Match Notes: WHU 0-2 LFC

Sports - Football - Premier League - WHU 0:2 LFC

Liverpool recorded their 15th consecutive Premier League victory, beating 17th-placed West Ham 0-2 in their game in hand at the London Stadium on Wednesday night, to take them to 70 points in the quickest time, 19 points clear at the top of the table, ahead of defending champions Manchester City.

The Reds' historical run continues to 41 league games unbeaten, the third longest run in English top-flight history after Nottingham Forest (42 in 1978) and Arsenal (49 in 2004), having beaten all 19 team they have faced in the league this season.

And I am happy to report, I was there. As an undercover Kop, in the Billy Bonds stand, I can say, the atmosphere was nowhere near Upton Park. Apart from the couple of takes of the bubbles song, the crowd went quiet, frustrated, the Red corner was the loudest.

The visitors had most of the ball, control and chances, but the Hammers were well organised at the back, less so at the front, wasting the few chances they created. David Moyes grew more and more frustrated with all the miscontrol and mess-ups, the fans also, sarcastically cheering the only change the Scotsman made. 

Mohamed Salah put the league leaders ahead from the spot after Issa Diop's foul on Divock Origi and the VAR took its time to confirm (pen 35'). And the great Egyptian turned from scorer to provider after the restart, setting up Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the counter. 

The former Gunner made no mistake finishing off the superb move started by skipper Jordan Henderson, striking the ball with his right boot into the bottom left corner (52'). Here's my video of that counterattacking goal.

Both sides had chances after that, Salah hit the woodwork for the Reds and should have had at least a brace, and Trent Alexander-Arnold with a bit of frantic defending at the other end, but the result never looked under threat and all the records with it. 

It's only the fourth time a run of 15 wins has been completed (Manchester City 18 in December 2017, Liverpool 17 in October 2019 and City 15 in August 2019), 

It was Jürgen Klopp's 150th victory as LFC boss in all competitions (W150 D58 L39). The German played all these records down as always in the post-match interview: "I'm only happy about the three points." he said. 

"Tonight was a normal performance. I have no idea [if anyone will catch us]. The first target is to get the maximum points - there are still a lot of games. Yes we have 70 points, an incredible number, but so many things can happen. I'm not too much concerned about records. 

"We had a record at [Borussia] Dortmund and Bayern [Munich] beat it the next season. We don't feel as though anything is done, I promise you. We take a deep breath and then Saturday it's Southampton."

But one thing is for sure, us Reds fans are making the most and enjoying every single moment of it, whilst and as long as it lasts. This side is making the unbelievable believable, undoable doable, and just move on and go on. Walk on. Win on. 

Many on social media are trying to argue and melt the records down, saying the league is not as competitive, weak teams, not much competition... Really? Have you seen how many English teams compete in Europe? And reach the last 16 at least?

And how much money and players have been exchanged over the last transfer windows?! The numbers cannot lie. This is still the top spending and playing league. And oh, I nearly forgot to mention, we are the European and World champions for a reason. Simply the best.

WE ARE TOP!!! BOOM!!! YEAH!!! YNWA!!!

XxXXxX

Liverpool Goals: Salah pen 35' and Ox 52'.

West Ham Team: 1 Fabianski; 26 Masuaku, 3 Cresswell, 21 Ogbonna, 23 Diop (booked 33'), 52 Ngakia; 10 Lanzini (18 Fornals 69'), 16 Noble (c) (booked 42'), 41 Rice, 11 Snodgrass; 22 Haller. 5-4-1
Subs not used: 20 Cardoso, 4 Balbuena, 27 Ajeti, 15 Sanchez, 5 Zabaleta, 35 Randolph.

Liverpool Team: 1 Alisson; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 12 Gomez, 66 TAA (8 Keïta 77'); 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (c), 15 Ox (48 Jones 85'); 27 Origi, 9 Firmino (3 Fabinho 69'),11 Salah. 4-3-3 
Subs not used: 18 Minamino, 13 Adrián, 6 Lovren, 32 Matip.

Match Stats: WHU 0-2 LFC
Possession: 29%-71%
Shots: 7-13
On target: 4-5
Corners: 3-7
Fouls: 6-6
Bookings: 2-0

This game was postponed from match week 18

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, own match and RMC Sport coverage.

Premier League Picks Of The Week 28

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 28

The 28th week of the Premier League action saw:

29 goals - most by Arsenal and Liverpool = 5 each

251 shots - most by Man City = 22

65 on target - most by Liverpool = 10

102 corners - most by Man City = 13

176 fouls - most by Southampton = 15

30 bookings - most by Cardiff, Burnley and Man United = 3 each

0 red cards

1 penalty - 1 scored (Agüero for Man City)

What a game! Arsenal and Liverpool were on fire! The Gunners took Bournemouth apart at the Emirates, 5-1 with five different scorers including recalled Mesut Özil with the opener after just four minutes. Substitute Alexandre Lacazette sealed the win making it five with a superb free-kick (78’), condemning the Cherries to their ninth consecutive away defeat for the first time since the 1933-34 season. The result keeps Unai Emery’s men in the top four, one point ahead of Manchester United. More to the Red Devils' impressive win and run below.

The Reds thrashed Watford 5-0 at Anfield, which was just what the doctor ordered for them in the title race and after their disappointing and frustrating goalless draw at Old Trafford on Sunday. Sadio Mané (9’, 20’) and Virgil van Dijk (79’, 82’) starred with a brace each - the prior’s second the cheekiest of cheeky back-healers, absolute stunner, the latter’s both headers. Injured Roberto Firmino's replacement Divock Origi contributed one as well in-between (66’), adding up to their biggest win of the season. But the real star was man of the match and night Trent Alexander-Arnold. Left out at the weekend, the youngster showed how much he was missed, producing top passes, crosses, control and precision, becoming the youngest player ever at 20 years and 143 days to get three assists in a Premier League game. Just wow! The win helped Jürgen Klopp’s men and their goal difference, just one point clear at the top ahead of Manchester City in second. More to the Citizens' lucky winner below.

What a team! Chelsea beat Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino’s men slumped and bumped out of the title race too easily. The Blues had dropped goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after his League Cup antiques at the weekend, but his replacement Willy Caballero didn’t have anything to do = 0 shots on target produced by Spurs. The embarrassing scenes were in the opposing goal this time, Hugo Lloris letting the opener by Pedro go through his legs (57’) before watching his team mate Kieran Trippier pass the ball past him and into his own net (OG 84’). That makes it two own goals in their last six Premier League games, as many as in their previous 113 in the competition. They are still in third, but now eight points behind City in second and nine away from the top.

Manchester United recorded their eighth consecutive away win - not even the great Sir Alex Ferguson was able to achieve that! Ole Gunnar Solskjær (still only caretaker) saw his side beat Crystal Palace convincingly despite their looooong list of injuries (of eight first-team players!). Romelu Lukaku stepped up and scored twice (33’, 52’), and Ashley Young drilled in a third (83’), to hand the Red Devils yet another win and keep them in fifth and in the race for the top four, just one point separating them from Arsenal in fourth. Surely, the Norwegian boss will be made permanent, a question of when.. Not if... ?!

What a man! Brendan Rodgers was announced as the new Leicester boss hours before their match against Brighton at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night. The news of his talks with the club was no real surprise, but the speed of his departure from Celtic caught out everyone. It seemed like the Northern Irishman couldn’t wait to get away! The Foxes recorded their first home win in five on the night, beating the Albions 2-1, thanks to goals by Demarai Gray (10’) and Jamie Vardy (63’), Davy Pröpper with a cracking but the only reply for the visitors (66’). But most of the main focus and attention was on the new man in the stands. The 2016 champions are up to 11th, on 35 points, ten points clear of the drop zone, 18 away from the top six. What will the new boss' ambition/aim/target be without any silverware in sight (unlike in Scotland)?!

What a goal! Newcastle’s opener against Burnley at St James’ Park by Fabian Schär (24’) was sublime! Sean Longstaff pounced on the visitors' weak defense to double the home side’s lead (38’). Both goals were clinical and crucial in the relegation battle, ending Sean Dyche’s side’s eight-game unbeaten run in the league and easing the Magpies’ relegation worries.

Everton’s team work goals at Cardiff were top-quality, all three of them. Gylfi Sigurðsson's brace (41’, 66’) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin's late finish (90’+3’) ended the Toffees’ league run of three successive defeats. The win takes them up to ninth, four points behind Watford in eighth and level on points with West Ham in tenth.

Manchester City’s penalty against the Hammers was softer than soft, which was otherwise a very frustrating night for Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad. Sub Bernardo Silva went down without any contact, seconds after coming on. Surrounded by West Ham players, replays showed, if anything, the Portuguese midfielder twisted and tripped over his own feet. But the spot kick was given, and of course Sergio Agüero made no mistake of netting it (pen 59’) and the three points for the Citizens with it, to keep them in the title race, one point behind the Reds. Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini was understandably less happy with that call and result.

What the hell?! HUDDERSFIELD WON!!! SCORED AND WON!!! Celebrations galore!!! Lots of sickies up North on Wednesday, I bet. Yes, they are still bottom, but sweeter than sweet it still was for them. Only the third win of the season. First since November. After seven consecutive defeats at home. Sweet home. After African striker Steve Mounié scored the winner in the 91st minute, he got buried under his team mates as a thanks. Boss Jan Siewert was also taken over by wild celebrations with his backroom staff after the German's first win in charge of the club. Wolves were their victims, having lost eight of their last nine league matches against the Terriers and seven of their 12 against teams starting the day at the bottom of the Premier League. Southampton meanwhile moved out of the relegation zone after beating Fulham 2-0, and with Cardiff’s defeat, will have added to the bottom club’s celebrations and the tiniest of tiny glimmer of hope that has returned for them in their chance of somehow climbing out of the deep and dark relegation swamp they’re in.

My Predictions - Actual Results

Cardiff 0:0 Everton - 0:3

Huddersfield 1:2 Wolves - 1:0

Leicester 1:1 Brighton - 2:1

Newcastle 2:2 Burnley - 2:0

Arsenal 2:0 Bournemouth - 5:1

Southampton 2:1 Fulham - 2:0

Chelsea 3:1 Tottenham - 2:0

Crystal Palace 1:3 Man United - 1:3

Liverpool 2:0 Watford - 5:0

Man City 3:0 West Ham - 1:0

Click here for the previous Picks Of The Week.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match reports, MOTD, Twitter and RMC Sports coverage.

Dire Goalless Draw Not Helped By Ref

Sports - Football - Premier League- LIV 0:0 STK

It ended goalless between Liverpool and Stoke City in the lunchtime kickoff on Saturday, the Potters squeezing out a point and keeping their manager Paul Lambert’s unbeaten record at Anfield intact, a Premier League record of five games without defeat (5 = 2W 3D).

The home side did dominate as expected, star man Mohamed Salah missed a sitter early on and put a free kick wide.

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out injured for the rest of the season, young defender Trent Alexander-Arnold played in a more attacking position, stumbling and wasting a great chance in the box.

Danny Ings, in place of a not-yet-fit Sadio Mané up front, saw his goal disallowed, flagged offside, so close.

Stubborn and very physical, the visitors had a couple of chances as well, nothing to worry Loris Karius too much though.

The second half continued dragging and frustrating for Jürgen Klopp and his men.

There was a handball appeal against man of the match defender Erik Pieters late on, who certainly gave his all, Georginio Wijnaldum was furious with the officials.

Virgil van Dijk was booked seconds later, Ryan Shawcross threatened with a chance but missed, it was end to end stuff in the final minutes.

James Milner was not happy with the referee either, nothing given after he was felled down, unlike when he had challenged to win the ball earlier on.

Six minutes were added on for all the injuries, Wijnaldum headed high, everyone in white surrounding Salah.

The great Egyptian looked tired, producing seven shots, none on target, the most he has had without scoring in a single game for Liverpool in all competitions. 

Roberto Firmino saw his penalty appeal in the final seconds ignored, Pieters getting away with it again, hugs all round as replays showed.

The Reds will be rightly disappointed to not have gotten more out of the match they bossed throughout, but the final edge was missing.

It was the first time in nine games the Reds failed to score at home in the league, since drawing 0-0 against West Brom in December, netting 27 in the eight games between the two goalless draws.

Klopp and co will be glad not to have more names added to the injury list after a very physical game with a lot of clashes and ouches, Jordan Henderson going down at the end of the first half but continued after treatment.

Next is the second and decisive leg of the Champions League semi-final in Rome on Wednesday before a trip to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League at the weekend with Chelsea looking to break into the top four.

Stoke meanwhile are three points from safety with two games left to play in the league (against Crystal Palace next weekend and at Swansea on the final day).

HT Stats: LIV 0-0 STK

Possession: 66%-34%

Shots: 7-1

On target: 1-0

Corners: 0-2

Fouls: 2-10

Yellow cards: 0-2

FT Stats: LIV 0-0 STK

Possession: 72%-28%

Shots: 19-5

On target: 2-1

Corners: 9-2

Fouls: 7-14

Yellow cards: 1-2

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 17 Klavan, 4 van Dijk (booked 88’), 12 Gomez; 18 Moreno, 5 Wijnaldum, 14 Henderson (c), 66 Alexander-Arnold (2 Clyne 65’); 28 Ings (7 Milner 65’), 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 3-4-3 on Sky & PL apps, good old 4-3-3 on BBC & SFR with 18 & 66 completing the back line whilst 12 is in the middle... Bit of both in the end, sometimes back 5!!!

Subs not used: 6 Lovren, 22 Mignolet, 26 Robertson, 29 Solanke, 58 Woodburn.

Stoke City Team: 1 Butland; 3 Pieters, 15 Martins Indi (32 Sobhi Ahmed 52’), 17 Shawcross (c), 6 Zouma; 2 Bauer, 27 Ndiaye, 4 Allen, 22 Shaqiri; 25 Crouch (booked 36’) (24 Fletcher 65’), 18 Diouf (booked 42’). 4-4-2

Subs not used: 7 Ireland, 16 Adam, 20 Cameron, 29 Haugaard, 40 Campbell.

Referee: Andre Marriner

Man of the match: Erik Pieters

Ground: Anfield

Attendance: 53,255

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the Sky Sports and BBC match reports, Twitter, Sky Sports and Premier League apps and SFR coverage.

Red Over Blue Again & Into CL Semis

Sports - Football - Champions League - MCI 1:2 LIV

Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League semi-final for the first time in a decade after coming back from behind to beat Manchester City 1-2 in the quarter-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, thrashing them 1-5 on aggregate. 

Mohamed Salah started for the Reds after missing out the goalless Merseyside derby on Saturday due to injury, whilst the Citizens made four changes to the side that lost the mad Manchester derby at the weekend with Sergio Agüero on the bench.

And the home side could not have asked for a better start after their shock in the first leg at Anfield, Virgil Van Dijk losing the ball looking for a free kick, former Red Raheem Sterling ripping through the visitors, given too much space to run and provide Gabriel Jesus who netted the opener after just one minute and 57 seconds! Too easy!

Kevin De Bruyne sent a chance high soon after, before Sadio Mané and Nicolas Otamendi collided, City keeper Ederson Moraes getting involved and pushing the Senegalese again and again, both names were added to the referee's book after just 14 minutes.

It was a feisty, breathtaking start, the home side dominating and pressing, testing the visitors again and again, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren and Andrew Robertson dealing and coping well with all the pressure, clearing the ball again and again, top class.

Sterling went down too easy too many times, desperately looking for trouble against Robertson, the referee had a word, whilst Alexander-Arnold and Bernardo Silva were cautioned for choking Leroy Sané and verbal protests respectively.

Roberto Firmino was also booked for catching De Bruyne too late, the Belgian too quick for the Brazilian striker on the counter before Liverpool finally got their first shot on target with nearly 40 minutes on the clock, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain serving Ederson an easy catch.

The first half ended as crazy as it started, Bernardo Silva hitting the bar before Jesus' shot was blocked, James Milner with the last touch and Loris Karius nowhere near, Sané netting the rebound, but the flag was up, goal disallowed.

The Ox and Salah combined well in the final seconds before the interval, a nice one-two and rare Red combo attack, but the chance went just high. It stayed 1-0 at half-time without any time added on.

Spanish referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz probably needed the break more than anyone else after a crazy 45 minutes, City boss Pep Guardiola was not happy with the officials and sent to the stands from the restart, obviously having taken his protests too far.

Jürgen Klopp could be glad it was only 1-0 but surely needed the Reds to step up if they did not want to collapse under all the pressure and after having worked so hard. And they didn't. Quite the opposite.

Their Egyptian star shined once again, beating Ederson with a lovely move and finish after collecting the ball off a falling Mané in the box, making it 1-1 with his 10th European goal and 39th in all competitions eleven minutes after the break.

Guardiola communicated with his coaching staff to make changes, Agüero and Ilkay Gündogan were brought on, the home side looking to make their continuous dominance count, but to no avail.

Firmino gave the Reds the lead with just under a quarter of an hour to go, 1-2 on the night, 1-5 on aggregate, his 24th goal of the season after Otamendi gave the ball away and Fernandinho backed away, breaking more European records.

The front duo of Salah and Firmino have both scored more goals in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign for Liverpool than any other player in the club's history (10 each = 20).

These two goals bring the Reds' total to 33 goals in the Champions League this season, the most by an English side in a single campaign.

It was just not City's night, seeing another goal disallowed for offside, correctly this time, Sané mistiming his runs too regularly, no wonder the officials kept raising their flags. 

It stayed 1-2, the Reds' persistence paying off and breaking down the Citizens once again, making it three wins out of three meetings, to reach their 18th European semi-final.

City had scored three or more goals in 12 out of their 26 home games this season, so, they are more than capable to come back from three goals down, but Klopp's men were able to stop them.

Liverpool have only lost by three or more goals three times under Klopp:

Watford 3-0 (2015)

Manchester City 5-0 (2017)

Tottenham 4-1 (2017)

The German made sure that didn't happen again this time, recording his seventh win against Guardiola, the first time the Catalonian has lost three times in a row since May 2015 with Bayern.

Next on the list for the Reds are Bournemouth at Anfield Saturday evening, surely the Kop will be bouncing still after this display - ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ! :-D

Man City Goal: de Jesus 2’.

Liverpool Goals: Salah 56’ & Firmino 77’.

Match Stats: MCFC 1-2 LFC

Possession: 68%-32%

Shots: 20-5

On target: 3-3

Corners: 9-2

Fouls: 5-7

Yellow cards: 2-4

Man City Team: 31 Ederson (booked 14’); 14 Laporte, 17 De Bruyne, 25 Fernandinho; 30 Otamendi, 2 Walker; 7 Sterling, 33 de Jesus, 21 D Silva (c) (10 Agüero 66’), 20 B Silva (booked 30’) (8 Gündogan 74’); 19 Sané. 3-2-4-1

Subs not used: 1 Bravo, 4 Kompany, 18 Delph, 35 Zinchenko, 47 Foden.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk (booked 65’), 6 Lovren, 66 Alexander-Arnold (booked 29’) (2 Clyne 81’); 5 Wijnaldum, 7 Milner (c), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain; 19 Mané (booked 14’), 9 Firmino (booked 35’) (17 Klavan 81’), 11 Salah (28 Ings 89’). 4-3-3

Subs not used: 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 29 Solanke, 58 Woodburn.

Referee: Antonio Miguel Matheu Lahoz

Man of the match: Mohamed Salah

Ground: Etihad Stadium

Attendance: 53,461

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app, Twitter, BT Sport and beIN sports match coverage.

Late Drama & LFC Winner At Burnley

Sports - Football - Premier League - BUR 1:2 LIV

Late drama with two goals in the final minutes saw Liverpool destroy any kind of Burnley fight back and clinch a 1-2 win at Turf Moor.

The Reds were sloppy in the goalless first half, Sadio Mané especially wasting and giving away the ball a lot.

The Clarets had a couple of chances, tight tight tight, challenging the Reds in their dominance of possession.

The weather did not help, wet wet wet, players slipping all over the place.

The only stop Nick Pope had to make in the first half was against Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

And Simon Mignolet denied Scott Arfield with an easy dive to his right, the only other shot on target before the break.

With an hour gone, finally a breakthrough came for the visitors, Mané turning on the edge of the box and sending a rocket into the back of the net with his left foot to make it 0-1, his eighth goal of the season.

Red youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold stretched Pope to the keeper's top left, a brilliant save with just over 15 minutes left in the game.

Ashley Barnes put a chance wide for the home side late on, testing the Reds again and again.

The Ox got denied by Pope after Liverpool took too long to make something out of the ball in the Burnley box.

Substitute Sam Vokes' header was kept out and away by Mignolet shortly afterwards. The biggest drama was left for last.

Three minutes left on the clock, Vokes' wide header to his right found Berg Gudmundsson who made no mistake of a diving header past the back post to make it 1-1, the Reds defense caught sleeping.

With four minutes added on, Clarets manager Sean Dyche was much more on his toes, whilst Reds boss Jürgen Klopp looked more frustrated.

In the dying seconds, man of the match Dejan Lovren's header off a free-kick found Ragnar Klavan who headed the ball in to make it 1-2.

It was the first goal scored by an Estonian player in Premier League history.

Relief for Liverpool, after recording their 16th game unbeaten, grief for Burnley, losing after they fought so hard till the end.

HT Stats: BUR 0-0 LIV
Possession: 37%-63%
Shots: 6-7
On target: 1-1
Corners: 1-1
Fouls: 2-8
Action areas: BUR 18.3%-57.2%-24.5% LIV

FT Stats: BUR 1-2 LIV
Possession: 42%-58%
Shots: 13-19
On target: 4-5
Corners: 3-9
Fouls: 4-12

Burnley Goal: Gudmunsson 87'.

Liverpool Goals: Mané 61' & Klavan 90'+4.

Burnley Team: 29 Pope, 26 Bardsley, 5 Tarkowski, 6 Mee, 3 Taylor, 17 Berg Gudmunsson, 4 Cork, 16 Defour, 37 Arfield (21 Wells 86'), 13 Hendrick (9 Vokes 71'), 10 Barnes.
Subs not used: 2 Lowton, 18 Westwood, 19 Walters, 22 Lindegaard, 28 Long.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 12 Gomez, 23 Can, 5 Wijnaldum, 19 Mané (9 Firmino 72'), 20 Lallana (7 Milner 86'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (32 Matin 90'+6'), 29 Solanke.
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 26 Robertson, 28 Ings, 58 Woodburn.

Referee: Roger East
Man of the match: Dejan Lovren
Ground: Turf Moor
Attendance: 21,756

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, MOTD, Twitter and SFR match coverage.

Liverpool Crush Sorry Swans 5-0

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 5:0 SCFC

Liverpool thrashed managerless bottom side Swansea 5-0 at Anfield in the late kick-off on Boxing Day, a dominant home victory that consolidated their place in the top four.

Philippe Coutinho captained the Reds in Jordan Henderson's absence.

The Brazilian Barcelona target opened the scoring with a perfectly timed whip, curled into the top corner from 20 yards out, with just six minutes gone.

Caretaker player-manager Leon Britton had organised the Welsh side well though to keep the home side at bay and cover cover cover, the lead staying just 1-0 at the break.

Liverpool had made four changes to the side that drew against Arsenal on Friday. It was a first Premier League start for Swansea frontman Oliver McBurnie.

But the home side soon took over and their opposition out, Roberto Firmino doubling the lead six minutes after the break, firing home Coutinho's free kick.

Scouse youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold made it three with his first Premier League goal for the club, smashing the ball in off the bar from close range, with his family watching.

Firmino tapped home the fourth a couple of minutes later, off Mohamed Salah's fine cut back, his fifth in four Premier League appearances against the Swans.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made it five in the final ten minutes, pouncing on a poor clearance by Jordan Ayew.

And it could have been more, substitute Dominic Solanke coming close a few times,keeping stopper Lukasz Fabianski stretched left, right and centre.

Salah was not on the scoreboard for a change, wasting a few good chances but providing a couple.

The Welsh side had crumbled to bits after working oh so hard, Britton crying out for help and changes, quickly.

LFC manager Jürgen Klopp was a very happy man, but pointed out the hard work of the first 55 minutes.

And then the fun started for the Reds, "the last half an hour was fantastic, a joy to watch, a deserved win." Indeed.

It was the 10th time Liverpool have scored 5+ goals in 128 matches in all competitions under their German boss (6th time in the Premier League, 4th at home)

Keeper Simon Mignolet can also be very happy, keeping a clean sheet on his 200th Liverpool appearance after making a great fingertip save denying Tammy Abraham with the last touch of the game.

Since getting thrashed by Tottenham on the 22nd October, the Reds have been unbeaten in 14 games (9W, 5D), scored 45 goals and conceded 10.

Klopp's men have scored 72 goals in all competitions this season, way ahead of the likes of Barcelona (67), Manchester United (63), Chelsea (60) and Real Madrid (59).

The Brazilian duo have 43 goal involvements between them this season, man of the match Firmino with 15 goals and 7 assists, Coutinho 13 and 8 respectively.

And at home, Liverpool have only been behind for three minutes all season, conceding just three goals in the league at Anfield this season, the best defensive record in the Premier League.

But somehow it still feels like there is room for improvement, too many times the Reds have been shaken and dropped points disappointingly.

And with the January transfer window moving closer and closer, the rumours and talks are heating up once again.

But first things first, next on the fixture list are Leicester at Anfield on Saturday.

Liverpool Goals: Coutinho 6', Firmino 52', Alexander-Arnold 65', Firmino 66', Oxlade-Chamberlain 82'.

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 26 Robertson (7 Milner 75'), 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain; 10 Coutinho, 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 68'), 11 Salah (20 Lallana 69'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 6 Lovren, 12 Gomez, 19 Mané.

Swansea Team: 1 Fabianski; 16 Olsson (booked 56'), 6 Mawson, 33 Fernandez, 26 Naughton; 14 Carroll, 51 Mesa (17 Clucas 65'), 8 Fer (35 Renato Sanches 78'); 62 McBurnie (10 Abraham 62'), 18 Ayew, 15 Routledge. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 5 van der Hoorn, 12 Dyer, 13 Nordfeldt, 22 Rangel.

HT Stats: LFC 1-0 SCFC
Possession: 52%-48%
Shots: 8-3
On target: 2-2
Corners: 1-0
Fouls: 3-4
Yellow cards: 0-0

FT Stats: LFC 5-0 SCFC
Possession: 55%-45%
Shots: 22-7
On target: 9-4
Corners: 4-2
Fouls: 5-8
Yellow cards: 0-1

Referee: Kevin Friend
Man of the match: Roberto Firmino
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 52,850

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, stats and facts were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and SFR coverage.

LFC Move Closer To CL Last 16

Sports - Football - Champions League - LFC 3:0 NKM

Liverpool got one step closer to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2008-09, topping the group after beating NK Maribor 3-0 at Anfield, in not the most riveting and convincing victory on Wednesday night.

Click here for my full LFC ByTheMin match coverage.

The first half was the only goalless half of the night in Europe, agonising to watch the Reds dominate the ball, creating chance after chance, Maribor's keeper Jasmin Handanović and defensive back line of eight frustrating the hell out of the home side.

Ragnar Klavan and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were the two changes for the Reds since the two sides met in Slovenia a couple of weeks ago, replacing Dejan Lovren and Philippe Coutinho due to lack of form and fitness respectively.

It didn't help when Liverpool were forced to make their first change, Georginio Wijnaldum getting injured with just over 15 minutes played, to be replaced by Jordan Henderson.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino created most chances for the Reds, but it was still goalless at the break, the home side unable to break the deadlock despite 12 chances and 84% possession in the first half alone!

The atmosphere reflected the frustration and disappointment, the Maribor fans making themselves heard at Anfield more than once or twice.

Momo finally found the breakthrough shortly after the interval with a cheeky back-footer, Joël Matip winning the ball back near the centre-circle, passing to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who found the Egyptian in the box.

Salah registered his 10th goal in all competitions, plus three assists, that's more goal involvements than any other LFC player.

Seconds later, the Reds were awarded a penalty after Bobby was wrestled to the ground by Aleksander Rajčević, who was booked for his wrestling/judo skills.

Skipper James Milner's spot kick was soft and predictable, Handanović able to glove it onto the post and clear.

With that miss, Liverpool have messed up five out of their last seven penalties!

Salah missed more sitters, Firmino was denied by Handanović, the crowd died down and shut down more and more in silence.

Even Jürgen Klopp showed less tantrums and more composure than usual. Worrying. Disappointing.

Emre Can finally doubled the lead with just under half an hour to go, banging the ball from the centre of the box with his right foot into the back of the net off Milner's pass.

Loris Karius did not have much to do, but the couple of times Maribor did attack, the keeper showed full attention and good focus, stopping and saving well.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge made it three in the final minute, waking up Anfield with a nice first touch and then strong volley with his left foot, capitalising off another Red corner and sleepy defence in the box.

It was a very one-sided game, but the visitors can be very happy the way they frustrated the hell out of the home side. Patience is a virtue. One more and more LFC fans seem to lack...

It is a win for the Reds which sees them top of Group E, a point ahead of Sevilla in second, plus a clean sheet, but it was nowhere near the quality, glory and entertainment of other European clashes.

On a more positive note, Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in their past five games in all competitions, after managing none in the seven games before that, and have scored 14 in the last five matches. 14!

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Liverpool Goals: Salah 49', Can 64' & Sturridge 90'.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 18 Moreno, 17 Klavan, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum (14 Henderson 16'), 23 Can, 7 Milner (c); 11 Salah (15 Sturridge 73'), 9 Firmino (16 Grujić 85'), 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain. 4-3-3
Substitutes not used: 22 Mignolet, 12 Gomez, 26 Robertson, 29 Solanke.
Coach: Jürgen Klopp

NK Maribor Team: 33 Handanović (c); 4 Šuler, 26 Rajčević (booked 53'), 3 Billong; 28 Viler, 8 Kabha, 6 Pihler, 22 Milec; 39 Bohar (booked 23') (20 Bajde 69'), 27 Mešanović (9 Tavares 58'), 10 Hotić (7 Ahmedi 81'). 3-4-3
Substitutes not used: 69 Obradović, 5 Vrhovec, 12 Vršič, 29 Palčič.
Coach: Darko Milanoč

HT Stats: LFC 0-0 NKM
Possession: 84%-16%
Passes: 459-91
Shots: 12-1
On target: 2-0
Corners: 9-0
Fouls: 2-4
Yellow cards: 0-1

FT Stats: LFC 3-0 NKM
Possession: 75%-25%
Shots: 23-5
On target: 9-1
Corners: 17-2
Fouls: 7-9
Yellow cards: 0-2

Referee: Ivan Kružliak (SVK)
Assistants: Martin Balko & Tomaš Somolani (SVK)
Additional assistants: Peter Kralović & Filip Glova (SVK)
Fourth official: Branislav Hancko (SVK)
UEFA delegate: Danilo Filacchione (ITA)
Man of the match: Emre Can
Ground: Anfield

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and beIN sport live match coverage.