Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
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Kick off is at 5.30pm.
Here's how we line up against @LFC this evening...#LIVSWA pic.twitter.com/vszQZiBBTI
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) December 26, 2017
Here's #LFC's Boxing Day line-up to face @SwansOfficial... pic.twitter.com/CzB03yR58B
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
So, today’s teams are:
Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Klavan, Robertson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Can, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Coutinho
Subs: Karius, Lovren, Milner, Gomez, Mane, Lallana, Solanke.
Swansea: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Fer, Roque, Carroll, Routledge, Ayew, McBurnie.
Subs: Van der Hoorn, Abraham, Dyer, Nordfeldt, Clucas, Rangel, Sanches
Evening, lads! 👋
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
All set to go at Anfield 👊
➡ Follow all the action here: https://t.co/tqnJFZbUyN pic.twitter.com/d83uQCFDbs
1986 - Liverpool haven't lost a home league game on Boxing Day for 31 years, since a 0-1 loss vs Man Utd in 1986 (W7 D3 since then). Festivity.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2017
Liverpool zipping the ball all around the Anfield surface in these early exchanges. A calm atmosphere in the stands as Swansea are happy to stand off and play the role of spectator.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 SWANSEA (COUTINHO 6)
GOOOAAAALLLLL! pic.twitter.com/13M8hykGol
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
It’s a sublime hit from Philippe Coutinho and the Brazilian really is in the form of his life. Brazilian team-mate Firmino nicks possession 40 yards out from goal before feeding the ball side-ways to the Liverpool number 10.
Coutinho takes one touch to set himself up before curling a stunning effort flying past Fabiański to take an early lead.
I always want Phil Coutinho playing in midfield but in fairness, that goal comes from him being further up the pitch, combined, of course, with him being able to hit incredible shots from just outside the area.
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) December 26, 2017
Another decent chance for Liverpool as Firmino twists and turns inside the box after cutting side following a through ball from Mohamed Salah. His shot is blocked and then subsequently cleared.
More combination play from Salah, Firmino and Coutinho. As Jamie Carragher says, it’s like a five-a-side move — so precise, so slick. The final ball is poor, however. It falls on the edge of the box to Andrew Robertson who boots a powerful effort wide of the post.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
Another chance for Liverpool. Coutinho drops deep and curls a cross aimed towards the back post. Salah tries to get his head to it, but there is just too much on the ball into the danger zone for the winger.
It took three defenders to disposes Salah following another break. He dances with quick feet inside the penalty area and Roque Mesa eventually manages to boot the ball into touch. He was teasing with them there, Salah.
It’s all very pedestrian for Liverpool at the moment. If nothing else can that be seen in the fact that Ragnar Klavan decided on a mazy run which lasted all of 10 yards before he was hauled down — the centre back earning Liverpool a free-kick on half-way. Leon Britton’s side looking very reserved right now.
Mohamed Salah breaks forward at pace but the move breaks down inside the box once again. It was the ideal start with Coutinho’s early thunderbolt, but Jurgen Klopp’s side have squandered a number of chances in succession now, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain crashes another effort from range over the bar.
A cross from Wayne Routledge finds no-one inside the box, but that is better from Swansea. For the first time in a long time they exit their own half with the goal in search of the opposition goal.
As that is said, Liverpool break to punish a sloppy Swansea pass via a swift counter. Roberto Firmino tries an effort from range as the space opens up in front of him but it slides wide of the post to no avail.
Liverpool put under a bit of pressure for the first time in this game as space opens up for Oliver McBurnie after he beat two players inside the box. The chance breaks down, however, and comes to nothing. But better again from the visitors as Klopp’s side sit back.
Coutinho with another chance as Liverpool wake up again from their momentary slumber. He dribbles inside the box with that low centre of gravity he possesses and his shot ricochets off a Swansea body and out for a corner — which is easily cleared at the first hurdle.
Anfield is falling desperately quiet this afternoon. The game is being played at a slow, steady pace with odd chances littered every five minutes or so — but for some reason that electric spark is fleeting as individual voices can be heard shouting from the stands.
Chance! That really should have been 2-0 to Liverpool. It’s very complacent from Roberto Firmino — he cuts onto his right foot but he drags it just wide of the post with only the goalkeeper to beat six yards out from goal.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 SWANSEA
Up at half-time...#LFC pic.twitter.com/1j2u8RwmE2
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
An impressive stat if ever there was one.
Philippe Coutinho's last 14 starts:
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 26, 2017
⚽️ Goal
🅰️ Assist
⚽️ Goal
⚽️ Goal
⚽️ Goal
🅰️ Assist
🅰️ Assist
⚽️ Goal
🅰️ Assist
⚽️ Goal
🅰️ Assist
🅰️ Assist
⚽️ Goal
⚽️ Goal
⚽️ Goal
⚽️ Goal
⚽️ Goal pic.twitter.com/YEfKqVroCJ
Early chance! Mohamed Salah dances into the box, cuts inside and tries to curl the ball into the far corner. However Fabiański keeps level with it, dives right and catches it firmly with a well-taken save.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 SWANSEA (FIRMINO 52)
GOOOOAALLL! Firmino makes it 2-0 for the Reds! pic.twitter.com/F6WqMufsQG
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
It’s another sublime goal with Coutinho instrumental once again. It’s an all-Brazilian move as the number 10 curls in a dangerous free-kick towards the back post where Roberto Firmino knocks the ball with the side of his foot easily past Lukasz Fabiański. 2-0 and Liverpool are up and running for the second half.
A yellow card for Martin Olsson as he hauls down Firmino with an outstretched foot on the edge of the box. The free-kick is straight off the training round — Salah peeling away from his marker at the back post untracked — but his strike curls just side of the bottom corner. Excellent move which earns the plaudits of the Anfield crowd.
A brilliant individual run from Georginio Wijnaldum sees him wander into the box, but he is disposed just as he aimed to pull the trigger and offer an effort on goal to further test Fabiański.
63 - Roberto Firmino has been directly involved in more goals in all comps for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp than any other player (38 goals, 25 assists). Thriving. pic.twitter.com/fcuu5MixNr
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2017
More pressing play from Liverpool on the break as Trent Alexander-Arnold sweeps up a loose ball before crossing deep into the danger zone – Fabiański gets there first and holds firm before any head dressed in Red can get there.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 SWANSEA (ALEXANDER-ARNOLD 65)
GOOOOOAAALLL! 3-0! pic.twitter.com/nKB9CBplHl
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
It’s a sublime finish from Trent Alexander-Arnold to make it 3-0. He races into the edge of the box and blasts a loose ball flying off the underside of the crossbar and in. A stunning strike from the young defender.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-0 SWANSEA (FIRMINO 66)
GOOOAALL! BOBBBYYY AGAIN! 4-0! pic.twitter.com/gxGXU3ODRy
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
Goodness, goodness me — this is turning into an utter rout. Leroy Fer flicks the ball back towards his own defence but none of them are on the receiving end to gather. Mohamed Salah picks up possession, races into the box and side-foots a selfless pass to an unmarked Roberto Firmino who taps in from two yards out to make it 4-0. Unstoppable.
I love you more than life itself Roberto Firmino, but FFS, look at the goal when you’re shooting into it! pic.twitter.com/7fi6HqMqqj
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) December 26, 2017
4-0. The floodgates have opened as Firmino taps in. Changes coming as Klopp attempts to manage fitness levels, knowing this game is over. #LFC
— Glenn Price (@GlennPrice94) December 26, 2017
Liverpool dominating proceedings now as Coutinho oozes quality at almost every turn. Swansea have long since resigned themselves to defeat. They know they will be leaving Merseyside empty handed and will be happy to keep the scoreline down at this stage of the evening.
Klopp’s side have been magic in this second period following a lull close to the first 45 minute where the hosts looked wasteful. That lack of a clinical edge has been done away with with three superb second-half finishes.
Substitution for Liverpool: James Milner replaces Andrew Robertson.
76: Another sub for the Reds:
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
⬅ Robertson
➡ Milner
[4-0]
The game is slowly stalling towards its end now. The crowd is going a bit quiet again but this affair is all over. Liverpool are still buzzing around on the pitch following the new lifeblood of Lallana, Miler and Solanke.
However much of this evening’s focus will be on dissecting the dismal showing of Leon Britton’s side and whether or not they have what it takes to turn this sinking ship around in 2018 and maintain their place in the Premier League.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 5-0 SWANSEA (OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN 83)
GOOOAALLLL! The Reds are on fire! 5-0 pic.twitter.com/eRxeOiIubo
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
Jurgen Klopp said following his £40 million move to Anfield that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needed to add goals to his game, and the ex-Arsenal man has shown his manager he can do just that.
Swansea are on their knees but that should not take away from what was a deft finish from the 24-year-old, who lobbed a brilliant volley into the top corner inside the box following more calamitous defending from the visitors. 5-0 now – will it be even more?
Dominic Solanke almost makes it six with a right-footed volley which narrowly misses the goal. It would have been a carbon-copy of Firmino’s second goal — with Coutinho again instrumental with the cross in the box.
I've run out of words for Coutinho. He's playing against pro footballers and making them look like the fat blokes in my 7-a-side league. Different levels.
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 26, 2017
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 5-0 SWANSEA
It's all over at Anfield... pic.twitter.com/BMw5C3m79B
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) December 26, 2017
5️⃣ goals
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2017
3️⃣ points
🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/m3HxtVZsTC
Five star Liverpool show off their attacking prowess once more#LIVSWA pic.twitter.com/A8huOZhgYM
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 26, 2017
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
He’s rather good isn’t he? Probably one of the first Irish names onto the Lions squad for the summer along with Furlong.
Always has a point to prove against his home province. Big game for him.
@thesaltyurchin: That must be why Robbie Henshaw and Caelan Doris play so well against Connacht.
@Finbarr Ryan: We’re talking about ‘Finals’ pal
@Finbarr Ryan: Also Henshaw is from Athlone, which is in Leinster no?
Creating a bit of false “us v the world” stuff. There’s hardly a pundit out there writing Munster off. Listened to podcasts on OTB, RTE and the42 this week. If anything, it is 50/50.
@Ricky Wright: indeed. Leinster have never ever won Munster more than 5 times consecutively, we’re at 5 times now, there’s probably a good reason for that. Things change and records are broken however sooner or later Leinster will once again lose to Munster and that could be Saturday. I hope for a Leinster win, but it really is a 50/50 in my eyes too.
@SPQH: Yep. I don’t even believe Europe is a distraction. I have a feeling Munster will win, and win more comfortably than any one expects. 10 points. I’ll be a bit sick if it happens but at least the season won’t be over, for whoever loses.
@SPQH: we’d be going for 11 in a row only for the red card.
@Chris Mc: Well I hope we don’t get a red card tomorrow! Come on Leinster!
He is Irelands Jamie Vardy
@Cranesofdublin: who’s that?
@Rudiger McMonihan: he’s a mate of your dad Antonio obvs
I think the pundits for the first time in a long while have Munster favourites, more probably in a desire to see another Province win for a change.
The battle of the backrows will be fascinating.Johnny v Joey ,the scrums,so much to look forward to ,you can’t over hype this game enough
@rugbyanbeer: funny it’s more likely Ross v joey
@rugbyanbeer: Munster are not favourites.