17/02/2013 Match of the Day 2

There is a bonus Match of the Day 2 tonight, the only Premier League

came off the weekend featuring two of the division's purists,

Liverpool and Swansea City. Swansea City are led by one of the world's

finest players from the 1980s, schooled at Juventus, Madrid and

Barcelona. Michael Laudrup now teaches the beautiful game in South

Wales. His predecessor is now the manager of Liverpool. Brendan

Rodgers has taken his footballing principles to Anfield's renowned

boot room. Both teams sit in mid- table and of playing for European

football next season. So a new chapter in their history or in

return to the stage of their Swansea have never won a league

match at Anfield, although they did beat the Reds 3-1 here in the

capital cop on route to their first major Wembley final, which takes

place next Sunday -- the capital Cup. Liverpool are two points

behind Swansea and desperately need the points after a damaging defeat

to West Brom last Monday. So the stakes are desperately high in this

match. This is one of the most famous tunnels in world football,

both sides are ready to go and will be led out by Steven Gerrard and

Garry Monk. That's join your commentary team of Michael Owen and

Merseyside 8 and a half months ago, who would have thought his new team

would be out -- behind his old one when they met today. He is looking

ahead of a Swansea's Cup final. He is able to recall Daniel Sturridge,

who has number course in-form games. And a fall from in the game if for

another -- a full Premier League debut for another player in

Coutinho. He Swansea make several changes from the team that beat

Queen's Park Rangers. Roland Lamah get a full debut, as this Itay

Shechter. Captain Ashley Williams are you expecting, particularly

given the team news? I am surprised that Swansea have made seven

changes. With the cup final thing a week away, I thought they would go

a little bit stronger than this. Liverpool look strong, they are

kicking into the Kop end, which they don't particularly like in the

first half, but they have a fully fit squad and I am expecting a good

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 57 seconds

the Brazilian on his first start Liverpool, fantastic corner from

Steven Gerrard. He picked out Stewart Downing and unfortunately

he couldn't quite get his feet in the right position and ended up

miscuing. Michael Laudrup at Anfield, he may well have been a

player at one stage, as an Eighteen-year-old his proposed move

to Liverpool fell through and he went to Italy to play for Juventus

Luis Suarez and Sturridge. It was great one-touch play down the

right-hand side, a little laid off by Sturridge and a great strike but

straight down the keeper's throat. As ever, Liverpool hoping for a --

an early goal to settle them down, something that never arrived

against West Brom. I watched that game and I thought Liverpool played

pretty well. They were desperately unlucky to lose. West Brom hit them

on the counter and the statistics on that game were pretty

right place at the right time. Agger was really wanting to go and

tackle but as he is in the box, he the Belgian international on his

full debut. Howard Webb wasn't interested. Our first reaction is

it was ball to hand, if anything. I think it is very difficult to give

a penalty for that. His arms are close to his body, they are not

Luis Suarez. It's dropped perfectly for him. When its crops of your

chest like that, or you have got to do is hit it clean and you have

top-spin from where the ball is dropping. Unfortunately, he hit it

a little too hard and it didn't have time for the top-spin to take

six-yard said, big chance. Massive chance. Downing does great, cuts on

to his right foot, not his strongest for it, but what a ball

and that is a huge chance for someone of his calibre. This is

where Liverpool has to be patient. We have seen this situation so many

times at home this season. It is a trait of Liverpool Football Club,

patience is key. The manager brings it up all the time. And I think

this crowd I used to teams coming here and sticking men behind the

ball. Whether it is the last bit or the first miniature score, you have

to keep their patients. -- the last minute for the first minute that

seconds That Was and Liverpool are left again wondering how they are

not in front. A great for by Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge cuts

inside and you think he is going to score. Is it a penalty? Hard to

tell, but Coutinho has a great chance to make a flying start to

his Liverpool career and it misses And he has given it, the referee's

assistant, Mike Mullarkey on the near side. It wasn't Howard Webb.

The defender a little bit clumsy, pushing like that gives Luis Suarez

the opportunity to go down and you would have to say there is a bit of

season but he hasn't saved that one. -- penalties. Steven Gerrard spores,

deadlock broken and Liverpool are in front with Steven Gerrard's 8th

goal of the season. I have been in that position where you have

Mitchell previous penalty and there is no joy in scoring, it is pure

relief. -- you have missed your for swans Lee and it remains 1-0. -

- Swansea. Oceans of space down his right hand side for Liverpool. Vorm

came out and made a great job of that was a golden one.

goalkeeper does really well, narrows the angle and Sturridge

of their last 17 matches, get the second half under way. No changes

for Liverpool debut with a goal inside 20 seconds of the second

half -- Marks. A dream start for Liverpool at the start of the

second period. You wouldn't believe it, 30 seconds farm and Swansea

have left them three on two. He cuts inside, not something you

would associate with him, strength and power in his shot, but it went

straight through Vorm. The 20-year- old Brazilian international who

made his debut as a substitute against West Bromwich Albion, in

from the start and he is in with a goal. And it is a long way back for

He has arrived from Inter Milan and it is fair to say he is not lacking

in confidence. He certainly isn't, fantastic confidence to nearly get

the flick into the back post. A great run across the box, he really

does remind me of Aimar, a young Started and finished by Jose

Enrique. He scores his second Premier League goal for Liverpool

and makes it 3-0. This has got to be one of the goals of the season,

what a touch by Luis Suarez. Pass, pass, pass and a great finish.

Position and passing, that Cole had everything, absolutely fantastic. -

- that goal. And what a finish from a man not known for goalscoring. In

his time in the top flight with Newcastle and Liverpool, his second

ever Premier League strike. It is one he will remember. It might just

be damage limitation now ahead of Wembley. This is the best part of

being a professional footballer, three-nil up and the exhibition

Eight goals in ten Premier League games for Luis Suarez. His 23rd of

the season, and Liverpool are out of sight. Exhibition stuff now from

Liverpool. Great ball in, great tough from Suarez. You think he is

going to pass it into Sturridge, but no, he fancies a bit of the

action today. Dummies to shoot and it is a fantastic left foot. Great

Sturridge. Straight at Vorm, and Suarez, and Bartley in the way.

Desperate defending from Swansea to keep the score line down. Great

play from Liverpool. Sturridge did fantasticly well to bring the pass

down on his chest. Perfect first touch and hit it early, hit it down,

Suarez has come up, tried to finish off the rebound but great defending

from Swansea. He will be pleased to see his team not take their foot

off the pedal. I think Liverpool need that. They have not scored

enough goals in general this season. Once you have a team on the rack

like Liverpool have Swansea today, you need to press home that

would have been, denied by the legs of Vorm. Ka are carving Swansea to

pieces. Great one two, very hard to time has given that, handball

against Routledge, it is Liverpool's second penalty of the

day.. It had so much time to check the flight of the ball, and, yeah,

it is a penalty. Routledge not normally used to defending in them

positions and he has his arm in the air. It hits his arm unfortunately.

There is no other decision but to give Liverpool a penalty. They have

only had two penalties all season until today. Now they have two in

one day. Can Daniel Sturridge do it, to make it 5-0 Liverpool? He most

certainly can. With his fifth goal for the club already. Liverpool 5,

Swansea 0.. He has made a great impact at the club since he has

been here, he gives Liverpool something they haven't got. Four

goals in five Premier League games for Daniel Sturridge, that is what

you call having an impact straight away. Couldn't have gone better for

him. I couldn't have. Immediately his first game he looked sharp,

lively, always threatening and he has give the Swansea defenders a

run round today. He is so direct. He is skilful. He has been a great

and liver pool's sixth. You can see confidence coursing through the

players now. Fantastic evident again by Sturridge. Every time they

get the ball they look like scoring. get the ball they look like scoring.

He has had a cracking game today. Jamie Carragher has joined myself

and Michael. That was a complete performance. It was, it was, to be

fair to Swansea, they have had a great season, and, left a few of

the big names on the bench for next week. We had a job to do and we

have done it. You have had more shots than any other side that the

top teams in Europe. You had more than any other team in a Premier

League game this season and you scored more goals in 2013 than any

other Premier League side which shows the attacking options you

have. It durbgsz since sturg Daniel Sturridge has come in he has made a

big difference to us, he is unavailable for Europe that, is a

bit of a blow for us, but at the moment, he looks dangerous as

anything in the league. Hope that bodes well for the future, we have

had decent strikers in the past. Maybe not as good as these two. But

we have had a tradition of desend strikers. And five different

goalscorer, how important is that for confidence? It is for the lads

who score. That has been a problem for u scoring goals over the last

few year, you normally have had Lewis or Steve Gerrard getting

goals so it is nice to spread them round. A great day for Liverpool.

But for a much changed Swansea this was their heaviest defeat in the

Premier League. Not great preparation for the Cup Final next

weekend. After Michael Laudrup spoke with us. It was a nightmare.

I think we got slaughtered in there. First half, we were still in the

game. To give away three goals like that in ten minute, it was, "yes",

it was awful. But, well, we just have to say sorry, to the fans who

have travelled and first of all, I am the one responsible, because I

picked the team. Talking about the team, you made seven changes today,

was that a deliberate thing with Wembley in mind or did you want to

freshen it up? Only in a couple of positions I wanted to leave them

out. We made four or five, or six or seven changes in the last two or

three months and still being been competitive today. We could have

lost 10-0, so we are all to blame, first of all the manager, that is

me, and then the players as well, because if you are not competitive

at the level you can lose to everybody. Thank you for joining us,

was that as complete as performance as you have had? No, we have played

well in a lot of our games. Today was going to be a tough game for us

on the back of our midweek games on moond Thursday, but that was a big

credit the players, their application and mentality was

outstanding. We were going to the game with looking to keep a clean

sheet. That was important for us, because we haven't defended as well

in the last four games as we wanted to. But defensively we were strong

as a team, and the flow in attack was good. I was impressed with

Daniel Sturridge in particular. What type of different dipension

does his offer the team? It is that one that gives the team a bit of

pace on the shoulder. What we have been looking for that type of

strike e really, Suarez has been brilliant but he plays in little

pockets and gap, Daniel has real pace and power and he can do both.

He spins off the shoulder. And he is hungry to score a goal. Which is

important for us. Do you feel happy with the attacking options at your

disposal? Yes, we want to be better. We have a lot of work to do. I

liken ourselves to a marathon run er runner, we are coming round the

corner to the finishing line and then we trip up. How is were boar -

- Fabio Borini, that was a blood- curdling scream enwhen he went down.

He will probably be out for the season. He dislocated his other

shoulder at Chelsea and he has done the left one this time, so it looks

like he will be out for the rest of the season. Also join us Stuart

Downing, that was a very impressive performance.. It was a good win for

us, we scored good goal, especially, we scored at a Times Square in the

second half. I think the manager is quite pleased with it. We.

normally see you on the wing. Does that position change when you are

out there or how do you find it being a left footer. Sometimes it

is an advantage you get shots off, if you can use your right foot that

helps. I was playing with Glen Johnson, I like playing with him

down that side. I am enjoying it. Do you feel as happy and confident

as any time in your career? I am enjoying it. We have been playing

well, and my form has been good. So I am happy. I have been asked to

get a few goals toward the end of the season. Is he the kind of

manager that makes you believe? he is hard on player, I at the

start of the season when I had my own, obviously personal stuff with

him, but I got on with it, got my head down f you play well he will

put you in the team. That is all you can ask for. So Michael. We

have heard from everyone. Brendan Rodgers wants to focus on the clean

sheet but you are looking further up the field, as far as Liverpool

were concerned. They were sensational that final third this

afternoon. That is right. Typical manager, they are all wanting to

appraise the defenders, there is no question, it was about the

attacking threat. I thought stur was magnificent. The amount of

times he's was running in behind the Swansea defence and causing

problem, and not only that but leaving space for Downing, Suarez,

it was a great performance. easiest thing to do is say Suarez

pulled all the strengs but you are saying he is able do that because

Sturridge creates the space for him. That is right. I takes two to tango.

Sturridge was play tong shoulder of the Swansea defence. Bounce you

start doing that you start dragging their men back to the tpwoel. If

you ask Suarez he will be delighted he has a partner that is willing to

run in behind to give Suarez a space an we know how good he is

when he has that space. When we talk about movement. Is that

something that you will work on in training or is that something that

just happens naturally? A bit of both. Some people have just got a

football brain, and will be able to work it out, work where their pal

is, what space he is about to leave, some people need to work on it,

someone like Coutinho coming into the squad for the first time, into

the starting line up, I mean I am sure there will be a few of the

players wondering where he was going to pop up, crop up, how to

play off him, but he did well in patches today, so I think it is a

bit of suck and see, really, you will be learning on your feet and

you will have that football brain to know where to go. Swansea have a

Cup Final copping up. Michael Laudrup says they will be fine by

Wednesday, does that make sense. does and it has to. You have to

brush it under the carpet as quick as possible. I was surprised they

made so many changes. Coming toe Anfield it is a tall enough order,

any way, and to obviously make so many change, you can understand why

he did it, but, you know, they haven't had a game for a workers

and they haven't got a game until next week, so there is Flynn of

time to rest and recover. But again, they are going to be going into the

biggest game of their club's histrirk probably, next weekend,

and you can -- history, and you can understand he wants everyone fit,

fresh and raring to go. Thank you for your company. Let us take a

look at the league table of before we leave you this evening. That

result lifts Liverpool above Swansea into seventh place and

keeps their dreams of European football alive for next season.

Here is a whole load of football coming your way on the BBC. You

have live commentary of the fifth round FA Cup tie tomorrow, the

following evening Five Live will have Arsenal against Bayern Munich

in the Champions League and next weekend, the Premier League resumes

fully, so the BBC has its usual comprehensive service, Football

Focus, then final score and Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2

back at 10.25 next Sunday, followed by highlights of Swansea against

Bradford in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley. So, that is it

from us here at Anfield, we are two-third of the way through the

season now, plenty of excitement still to come, plenty of excitement

just. The very first goal of his career. What a goal. Out goes Mark

Hughes and Harry Redknapp is confirmed at the new manager.

Chelsea have sacked their manager Roberto di Matteo. Manchester

United are ahead. It is Michu for 2-06789 it is stunning. Robin van

Persie to strike. 3-0 Aston Villa. Ramirez. Hernandez right on the

90th minute. That is a penalty. No, he is still going. How about that!