Liverpool 1-0 Swansea: James Milner scores winner from penalty spot as Jurgen Klopp's men move into Premier League top six

• Liverpool midfielder James Milner scores from the penalty spot to earn Reds 1-0 victory over Swansea
• The win was manager Jurgen Klopp's third straight victory after previously beating Manchester City and Bordeaux
• Daniel Sturridge, who has struggled with injury problems this season, replaced Christian Benteke in the second half 

By Chris Wheeler for the Daily Mail

Published: 13:08 EST, 29 November 2015 | Updated: 20:28 EST, 29 November 2015

Liverpool walked on through the wind, to quote their famous anthem, at Anfield on Sunday and took another step in the right direction under the mercurial Jurgen Klopp.

Up to sixth place in the table. Six points behind leaders Manchester City. Six wins in seven games in all competitions. At this rate, the biggest challenge Klopp will face is managing expectations.

It wasn’t pretty compared to the spectacular way in which Liverpool swept aside City last weekend. A gutsy Swansea side and gusting conditions made sure of that. 

James Milner jumps and punches the air with Roberto Firmino and Jordon Ibe close by after firing Liverpool ahead against Swansea

The Liverpool midfielder confidently scored from the penalty spot to give the home side the lead after Neil Taylor's handball in the area

Milner raises an arm to the home crowd with Emre Can close behind after sealing Liverpool's third straight victory in eight days

Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski kicks the post and stands dejected as Liverpool players celebrate going ahead at Anfiel

PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE BY DOMINIC KING AT ANFIELD 

LIVERPOOL (4-1-4-1): Mignolet 6.5; Clyne 6, Skrtel 6.5, Lovren 6, Moreno 6; Can 8; Ibe 7 (Tore 90+2), Milner 7, Lallana 6.5, Firmino 6.5 (Henderson 64, 6); Benteke 5 (Sturridge 71, 6). 

Subs not used: Bogdan, Allen, Origi, Randall.

Scorer: Milner, (pen) 62

Booked: Milner, Skrtel

SWANSEA (4-2-3-1): Fabianski 6.5; Naughton 6.5, Bartley 7, Williams 7, Taylor 5.5; Sigurdsson 5.5, Britton 6 (Cork 65, 6), Sung-Yeung 6; Routledge 6, Eder 5 (Gomis 69, 6), Ayew 6.5. 

Subs not used: Nordfeldt, Montero, Grimes, Rangel, Fernandez.

Booked: Bartley

Referee: Anthony Taylor, 7

Attendance: 43, 905 

Star man: Emre Can

 

James Milner scored the winning goal and also covered plenty of ground - CLICK HERE for more from our brilliant Match Zone

 

But Klopp’s team proved that they can win ugly when required as James Milner’s disputed second half penalty gave the German his first win at home in the league.

‘Wind is the biggest enemy of football,’ he said afterwards. ‘It was really crazy, it changed all the time.

‘You can’t compare this game with City and you can’t say that when we don’t play like that we don’t deserve a win. Tonight we are the deserved winners, for sure. That is the only thing we should care about.

‘This wasn’t our best performance, but it was our best performance with strong wind!’

Liverpool opened brightly enough and it needed some desperate Swansea defending to prevent them from going ahead in the first 25 minutes. 

Kyle Bartley got a foot in to deny Jordon Ibe and was lucky to see the ball come back off his own post. Kyle Naughton made a similar interception on Christian Benteke, and Ashley Williams produced a fantastic block to keep out Adam Lallana’s goalbound shot.

Swansea settled into the game after that and the frustration was growing among the home fans until Neil Taylor turned his back on Ibe’s cross just after the hour mark.

It hit his outstretched right arm and The Kop appealed in unison. Referee Anthony Taylor didn’t appear as though he was going to give it until an assistant intervened. 

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was in attendance at Anfield and looked delighted to see former team-mate Jon Flanagan in the stands

Liverpool wideman Adam Lallana takes a powerful aim at goal but his shocked is blocked by the outstretched leg of Kyle Bartley

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp jumps high on the touchline in an attempt to catch the ball as it flew out for a throw-in

Liverpool's Spanish defender Alberto Moreno attempts to curl a free-kick into the back of the net during the first half of Sunday's clash

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel makes his presence known as the Swansea wall jumps high in a bid to stop Moreno's curling free-kick

Swansea's South Korea international Ki Sung-yeung is felled under the challenge of Liverpool striker Christian Benteke on Sunday

Milner never looked like missing, guiding his penalty straight and high into the net.

‘It was an extremely soft penalty,’ said Swansea boss Garry Monk. ‘Handball has to be intentional and it clearly wasn’t that.

‘The linesman put his flag up quickly and with The Kop end appealing it made it very difficult. To lose the game on a decision that’s out of our hands is very disappointing.

‘From start to finish we limited a very good Liverpool side to nothing. We were never in any danger and the players didn’t deserve what they got.’

Swansea fought for a point without ever seriously testing Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool net and the home side left the pitch to the strain of The House of the Rising Sun, an apt choice given the remarkable revival under Klopp.

To complete the good news for the Anfield boss, he was able to introduce Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge off the bench in the second half. 

Swansea attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson attempts to skip through the Liverpool midfield with James Milner and Emre Can in pursuit

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who has struggled with injuries for much of this season and last, replaced Benteke in the second half

Lallana is forced into the air as he races behind Swansea's Andre Ayew as the Liverpool man bids to regain possession for the home side

Ayew reacts as he falls to the ground under a fesity challenge from goalscorer Milner midway through the second half of Sunday's match

Swansea captain Ashley Williams climbs above Roberto Firmino to head the ball clear as Liverpool searched for an opening 

Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe attempts to shield the ball away from Swansea defender Neil Tayolr as he turns with his left foot

Henderson was making his first appearance since suffering a foot injury in mid-August, while Sturridge managed 20 minutes after Klopp had told the fragile England striker to distinguish between ‘serious pain and what is only pain’.

‘It’s good news for the big Liverpool family,’ he said. ‘Two very important players for us are back in the race.’

Philippe Coutinho was not risked but will be available for Wednesday’s Capital One Cup quarter-final against Southampton.

The only good news for Monk was that his team competed very well throughout, even though they have still won only once since August. Questions about his future persist.

Klopp joined the debate by saying that, on this evidence, Swansea would be wrong to consider making a change.

Monk, meanwhile, has no doubt whatsoever that his team are still playing for him.

‘It’s clear all through this period, it’s never ever been a doubt,’ he said. ‘Anyone who suggests that would be very stupid. A stupid person. ‘That doesn’t look like a team in trouble. There’s never any danger of them being in a relegation fight.

‘It’s my responsibility to get results, it’s as simple as that. You can’t continue not getting points. It’s only a matter of time before we start to click again but we have to do it very quickly.’ 

Lallana attempts to flick the ball away from Eder with as Liverpool left back Moreno looks to stop the Swansea forward

Swansea winger Wayne Routledge attempts to stand his ground as Liverpool's Germany international Can challenges from behind

Benteke goes to ground as the Belgian Liverpool forward is crowded out by Ki and Swansea centre back Bartley on Merseyside

Liverpool manager Klopp barks orders to his side following successive victories over Manchester City and Bordeaux 

Swansea boss Garry Monk attempts to inspire his players from the Anfield touchline following a run of three games with a victory

Former Liverpool striker Kevin Keegan donned a wig as he appeared on the Anfield pitch at half-time during Sunday's victory

Liverpool stand around the centre circle and hold a minute's applause for former defender Gerry Byrne who passed away on Saturday

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