Liverpool 1-0 Swansea City

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.

Relive the match as it happened

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 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
Match Stats
Live Text

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

Post update
Match ends, Liverpool 1, Swansea City 0.
90'+6'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, Swansea City 0.

90'+6'
Post update
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Kolo Touré.
90'+5'
Post update
Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).
90'+5'
Post update
Kyle Naughton (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+5'
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Kolo Touré replaces Jordon Ibe.
90'+3'
Booking
Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card.
90'+2'
Post update
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Emre Can.
90'+2'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Bafétimbi Gomis (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ashley Williams.
90'
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Kyle Bartley.
87'
Post update
Jordon Ibe (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87'
Post update
Foul by Neil Taylor (Swansea City).
82'
Post update
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Nathaniel Clyne.
82'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
81'
Post update
Delay in match Kyle Bartley (Swansea City) because of an injury.
80'
Post update
Attempt missed. Ashley Williams (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right following a corner.
80'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jack Cork (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
80'
Post update
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Martin Skrtel.
79'
Post update
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Nathaniel Clyne.
79'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Bafétimbi Gomis (Swansea City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by André Ayew.

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Liverpool 1-0 Swansea City