It wasn’t pretty, but Liverpool overcame Swansea 1-0 thanks to a fortuitous Jordan Henderson goal at the Liberty Stadium.
Here’s what we learned along the way…
1. Brendan Rodgers still has plenty of friends in Swansea
Nice little moment between Garry Monk and Brendan Rodgers ahead of #SWALIV
— The Special Ones (@TheSpecial1s) March 16, 2015
Rodgers’ links with the club go beyond the team and into the crowd. Here he is reuniting with a fan he used to greet at every home match while he was manager at the club.
2. Jonjo Shelvey is old school
Gets kicked in the face, bleeding lip just turns around and plays, if only more soccer players were like jonjo shelvey. #SWALIV
— Lance Claxton (@ScriptedOne) March 16, 2015
3. He looks like Roger East
Shelvey and the ref look like Doctor Evil and Mini Me. Together they will win the game.
— Shakesy (@_shakesy) March 16, 2015
Ref is spit of shelvey
— Dan Leydon (@danleydon) March 16, 2015
I knew I'd seen Jonjo Shelvey and the ref somewhere before! pic.twitter.com/sRKuWusxPL
— UnitedCharlie (@jonmikesav8) March 16, 2015
4. And he really likes playing against Liverpool
I hope Roger East continues not to notice we've got 2 Jonjo Shelvey's out there tonight. At least it seems like we have.
— Paul Thomas (@NeathJack1) March 16, 2015
Why does Shelvey turn into Zidane every time he plays us?
— Anfield Hub (@AnfieldHub) March 16, 2015
In fact he was everywhere…
On nights like this I think back to when Jonjo Shelvey's face appeared in my wife's hoodie #SWALIV pic.twitter.com/KpIQFdyVYf
— Steve Anglesey (@sanglesey) March 16, 2015
5. Even footballers get the back-to-work blues
I know Brendan allowed the players to go on holiday but does anyone know if they returned? #LFC
— IBEinho (@Brodinho) March 16, 2015
It’s not unusual at the end of the season for pundits to suggest players look like they’re on the beach already. What’s less common is to suggest in the middle of March they might still be there.
Liverpool were remarkably under-powered in the first half – they barely registered as an attacking force and were a mess in midfield.
6. Simon Mignolet has turned his season around
Honestly, where would we be without Mignolet? #LFC
— Anfield Bond (@AnfieldBond) March 16, 2015
You never thought you’d be reading thar earlier in the season. Those dark days back in December when the Belgian was dropped from the Liverpool team are long gone now. He’s a key man in this Liverpool team at the moment, and they were lucky to have him in particular with one smart save from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
7. Liverpool fans don’t hold back
First half heatmap #LFC : pic.twitter.com/JJ77B0xqg6
— Patryk (@PJetzu) March 16, 2015
Yeah, that’s about right.
8. And there’s no doubt who their hero is – still
bring on stevie! #lfc
— tanya (@tanyawarwick_) March 16, 2015
This has got a Gerrard winner written all over it. #LFC
— Anfield Bond (@AnfieldBond) March 16, 2015
We want gerrard We want gerrard We want gerrard We want gerrard We want gerrard We want gerrard We want gerrard We want gerrard #LFC
— LION (@ALI_LFC_) March 16, 2015
9. They all count
Admittedly Liverpool were playing better in the second half, but it would take the most one-eyed of Reds to say they deserved their lead one the goal came in the 68th minute.
It was pure good fortune – and a splash of endeavour – for Jordan Henderson, as Jordi Amat’s challenge ricocheted off his leg, over Lukas Fabianski and into the net. Swansea had reason to curse their luck.
10. Liverpool are good at defending
6th consecutive away matches with a clean sheet. 1st time in the PL era & only the third time we've done it in the top flight #LFC
— LFCZA (@LFCZA) March 16, 2015
Yes, that’s six consecutive away clean sheets. Liverpool have only done that twice before – once in the 60s and once in the 70s. That top-four charge is on.
11. We are now officially excited about Sunday
It's all set for Sunday at Anfield. #LFC v #MUFC
— Arlo White (@arlowhite) March 16, 2015
Source: SNAPPA
