Foster; 6 Ridgewell (booked 62nd min), 3 Olsson (14 Lugano- 41st min, booked 86th min), 23 McAuley, 28 Jones; 11 Brunt, 5 Yacob (booked 15th min), 21 Mulumbu (booked 82nd min), 22 Gera; 38 Berahino (16 Anichebe- 63rd min), 20 Vydra (17 Dorrans- 76th min). 4-4-2 Subs not used: 2 Reid, 10 Sinclair, 13 Myhill, 18 Amalfitano.

Liverpool team: 22 Mignolet; 20 Cissokho, 4 Toure, 37 Skrtel, 38 Flanagan (34 Kelly- 74th min); 14 Henderson, 8 Gerrard (booked 81st min), 10 Coutinho (24 Allen- 74th min); 15 Sturridge, 7 Suarez (booked 74th min), 31 Sterling. 4-3-3 Subs not used: 1 Jones, 6 Luis Alberto, 9 Aspas, 12 Moses, 33 Obe.

Match Stats: 1st & 2nd half: West Brom-Liverpool
Attempts: 4-5 & 8-5
On target: 0-1 & 4-2
Offsides: 0-1 & 0-1
Corners: 1-2 & 2-2
Free kicks: 5-7 & 8-5
Possession: 60%-40% (17th min), 48.3%-51.7% (HT) & 50%-50% (FT)
Pass Success Rate: 74%-80.82% (HT) & 75%-76% (FT)

Referee: Kevin Friend
Man of the match: Raheem Sterling & Zoltan Gera