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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Swansea v Liverpool, Premier League

Swansea hosted Liverpool in our first Premier League liveblog of the day.

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Swansea 0-0 Liverpool (FT)

Hello, and welcome to our first Premier League liveblog of the day. Here are the starting line-ups:

Swansea: Tremmel; Rangel, Williams, Chico, Davies; Routledge, Britton, de Guzman, Hernandez; Michu, Shechter.

Subs: Cornell, Monk, Tiendalli, Agustien, Ki, Dyer, Lita.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique; Allen, Henderson, Gerrard; Downing, Sterling, Suarez.

Subs: Jones, Carragher, Coates, Suso, Shelvey, Cole, Sahin.

We’re underway…

Liverpool have began this game with a palpable confidence, befitting of their recent form, passing the ball around nicely.

Though as I type, Swansea win a corner.

If you haven’t noticed already, Rodgers has interestingly decided to play Downing at left-back and Enrique left mid.

The duo haven’t really been tested as of yet.

Williams’ poor clearance goes straight to Sterling on the edge of the area.

However, the youngster fails to connect properly with his shot, and Tremmel makes a comfortable save.

Another shot weak from Sterling after a good Liverpool attack – perhaps the youngster needs to improve his technique.

The visitors, though, have started the match well, and are looking the more threatening side at the moment.

Clever through ball from Routledge, but Reina gets to the ball just ahead of the attacker.

Down the other end, Suarez narrowly fails to latch on to a lofted pass.

It’s been a very lively opening, with both sides looking to attack.

A clever one-two between Johnson and Enrique sends the former through on goal, but his shot is well saved by the onrushing Tremmel.

Liverpool still looking the more likely team to break the deadlock at the moment.

Hernandez’s curling shot goes narrowly wide, as this game maintains its breakneck pace.

It won’t be 0-0 much longer if it continues in this fashion.

Gerrard sloppily concedes possession and De Guzman blasts wastefully wide when he had better options to his left.

Down the other end, Sterling’s superb shot from a corner hits the crossbar.

Enrique is on the end of a cross and slots it home, though he is adjudged to be offside.

Replays illustrate that it was an exemplary decision from the linesman, as the winger had strayed half a yard off.

I have to say this is one of the most entertaining 0-0 games I’ve seen in a long time.

Both sides are more than happy to throw bodies forever whenever such opportunities arise.

HALF-TIME: SWANSEA 0-0 LIVERPOOL

So it’s half-time in what has been an entertaining, if goalless, contest.

Liverpool have looked the more threatening side, with Sterling hitting the bar and Enrique having a goal ruled out for being narrowly offside.

Swansea, too, have played with great energy and no shortage of skill for the most part, and could have also opened the scoring with a number of dangerous-looking counter attacks.

At half-time, it’s still anyone’s guess which way this game’s going to go.

The second half is underway…

I should add that Swansea have made a substitution, with Sung-Yong Ki replacing Etey Shechter.

Swansea are playing with a lot more composure in the second period, and have had the majority of possession since the break.

Clearly, that slight tactical alteration, allowing Michu to adopt a more central role, is paying dividends.

Some good Liverpool build-up play ends with a Gerrard shot from the edge of the area.

Nevertheless, the skipper’s strike is straight at the goalkeeper.

And it’s their tenth attempt on goal today, according to Sky Sports.

A Rangel shot from just outside the area deflects wide for a corner.

Shortly thereafter, Routledge tumbles to the ground during a menacing attack, and the ref waves play on.

Swansea have undoubtedly upped their performance in the second half.

Another Swansea substitution – Routledge is replaced by Dyer.

Williams heads unthreateningly over from a corner.

With roughly 20 minutes to play, I’m beginning to suspect this could be one of those games that inexplicably ends 0-0.

Really poor defending from Swansea, as one of their players passes it straight to Suarez on the edge of the box, but the Uruguayan shoots well wide.

Down the other end, Dyer is played through, but Reina gets out quickly to smother the ball, injuring himself and his opponent while making the save.

Joe Cole and Jonjo Shelvey have come on in place of Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson, as Liverpool look to win this game.

Meanwhile, Michu goes down in the box as the ball is crossed towards him. Replays show there wasn’t much in it though.

Hernandez finds Michu on the edge of the area, but Enrique is on hand to make a timely interception.

Down the other end, Suarez and Sterling break, but the latter slightly overhits his pass to Suarez, who can then only shoot straight in the keeper’s hands.

It’s remained an exciting game to watch, despite the continuing absence of goals.

Elsewhere, Newcastle’s match with Southampton has started.

Hernandez’s free-kick is parried away for a corner.

A later attack ends when Dyer’s touch from a Michu pass is a little heavy, allowing the visitors’ defence to intercept and clear.

We’re approaching stoppage time now.

Shelvey marginally fails to connect with a Gerrard cross-shot, as Liverpool hopes fade.

Meanwhile, the fact that both these sides have had 14 attempts tells its own story.

FULL-TIME: SWANSEA 0-0 LIVERPOOL

So that’s that then – an improbable 0-0 if ever there was one, given the relatively attack-minded approaches of both sides.

It’s probably a fair result on reflection – Liverpool were the better side in the first half, while Swansea edged the second, partially thanks to a tactical alteration in their lineup.

In truth though, neither side deserved to win the game.

Liverpool will be particularly disappointed not to pick up the three points, given their recent excellent form, though will surely acknowledged that they were up against an impressive Swansea side on the day.

Right that’s it from me for now.

We’ll be back very shortly to liveblog the Chelsea-City game.

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