Echo: Swansea 0-0 LFC

Liverpool's revival was hampered by Brendan Rodgers's own legacy on a desperately frustrating afternoon in South Wales.

Rodgers was afforded a warm reception on his first return to the Liberty Stadium but the Reds boss left feeling short-changed.

Liverpool should have clinched the victory they required to clamber into the top 10 for the first time this season.
Instead, they were thwarted by the club Rodgers transformed from Championship also-rans into a mid-table Premier League side in the space of two seasons.

A share of the spoils extended the Reds' unbeaten league run to eight games but after a fifth stalemate in that sequence no-one was in the mood to celebrate.

It wasn't just the surroundings which were familiar for Rodgers. There was also the sight of his Liverpool side spurning chances and lacking a ruthless streak in the final third.

This time Luis Suarez didn't bail them out. Having plundered eight goals in the previous seven league games, the Uruguayan couldn't maintain his stunning scoring run. And, predictably, the supporting cast weren't able to ease the burden on the top scorer's shoulders.

Of course the Reds were hampered by poor fortune as the woodwork and a controversial offside decision helped Swansea remain on level terms. Jose Enrique's effort before the break was harshly ruled out with replays suggesting the Spaniard was level with the Swans' line of defenders.

However, the reality is that for long periods Swansea were able to sit back and comfortably deal with everything Liverpool threw at them.

Out wide, there was a threat with Raheem Sterling and Enrique working tirelessly for the cause. But in the centre there was an alarming lack of spark as Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson struggled to impose themselves on proceedings.

Allen appeared so desperate to impress against his boyhood club that his composure deserted him at times. Possession was carelessly squandered and needless free-kicks given away which almost proved costly.

Rodgers' Liverpool are a work in progress and reinforcements are urgently required in January but what the manager has successfully installed is steel and resilience in the ranks.

They head for Tottenham on Wednesday night buoyed by successive clean sheets in the league, and with Pepe Reina showing signs of getting back to his best.

The Anfield No 1 will be nursing a sore head today after getting Nathan Dyer's studs in his face but the keeper will take some comfort from his faultless performance.

With Andre Wisdom ruled out with a knee injury, Rodgers opted to hand Stewart Downing his first league start since the opening day defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

It meant the Reds had a £20m winger at left-back and a left-back in Enrique playing on the left wing. Whether that was a reflection of Enrique's impressive display going forward against Wigan or a lack of faith in Downing's ability to be a creative force was open to interpretation.

Rodgers also opted to drop Suso to the bench with Henderson starting in the Premier League for the first time since May.

The inclusion of Downing saw Glen Johnson moved back to his natural position on the right and the England international was Liverpool's outstanding performer. With his bursting runs forward and intelligent inter-play, Swansea struggled to contain him.

Johnson's slick combinations with Sterling helped the Reds improve after a slow start. Sterling fired tamely at Gerhard Tremmel before Johnson planted a header over.

There was a scare when Wayne Routledge turned away from Martin Skrtel but his strike was turned behind by Reina.

Enrique, who carried on where he left off against Wigan, slid in to meet Johnson's curling cross but bundled it agonisingly wide. The Spaniard also had his work cut out getting back to provide cover when Downing's deficiencies were exposed.

The Reds grew in confidence and midway through the opening half they should have scored. A slick one-two with Enrique left Johnson with just Tremmel to beat but his shot clipped the keeper's leg and looped over.

Henderson was clearly desperate to impress as he snapped into tackles but at times his lack of awareness let him down. He got an earful from Suarez after standing rooted to the spot when the Uruguayan was crying out for him to provide an overlap.

The highly-talented Pablo Hernandez, Swansea's £5.5m club record signing from Valencia, was a real handful and after skipping away from Allen his curler flew just past the post.

The Reds were exposed again when Gerrard's back-heel was intercepted but to the skipper's relief, Jonathan de Guzman went for glory with better options around him and failed to hit the target.

A sustained assault from the visitors before the interval should have brought some reward. Sterling's enticing cross was touched by Tremmel into the path of Suarez who was denied by Angel Rangel's block.

From the ensuing corner, Sterling latched on to Michu's defensive header, took a touch to steady himself and unleashed a thunderous volley which cannoned back off the bar.

Then came the controversy with Sterling and Johnson heavily involved before Suarez's clipped cross was turned home by Enrique. Having waited two-and-a-half years for one goal, Enrique was cruelly denied a second in eight days by the raised flag.

After such a promising spell, the disappointment was that in the second-half Liverpool couldn't maintain that tempo and intensity.

Suarez's much-anticipated battle with Ashley Williams, who had apologised for saying in his new book he wanted to "knock out" the Reds striker, failed to truly ignite. Just before the hour Gerrard picked out Suarez but the angle was tight and his drive was parried away.

Swansea gave as good as they got with a Williams header hacked off the line by Allen before the Reds were indebted to Reina for denying substitute Dyer, who had burst clear after embarrassing Downing.

In search of inspiration, Rodgers brought on Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Cole for Henderson and Downing.

With seven minutes to go Reina's punch was seized upon by Suarez and with Sterling racing up in support it was two against one. However, Sterling's return pass was slack and the opening fizzled out as Suarez was forced wide and shot straight at Tremmel.

Shelvey's 25-yarder was beaten away by the keeper in stoppage time as the Reds added another hard luck story to their collection.

Source: Liverpool Echo