Stirring comeback sees Reds leap up to second spot

James Milner's late penalty - his fourth of the season - secured a fifth straight win in all competitions as Jurgen Klopp's side moved up to second place in the Premier League.

The Reds showed great powers of recovery after a dismal first-half display. Leroy Fer put Swansea in front but once Roberto Firmino equalised early in the second half it was one-way traffic.

The only downside for Klopp was the sight of Adam Lallana limping off.

Swansea deservedly went into the break ahead having out-worked and out-played the Reds during the opening 45 minutes.

Liverpool were way off the pace as passes went astray and they made a string of careless errors.

Borja had already wasted one chance when Swansea took the lead on eight minutes. Once again Liverpool's weakness at defending set-pieces was exposed.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's corner was nodded down by Borja and helped on by Mike van der Hoorn for Fer to convert from close range.

The Reds still haven't kept an away clean sheet in the Premier League since they went to Villa Park in February.

Klopp's side looked rattled with composure in possession in desperately short supply. After Roberto Firmino gave the ball away cheaply, Fer lashed a 25-yarder over the bar.

Liverpool suffered a further blow midway through the first half when Lallana went off in discomfort.

Daniel Sturridge replaced him with Philippe Coutinho dropping into an advanced central midfield role.

Borja should have made it 2-0 but nodded wide after rising to meet Sigurdsson's free-kick. Sturridge was booked for diving as Liverpool continued to toil.

Sadio Mane looked the one most likely to make something happen but after breaking clear his shot was expertly blocked by Jordi Amat.

Whatever was said at half-time did the trick as Liverpool finally came to life.

Lukasz Fabianski kept out Firmino's 25-yarder but he was beaten by the Brazilian nine minutes into the second half.

After Coutinho's free-kick had struck the wall, Henderson lofted the ball back into the penalty box and the unmarked Firmino nodded into the bottom corner.

Suddenly, Liverpool were dominant. Coutinho curled narrowly wide before Nathaniel Clyne forced a save from Fabianski.

With 20 minutes to go James Milner did brilliantly to dispossess Mike van der Hoorn inside the box but the opening was wasted.

Rather than put it on a plate for Mane, the left-back's pass was behind him and the attacker was closed down.

Sturridge sent a glancing header wide before Liverpool finally got their reward.

Firmino was shoved over by Angel Rangel and Milner stepped up to send the travelling Kop into raptures.

There was a late scare when Van der Hoorn volleyed wide from close range but Liverpool held on.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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