LIVERPOOL YAUA 5-0 ENGLAND

The statistics were impressive, the result even more so but rarely has Anfield witnessed a victory that felt so hollow.

Liverpool, in the words of Michael Laudrup, 'slaughtered' Swansea, running up a 5-0 scoreline, produced the highest number of shots – 35 – in a single game by a Barclays Premier League team this season and moved up to seventh place, their highest position of the campaign.

At the final whistle, though, there were as many empty seats as there have been at the end of some defeats here and a sense of ambivalence. Liverpool, undoubtedly, were impressive but what lessons did were to be gleaned from knocking over Swansea’s reserves?

Off the mark: Philippe Coutinho scores his first goal for Liverpool 16 seconds into the second period

making a point: Luis Suarez scored the fourth of Liverpool's goals with an eye-catching run and shot

On our way: Liverpool celebrate Steven Gerrard's goal, which gave them the lead at Anfield

Match Facts

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Downing, Gerrard, Lucas (Allen 72), Coutinho (Henderson 60), Suarez (Borini 78), Sturridge

Substitutes not used: Gulacsi, Borini, Sterling, Shelvey, Skrtel

Scorers: Gerrard 34 (pen), Coutinho 46, Jose Enrique 50, Suarez 56, Sturridge 71 (pen)

Swansea City: Vorm, Tiendalli, Monk, Bartley, Davies, Britton, Agustien, de Guzman, Lamah (Routledge 64), Shechter (Rangel 82), Hernandez (Dyer 76)

Substitutes not used: Tremmel, Williams, Michu, Dyer, Moore

Booked: Hernandez

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Attendance: 44,832

Even by recent standards, this has been an extraordinary season for Liverpool. Emotions have swung wildly from one extreme to another; to borrow the line from that nursery rhyme, when they have been good, they have been very, very good but when they have been bad, they have been awful.

‘It was an important three points,’ said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers after goals from Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho, Jose Enrique, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge inflicted the biggest defeat on Swansea since they returned to the top flight.

‘It has been a bumpy road for us. We have shown mental toughness and it was important we kept a clean sheet because we have not been at the best defensively last four games. We dominated the first half, created loads of chances.

‘I am an optimist but I am not getting too carried away because we have put in some outstanding performances and not got the results. I liken us to a marathon runner who gets in a good position in the group and is ready to make the run – but then we trip ourselves up.’

That is a fitting analogy. Each time Liverpool look like building up a head of steam, they contrive to make backward steps, so perhaps it was understandable that caution rather than elation greeted this victory.

What must be pointed out, though, is how different a team Liverpool look when Suarez and Sturridge are working in tandem; they cut Swansea to ribbons and better defenders than Garry Monk and Kyle Bartley would have had trouble containing them.

Two defeats in the space of four days meant Liverpool required their confidence levels restoring and the first sign that things would go in their favour came in the publication of the teamsheets. With a big day in London looming, Laudrup had made seven changes to the side that beat QPR.

Opener: Steven Gerrard makes no mistake with his penalty to give Liverpool the lead on 34 minutes

Foul: Luis Suarez is brought down for Kenny Agustien for a penalty, leading to Steven Gerrard giving Liverpool the lead

With the initiative given to them, this was an opportunity Liverpool could not afford to miss and they set about taking it, mounting wave after wave of attack during an embarrassingly one-sided game. After defeats to West Brom and Zenit St Petersburg, it was just what they needed.

Stewart Downing, Daniel Sturridge (twice), Glen Johnson and Suarez all peppered Michel Vorm’s goal, as Swansea were not allowed out of their own half, but given what has happened too often this season, there was a fear their good play would go unrewarded.

Those fears evaporated in the 34th minute when Kemy Agustien needlessly chopped down Suarez, who appeared to be running down a blind alley. Assistant referee Mike Mullarkey signalled there had been an infringement, Howard Webb pointed to the spot and Gerrard did the rest.

Having missed from 12 yards against West Brom, Gerrard’s relief at dispatching the spot kick was evident and it gave his team an advantage that was never in danger. Faced with such passive opponents, Liverpool ran amok in the second half, cutting Swansea to shreds.

Chip: Daniel Sturridge attempts to lift the ball over Swansea goalkeeper Michael Vorm

Wrestling match: Dwight Tiendalli employs an unorthodox way of stopping Luis Suarez getting to the ball

The outcome of the game was put beyond any doubt 17 seconds after the re-start when Suarez played Coutinho in and the Brazilian marked his full debut by cracking a right-footed shot that squirmed beyond Vorm. He became Liverpool’s 18th different scorer of the campaign.

Quickly two became three. Sensing a chance to get in on the attack, Enrique surged forward, exchanged passes with the outstanding Sturridge and finished confidently, his shot racing high into the net to leave Vorm with no chance.

The white kit Swansea wore was apt as they surrendered, never showing any urgency or fight. They proved that in the 56th minute when Suarez waltzed around two flimsy challenges from Gary Monk and Kyle Bartley before sweeping his drive past Vorm.

Sideways: Luis Suarez gets away from Dwight Tiendalli

Push and shove: Swansea's Kyle Bartley (left) tries to hold off Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge

‘I want to see this as an accident because of something that will happen in seven days’ time,’ said Laudrup, trying to fathom why Swansea collapsed so spectacularly. ‘Was it a lack of concentration? I would hope not. We had just spoken about things in the dressing room.’

Such was the ease with which Liverpool were slicing through Swansea it was a question of when they would score again and how many they would finish with, so it was something of a surprise that the home side did not move their total past five.

Old acquaintance: Brendan Rodgers came up against his former employers, Swansea

Sturridge confidently dispatched the last, cracking a penalty past Vorm after substitute Wayne Routledge handled Enrique’s long ball. It was the least he and his team collectively deserved for their vibrancy and endeavour. The only down side was a serious shoulder injury to Fabio Borini.

‘They have some outstanding players so I don't think you can take anything away from the Liverpool players,’ said Rodgers, enjoying his first victory over Swansea in three attempts since leaving the Liberty Stadium. We were hungry for the three points.’

HABARI MPYA

LIVERPOOL YAUA 5-0 ENGLAND

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