Swansea City 0-1 Liverpool: Five talking points

Liverpool’s quest for a Champions League berth consolidated further as they got the better of Swansea City in a treacherous Liberty Stadium, courtesy to Jordan Henderson’s lone strike late in the second half.After a series of convincing results, the Reds looked slightly off coloured and had to work their fingers to the bone to find the winning goal. Skipper Jordan Henderson latched on to a Daniel Sturridge flick to blooter the ball well over the helpless Lukasz Fabianski. The visitors narrowly doubled their advantage in the stoppage time when Sturridge’s effort only met the bottom right-hand side post.Nevertheless, the Anfielders walked away with an all important 3 points to continue their pursuit of a European spot and limbered up for the showdown against Manchester United next weekend.Here are the 5 talking points from the game:

#1 Mignolet proves his worth

The Liverpool custodian endured a woeful start to the campaign and after a series of bloopers, and was predictably relegated to the bench by Rodgers in favour of Brad Jones. All the premonitions circling his job were heading towards an infelicitous reality. However, an injury to the Australian meant that the Belgian regained his spot in goal and had another chance to prove his mettle. And suffice to say, he grabbed that chance with both hands.

Mignolet has been terrific in between the pipes since the turn of the year and his fine fettle was on full display at the Liberty Stadium. His first contribution of the night came early in the first half when he denied Gomis’ effort with a fine save. However, the defining moment came late in the opening half.

An unmarked Gylfi Sigurdsson shimmied into the area and unleashed a blistering shot that appeared to have put the hosts ahead, but Mignolet tossed himself in the air and clawed the ball away. The 27-year was authoritative in the box throughout and guarded the net with great aplomb.

If he continues to pull off such splendid performances, nobody can usurp him from his place.

#2 Henderson proves why he is perfect for leading the side

As Steven Gerrard lounges off the coast to the States at the end of the season, Jordan Henderson will inherit the captain's armband for the Reds thereafter. However, his appointment as the Reds skipper was met with a lot of dubiousness as to whether he is really capable of handling the post. But his displays in the recent weeks is sure to quell all such doubts. And last night, he just showed why.

It seems as though that the England international has found his mojo after reverting back to the central midfield as he was a commanding figure for the visiting team throughout and also peeled his team off the ground with the winner in the 68th minute.

Henderson met Sturridge’s deft flick and Swansea midfielder Jordi Amat inadvertently struck the ball against the midfielder's leg which then looped over Fabianski straight into the net for his third goal in as many games.

The former Sunderland man was once again to Liverpool’s rescue, something that his predecessor, Gerrard, has done in numerous occassions in the past. Captaincy brings an added sense of responsibility on the player and Henderson, gradually, is becoming liable to it.

#3 Lallana is NOT a wingback

One problem that Rodgers is forced to persistently contend with is that of the wingback position. The Scot has tried several players in that role with little success. He deployed Adam Lallana in that position in this game, but the result was no different.

Lallana started initially on the right-hand side and struggled to make an impact from there. Shortly after the half time, he switched over to the left after Gerrard came in for Alberto Moreno, but to no avail as the former Southampton man once again floundered.

Lallana did not make any forward passes was highly underwhelming in both the roles. A food for thought for Rodgers.

#4 Who says Gomis cannot play football again?

During Swansea’s game against Tottenham 12 days ago, their French striker Bafetimbi Gomis collapsed to the ground just during the restart, with what was purported to be a cardiac arrest. Many doubted whether he would ever be able to set foot on the football pitch again. But the “thumbs up” that he gave while being stretcherd off gave a sense of optimism to the Swans.

The Frenchman was miraculously on his feet just a few days later and returned to the training ground last week. Having deemed fit for the clash, Gomis was back for the Welsh outfit last night and was back with a bang.

Throughout the opening half, Gomis proved to be a constant menace to the Liverpool defence, linking up with Sigurdsson and Routledge to great effect. He then forced Mignolet a fingertip save late in the first half, that narrowly put the home team ahead.

It would have been a perfect comeback had the ball found the back of the net but nonetheless, Gomis made an encouraging return to the field after the life threatening incident and also sent an ominous message that nothing can stop him from playing football, not even a heart attack.

#5 A place in the top four now seems attainable

Looking at the dreadful run of results in the initial stages, Liverpool seemed to have plunged into the abyss of mediocrity after a stellar 13/14 season which saw them narrowly missing out in their maiden Premier League cup. But an upturn in fortunes since the turn of the year has seen them back in contention for a Champions League spot.

The Anfield outfit have played out 13 fixtures since the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford in mid-December, winning 10 of them and losing none. This emphatic run has brought them ever closer to a top four finish and with this victory they now trail United by a mere 3 points, who occupy the last European berth.

At the moment, Brendan Rodgers’ men look very determined in finishing in top 4 and United need to be really wary when they fly down to Anfield next weekend in the battle for an automatic qualification