Premier League
LiverpoolLiverpool1SwanseaSwansea City0

Liverpool 1-0 Swansea City

By Tom RostanceBBC Sport
James Milner
Liverpool have both taken (135) and scored (103) more penalties than any other side in Premier League history.

Jurgen Klopp picked up his first league win at Anfield as James Milner's second-half penalty gave Liverpool the points in a stale game against Swansea.

Milner converted after Swans full-back Neil Taylor was penalised for handball.

Liverpool - so impressive in their win at Manchester City last week - were flat for large periods but did see captain Jordan Henderson return from injury as a substitute.

Liverpool fought for victory - Klopp

Swansea have now won once in 10 league games since August.

Garry Monk's side failed to record a single effort on target in 90 minutes and face the top two in Leicester and Manchester City in their next two games.

Klopp's Reds struggling for style at home?

Liverpool's last two Premier League games away from home have seen them record hugely impressive wins at champions Chelsea and leaders Manchester City, with Klopp's preferred 'gegenpressing' style well suited to winning the ball back quickly and hurting teams on the break.

But in three league games at home, the Reds have scored just three times under Klopp and remain a work in progress.

Despite a bright opening spell, during which Jordon Ibe forced defender Kyle Bartley to clear against his own post, the hosts soon ran out of steam and did not have an effort on target until the 52nd minute, when Ibe's tame shot was saved by Lukas Fabianski.

Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp could not watch as James Milner struck the match-winning penalty

In truth, they were grateful to referee's assistant Simon Beck for the decisive moment when he awarded a penalty as Taylor blocked an Ibe cross with his arm.

Milner lifted the spot-kick high into the net to give Liverpool a sixth win in seven games in all competitions, which lifted them up to sixth in the table.

With former captain Steven Gerrard watching from the stands, perhaps the biggest plusses Liverpool fans can take from the win are the returns of Henderson and Daniel Sturridge.

Henderson - missing with a broken foot since the second game of the season in August - was handed the armband when he came on for the final 25 minutes, while Sturridge had a 19-minute run out for his first appearance since Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers in October.

Monk under increasing pressure?

Swansea's average positions
Garry Monk said his side were 'excellent' but only three of his players had an average position inside the Liverpool half. Wayne Routledge (15) was the furthest forward.

If Liverpool looked uninspiring in attack, Swansea's failure to test Simon Mignolet at all will give manager Monk plenty to ponder.

More worryingly it was the second time in the last three Premier League matches that Swansea failed to hit a single effort on target - also registering no attempts in the 1-0 defeat at Norwich.

Monk - who took charge in February 2014 - guided Swansea to their highest Premier League finish of eighth last season.

Swansea boss Monk "gutted" by "soft" penalty

When they beat Manchester United at the end of August the Swans were in fourth but they have won only once since, scoring seven goals in 10 matches.

Monk can point to a harsh handball decision which settled the game but, in attack, his side offered precious little threat.

Centre-forward Eder was often isolated and replacement Bafetimbi Gomis has lost the spark which saw him score in each of the opening four games of the season.

With testing games against Leicester and Manchester City to come a four-point gap to the relegation zone is a real concern.

'Difficult circumstances'

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told BBC Sport: "It was really difficult for both teams, the wind was in the stadium more than the stands.

"Swansea defended very well. They had some problems in the last few games but they were more compact. I am proud of the lads. It is a good result in difficult circumstances."

Man of the match - Emre Can

James Milner and Emre Can
Emre Can (right) was at the heart of Liverpool's bright start in midfield and had the most touches (99) of any Liverpool player.

What next?

Liverpool face a trip to Southampton on Wednesday for a League Cup quarter-final, before facing Newcastle at St James' Park next Sunday.

Life does not get easier for Swansea as they host Jamie Vardy's Leicester next Saturday, and then travel to leaders Manchester City the week after.

Line-ups

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

  • 22MignoletBooked at 90mins
  • 2Clyne
  • 37SkrtelBooked at 65mins
  • 6Lovren
  • 18Moreno
  • 7MilnerBooked at 25mins
  • 23Can
  • 20Lallana
  • 33IbeSubstituted forK Touréat 90+5'minutes
  • 9BentekeSubstituted forSturridgeat 71'minutes
  • 11FirminoSubstituted forHendersonat 64'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4K Touré
  • 14Henderson
  • 15Sturridge
  • 24Allen
  • 27Origi
  • 34Bogdan
  • 56Randall

Swansea

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 1Fabianski
  • 26Naughton
  • 27BartleyBooked at 70mins
  • 6Williams
  • 3Taylor
  • 7BrittonSubstituted forCorkat 65'minutes
  • 15RoutledgeSubstituted forMonteroat 72'minutes
  • 23G Sigurdsson
  • 4Ki Sung-yueng
  • 10A Ayew
  • 17Macedo LopesSubstituted forGomisat 69'minutes

Substitutes

  • 13Nordfeldt
  • 18Gomis
  • 20Montero
  • 21Grimes
  • 22Rangel
  • 24Cork
  • 33Fernandez
Referee:
Anthony Taylor
Attendance:
43,905

Match Stats

Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamSwansea
Possession
Home54%
Away46%
Shots
Home10
Away9
Shots on Target
Home2
Away0
Corners
Home8
Away7
Fouls
Home12
Away6

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Liverpool 1, Swansea City 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, Swansea City 0.

  3. Post update

    Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Kolo Touré.

  4. Post update

    Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).

  5. Post update

    Kyle Naughton (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Substitution

    Substitution, Liverpool. Kolo Touré replaces Jordon Ibe.

  7. Booking

    Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card.

  8. Post update

    Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Emre Can.

  9. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Bafétimbi Gomis (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Williams.

  10. Post update

    Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Kyle Bartley.

  11. Post update

    Jordon Ibe (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Neil Taylor (Swansea City).

  13. Post update

    Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Nathaniel Clyne.

  14. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  15. Post update

    Delay in match Kyle Bartley (Swansea City) because of an injury.

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ashley Williams (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Jack Cork (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  18. Post update

    Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Martin Skrtel.

  19. Post update

    Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Nathaniel Clyne.

  20. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Bafétimbi Gomis (Swansea City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by André Ayew.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City1492330141629
2Leicester148512921829
3Man Utd1484220101028
4Arsenal1483324121227
5Tottenham1467124111325
6Liverpool146531815323
7Crystal Palace147161914522
8West Ham146442521422
9Everton145632719821
10Southampton145542017320
11Watford145451516-119
12Stoke145451114-319
13West Brom145361318-518
14Chelsea144371723-615
15Swansea143561419-514
16Norwich143471725-813
17Sunderland143381626-1012
18Bournemouth142481730-1310
19Newcastle142481430-1610
20Aston Villa1412111227-155
View full Premier League table