25/11/2012 13:30 v Liverpool

The Swans strengthened their position in the top half of the Premier League table after sharing the spoils with Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool at the Liberty.

Rodgers was back at the Liberty for the first time since he became Reds boss last summer, while Joe Allen and a number of former Swans backroom staff were also on familiar ground.

In an open game, Liverpool saw a first-half effort by Jose Enrique chalked off for offside while Raheem Sterling hit the crossbar.

Pablo Hernandez went the closest for the Swans on two occasions, seeing a curling effort drop wide while a powerful drive rose just over the crossbar.

The second half was just as exciting, Luis Surez being denied by Gerhard Tremmel while Allen was on his toes to clear Ashley Williams's header off the line.

But the draw was the right result as the spoils were shared.

Both sides settled quickly into the encounter, with Liverpool the first to go close as Glen Johnson headed over Steven Gerrard's corner after 11 minutes.

The Swans immediately responded via Wayne Routledge, who saw his shot palmed wide for a corner following Pablo Hernandez's neat threaded pass.

The visitors went close moments later, Johnson's curling cross bouncing to Jose Enrique, but the Spaniard bundled his effort wide.

Johnson then went even closer, latching on to Enrique's return pass just inside the box but Gerhard Tremmel did enough to save the Swans and divert the effort out for a corner.

The reply came via Hernandez, who curled his 20-yard shot just wide of the far post with Pepe Reina scrambling across following some fine individual skill from the winger.

Then, after Leon Britton stole possession off Gerrard, Jonathan de Guzman sliced an effort wide before Angel Rangel's timely block denied Suarez from close range following Raheem Sterling's cross.

The home crowd were sighing with huge relief just past the half-hour mark as Sterling controlled before smashing a volley that thundered back out off the crossbar.

It was a warning, and an even bigger one followed minutes later as Suarez curled in an inviting cross and Enrique tapped in after Tremmel palmed it out, only for the goal to be scratched off for offside.

The Swans delivered one of their own via Hernandez, who saw his powerful 20-yard drive rise just over the crossbar.

Laudrup made a change at the break with Ki Sung-Yueng replacing Shechter as Michu moved up front.

Suarez went close with a low shot that Tremmel blocked while Michu headed Hernandez's cross straight at Reina.

Williams then rose highest to Ki Sung-Yueng's corner, but saw his effort cleared off the line by Allen.

Laudrup then made his second change, Nathan Dyer replacing Routledge after 67 minutes.

And Dyer made an instant impact, taking possession off Stewart Downing and racing on before sliding in to beat the on-rushing Reina to the ball. The keeper got a vital touch.

Rodgers then made changes of his own, Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Cole replacing Jordan Henderson and Downing for the last 13 minutes.

The visitors launched a dangerous counter-attack from a Swans corner, as Rangel misjudged the bounce from a clearance and Sterling and Suarez raced on before the latter fired straight at Tremmel.

Ki then scooped his shot over from 20 yards, before Laudrup made his final change - Kemy Agustien on for de Guzman

Reina came to the rescue again for Liverpool as he dived down low to palm Hernandez's free-kick wide for a corner.

Shelvey then hit a thumping goalbound effort which Tremmel did well to keep out and ensure the Swans took a point.

 

 

SWANS: Gerhard Tremmel, Angel Rangel, Chico Flores, Ashley Williams (capt), Ben Davies, Leon Britton, Jonathan de Guzman (Kemy Agustien, 85), Michu, Wayne Routledge (Nathan Dyer, 67), Pablo Hernandez, Itay Shechter (Ki Sung-Yueng, ht).
SUBS: David Cornell, Dwight Tiendalli, Garry Monk, Leroy Lita.

LIVERPOOL: Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Jose Enrique, Joe Allen, Steven Gerrard (capt), Jordan Henderson (Jonjo Shelvey, 77), Raheem Sterling, Stewart Downing (Joe Cole, 77), Luis Suarez.
SUBS: Brad Jones, Jamie Carragher, Sebastian Coates, Nuri Sahin, Suso.