Firmino strikes twice as Liverpool crush Swansea

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Swansea City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 26, 2017 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS/Phil Noble

(Reuters) - Roberto Firmino scored twice as Liverpool eased to a 5-0 win over bottom club Swansea City on Tuesday to remain fourth in the Premier League table.

Juergen Klopp named Philippe Coutinho as captain and the Brazilian curled a sublime effort into the top corner with the home side’s first real attacking foray after just six minutes.

Andrew Robertson and Firmino both went close as the first period drew to a close, with Swansea rarely threatening a riposte.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Swansea City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 26, 2017 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Mohamed Salah REUTERS/Phil Noble

Firmino netted twice after the restart, each goal sandwiched between a maiden league strike from teenage full back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Substitutes Adam Lallana and Dominic Solanke went close before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made it five with a classy finish.

The win lifted Liverpool on to 38 points, one ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who beat Southampton 5-2 earlier on Tuesday.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Swansea City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 26, 2017 Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold scores their third goal REUTERS/Phil Noble

Managerless Swansea remained rooted to the foot of the table, five points from safety.

(Reporting by Ed Osmond, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Swansea City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 26, 2017 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores their fourth goal REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Swansea City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 26, 2017 Swansea City's Leroy Fer in action with Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Swansea City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 26, 2017 Swansea City's Alfie Mawson looks dejected Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine