Read Paul Doyle’s match report from Swansea:
Anyway, thanks all for your company - bye.
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Full-time: Swansea City 3-1 Liverpool
Well, Swansea played very well indeed. They set the tone early, snapping into tackles and attacking intelligently and in numbers. Then, when Liverpool threatened a comeback, they responded almost immediately; they cannot now be relegated.
As for Liverpool, consult next Thursday night for a verdict.
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90+3 min The away end is not full. Hard to argue with that one.
90+2 min So, if you’re Klopp, how do you respond to this effort? On the one hand, a few smacked bottoms would be fair enough, on the other, why give out for a flat effort when there’s a crucial game imminent?
90+1 min Brittan goes off and Fulton comes on.
90 min Swansea are enjoying this, fizzing the ball about as Ayew seeks his hat-trick. There shall be four added minutes.
90 min Time is elapsing.
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88 min Steve McManaman gives Andre Ayew the man-of-the-match award, which is well deserved though still slightly harsh on Jack Cork, who set the tone for the afternoon. But it then transpires that Ayew’s wife had a baby last week, and, as far as I can see, he refrained from the rocking celebration - which makes the bubbly all his.
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87 min Swansea knock it along the back-four like Liverpool circa 1984, and the crowd cheer.
85 min Swansea are seeking more goals, and Sigurdsson has another belt from distance, this time finding Ward’s midriff - he’s had a very presentable afternoon.
83 min Martin Skrtel’s head is not made of head. Sigurdsson absolutely panels one from outside the box and he simply bumps it away like it’s nothing, which it was not.
82 min More rueful smiling from Klopp. I wonder what he means by it.
81 min For Howard Webb, that Sturridge penalty appeal wasn’t a penalty, for him.
80 min Change for Liverpool: Brannagan replaces Ibe, who’s had better days.
78 min Swansea win a corner down the left and the ball scooshes across the box, playing Sturridge’s arm off the turf. As the penalty appeals ring out, Rangel slaps a shot at goal that hits the stanchion and ripples the side-netting,deceiving the commentary team, never mind the crowd. Good effort.
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77 min Skrtel dives in on Sigurdsson, knocks him over, and is duly booked.
RED CARD! Brad Smith is sent-off for a second bookable offence.
He misjudges the flight and bounce of the ball so that when a leaping Ayew nicks it away from him, he’s already committed to the foul.
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75 min Sturridge, who has not made his selection for Villarreal an automatic one, weaves away from Brittan, his cross deflected behind. The corner comes to nothing, and so too does the next one, fisted clear by Fabianski.
73 min Ojo allows the ball to run across him onto his left foot and moves away from Rangel, who barges through him accordingly. He’s booked.
73 min Montero departs - Clyne will be enjoying that more than most - and Naughton replces him.
71 min Ayew has been excellent this afternoon and he takes a pass from Cork on the half-turn, looking to feed Routledge in the same movement. He can’t, but it was a nice idea.
69 min Liverpool are searching for the heroes inside themselves.
YES THEY CAN! GOAL! Swnasea City 3-1 Liverpool (Ayew, 67)
What a glorious mess this is! After Lucas loses possession Montero races at Skrtel, twisting him inside and out before Clyne intercedes. But despite the presence of 43,865 defenders in the box Liverpool can’t clear, and Montero retrieves the ball down the left of the box to cross. Somehow, Ayew reaches it first and swivels hard to scuff a drill and drill a scuff past Ward. That, you would posit, is in close proximity to that.
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66 min Can Swansea raise it again?
GOAL! Swansea City 2-1 Liverpool (Benteke, 65)
Simple, again. The corner finds Benteke around the penalty spot, Sigurdsson already lost in a risible mismatch, and with Stewart also chasing it, he heads firmly past Fabianski and into the corner.
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63 min Better from Liverpool, Clyne breaking forward and finding Sturridge inside the box, who lays off a return. As he forces himself towards the ball, Taylor inserts himself into the race and slides it behind for a corner, studding Fabianski’s face in the process. There’s a break while he receives treatment.
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62 min Lovely play by Rangel skipping forward and finding Routledge, who lifts the ball over Lovren and scoots around him to collect before the offside Ayew can intervene. But the attack is crowded out, after which ire is dispensed towards the ref for failing to penalise Ayew.
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60 min Adam Lallana is warming up along the touchline.
58 min Lucas turns quickly and passes forwards, the ball finding its way to Ojo on the left. His cross is a decent one, and Benteke reckons he’s pulled back by Amat as Taylor sidefoots firmly at his own goal - and just wide. At the corner, there’s the usual skullduggery from both attackers and defenders, the free-kick awarded to the latter for an offence not entirely obviously on first or second glance.
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58 min Not much going on, which is kind of the problem with this 4-4-2 Liverpool are at. There’s not much movement between the lines, meaning it’s tricky to find space and disconcert defenders.
56 min Ojo runs at Rangel and drills a cross into his shins, winning a corner; it’s useless, and headed clear before the it so much as reaches the front post.
55 min Swansea are largely sitting back now, allowing Liverpool to knock it about from side to side and in front of them.
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53 min This is already much better from Liverpool, who are trying and all sorts. Ibe races around two players along the right touchline, hits a cross against one, then the other, and is vexed when it bounces out of play and the throw-in goes against him.
51 min Lovren reaches a ball ahead of Ayew and leaves him first limping, then lying. Eventually, Klopp instructs his players to find toch and we see an inadvertent foot-stomp - a sair yin, no mistake, but not one that needed the play stopped.
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50 min Sturridge accepts possession inside the centre-circle and seeking Ojo, floats a square ball behind him and into touch. He looks suitably sheepish.
49 min Liverpool knock it around in midfield - to no end, but it’s an improvement of sorts.
48 min Physics appears to have taken hold - the rain means that the ball is dragging more than zipping now. This is not going to be pretty.
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46 min That must’ve been a tricky one for Klopp - Countinho played so badly that he deserves to trudge through a further 45 minutes, but, on the other hand, he’s got things to do on Thursday. Anyway, looks like Liverpool are now playing a 4-4-2.
46 min Liverpool make two changes: Chirivella and Coutinho are relieved, with Lucas and Benteke pressed into service.
“Arabic version of White Rabbit from the American Hustle soundtrack,” emails Steven Wyatt:
While you wait:
Half-time: Swansea City 2-0 Liverpool
Swansea have been as good as Liverpool have been abject, strong in the tackle and enterprising in attack with Cork, Montero and Ayew standing out. Klopp being Klopp, expect him to make changes and go for it after the break.
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45 min There shall be a single, solitary additional minute.
44 min Coutinho seems, finally, to have reconciled his status with his presence on the pitch, and a sharp turn away from Brittan wins a free-kick just outside the D, just left of centre. He and Sturridge wait behind the ball, and the latter slams a miserable effort well over the top. Klopp enjoys more rueful laughter, and Benteke looks to be getting ready for a second half appearance.
43 min So, does Klopp try and win the game by sending on players he’s keeping for Thursday - because that’s what he’ll need to do - or does he accept defeat right about now? Not a great choice, that.
42 min Ibe, who’s barely featured, is given time on the ball and moving from left to centre, rolls square to Coutinho. He shoots hard, and Taylor deflects behind - the corner comes to nothing.
40 min Chirivella finds Stewart, who passes the ball around his heel, fooling Cork who fouls him. That’s a booking.
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38 min Montero is giving Clyne a difficult afternoon, and when he and Chirivella are beaten in quick succession, he slides in to earn a booking. Taylor’s ball in is useless, but Liverpool don’t get it away and a further cross comes in. This time, Skrtel heads clear, and Montero is there again, meeting it with an overhead kick that Ayew tries flicking on. He misses, and Ward seizes.
37 min Sturridge is in the game now, and on the half-turn clips an effort from outside the box that Fabianski grabs easily. But things may be changing.
36 min And Sturridge almost responds with an even better goal! Ojo rauns across midfield and slides through a pass that puts his man in a race with Amat. He wins it, easily, and lifts a delectable chip over Fabianski - it looks for all the world as though it’s in, but drifts and pitches just wide. Liverpool may just have woken up.
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35 min Liverpool have been shambolic so far, with the notable exception of Ward.
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WHAT A GOAL! Swansea City 2-0 Liverpool (Cork, 33)
Liverpool lose the ball just by the centre-circle - it’s bouncing and Coutinho simply isn’t arsed. Cork, on the other hand, is, and bursts through midfield before, just outside the box, just left of centre, using Lovren as a screen to powerdraw a curler into the far corner, three-quarters of the way up. Fantastic goal from the game’s dominant force.
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31 min Swansea have had 72% of the possession and Liverpool are doing well to be only one behind.
28 min Klopp is grinning ruefully - there might be some heavy metal tea-cup chucking in the changing room at half-time. And there’s the Jefferson Airplane again, haring through at inside-left when Chirivella loses possession - he feints to go inside Lovren, fires in a low shot with his toe that Ward does well to save.
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23 min A favourite and now topical football photo
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26 min Smith loses Routledge and pulls him back - he’s booked. And from the ensuing free-kick, just outside the box down its right side, Sigurdsson places the ball on Amat’s head, about three yards out. But, somehow, he contrives to get underneath it and power a header over the bar! Strange behaviour.
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25 min More excellence from Swansea as Montero nashes down the left and cuts back a sorely tempting cross for Sigurdsson, who thunks a drive at goal. But Ward does superbly to save with his feet, diving the wrong way.
GOAL! Swansea City 1-0 Liverpool (Ayew, 21)
Simple but brilliant. Sigurdsson drills over a flat, low corner and Ayew, losing Sturridge and charging at Lovren, headbutts powerfully past Ward. Swansea have earned that.
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20 min A Liverpool attack breaks down and Swansea break through Montero, on the left touchline and lifting a delicious ball into midfield. Another astute pass from Cork then finds Routledge, who does superbly to play in Ayew. He’s about to shoot - and does - but Lovren is right over the deflect behind for a corner,
19 min Britton and Cork are showing Chirivella and Stewart at the moment.
17 min Taylor fires the ball into Ayew and Skrtel extends a leg around him to intercept. But Ayew falls over and the ref deduces a foul, the free-kick 40 yards out left of centre. It’s underhit and headed clear, but Swansea come again, and a Cruyff turn from Cork just inside the box almost slips Ayew through.
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16 min The aforementioned Klopp will not be enjoying this - his team have done almost nothing so far.
14 min Sturridge dallies in possession and Swansea pinch it from him to launch a break. In the end, Ayew leathers a shot over the bar when he ought to have done better, but that’s Jurgen Klopps’ preference for Divock Origi right there.
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13 min Coutinho messes about outside his own box and is duly nailed by the excellent Cork, who transfers possession towards Ayew. He whips over a dangerous cross from the left, forcing Smith to hip behind. The corner comes to nowt.
Summary
12 min The rain is tipping down now - the helpful sheen will soon become unhelpful drag. A favourite footballing downpour:
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10 min Smith finds Ibe who cuts into the box and stubs a cross at Sturridge. The ball is nip-high, more or less, and he swivels well to hook goalwards - but with toe not laces, enough to send the effort wide.
9 min Smith slides in on Routledge with studs up and control lacking; Roger East deems it worthy of nothing but a free-kick. That’s Roger East no red cards so far this season, Roger East.
8 min “I am bound to take issue with that sign indicating the kick off time of this fixture,” emails Roy Allen. “12 noon is, by definition, neither am nor pm. What is the world coming to? (If you print this I’ll know it’s a really terrible game.)“
Me, telt. I’d always thought that it was a.m. when it’s dark and p.m. when it’s light.
6 min Liverpool have barely strung two passes together.
4 min Again, Rangel hits Montero, and this time he catches up with the ball and arriving on the edge of the box, has two men to his left - he finds neither. But Swansea look a threat, and if they can find a reliable striker for next season - not easy, granted - they’ll do a lot better.
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3 min Good stat from Darren Fletcher: with an average age of 23 years and 218 days, this is the youngest starting XI in Liverpool’s history.
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1 min Rangel lifts a ball down the touchline for Routledge, but it kicks off the turf and hurries on over the by-line.
1 min There’s a lovely, footballing rain at the Liberty as Liverpool kick-off.
Swansea have laid a wreath on the centre-spot in tribute to those killed at Hillsborough, and the crowd now honour the heroism of the families who finally achieved justice.
The players are waiting to emerge, Liverpool led by captain for the day and Primal Scream devotee, Mrtn Skrtl.
Get to grips with Sheyi Ojo. He looks a proper talent.
Brilliant meaningless games (2): West Brom 5-5 Man United 5
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Jurgen Klopp is excited by his young players - in particular by Cameron Brannagan, who is on the bench. He feigns amazement that the various selection and non-selection of Daniel Sturridge should be a topic for discussion - his growing disdain for obligatory interviews should be a pleasure to watch.
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Brilliant meaningless games: France v Belgium, third place play-off, Mexico ‘86
So, back to the teams: Swansea make two changes from last week’s hiding at lowly Leicester. At the back, Amat replaces Fernandez, and in midfield, Montero comes in for the injured Fer; Gomis is back on the bench.
Liverpool, meanwhile, make eight alterations following their defeat in Villarreal. Most interestingly, Kevin Stewart and Pedro Chirivella anchor their midfield, while in front of them, Coutinho, Ojo and Ibe offer pace, trickery, imagination and movement.
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BREAKING NEWS: Michael Owen has had a haircut. More as I get it.
A touching gesture from @swansofficial in today's official match programme. pic.twitter.com/pzHaZqsDPr
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 1, 2016
You will of course note that Liverpool have but six subs - Connor Randall was ruled out this morning after succumbing to a virus.
And here are our teams...
Swansea City (4-2-3-1, blatantly): Fabianski; Rangel, Amat, Williams, Taylor; Britton, Cork; Routledge, Sigurdsson, Montero; Ayew.
Subs: Nordfeldt, Naughton, Fernandez, Ki, Fulton, Barrow, Gomis.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1, obviously): Ward; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Smith; Stewart, Chirivella; Ibe, Coutinho, Ojo; Sturridge.
Subs: Mignolet, Benteke, Lallana, Lucas, Brannagan, Teixeira.
Receptacle for misdirected fury and blame: Roger East
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Preamble
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the merry month of May - or silent bum time as it’s known by the unfortunate majority. Swansea are staying up, Liverpool want the Europa League, here’s a meaningless game of football to encroach on the weekends of all concerned.
Well, that’s one way of looking at it - but fear not, there is another, correcter one. First of all, it is a scientific fact no game of football is ever meaningless, but in any case, import and excitement rarely correlate. So, Swansea are under no pressure whatsoever, able simply to enjoy themselves, and Liverpool have players keen to be involved in Thursday’s return against Villarreal - in particular, the most talented amongst them, Daniel Sturridge.
Eyes down for a thriller.
Kick-off: 12pm BST
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