Liverpool maintained the pressure in the race for Champions League qualification as Jordan Henderson’s fortunate second-half goal saw off Swansea at the Liberty Stadium to seal a 1-0 win
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Henderson’s 68th minute winner – his sixth goal of the season and his third in successive Premier League games – had a slice of good fortune about it as Jordi Amat’s attempted clearance clattered into him, but Liverpool will not worry about that on a night when Swansea had them clinging on for large parts of the first half.
But Liverpool showed the resilience of a side which has not conceded away from home in the league since December 14 and grew in stature as the second half unfolded.
The gap between themselves and fourth-placed Manchester United was cut to two points again before the pair meet in a huge Anfield collision on Sunday.
Match-winner Henderson said: “It’s a great result. We were very disappointed with our first half. The gaffer had a few words to say. I felt we passed the ball a lot better in the second and were solid at the back.
“We’re delighted with the three points and we’re looking forward to Sunday. It was a great pass from Daniel [Sturridge]. It was probably a little bit fortunate in the end, but you have got to be in the right positions to score.”
6 – Liverpool have kept six consecutive clean sheets away from home in the top-flight for only the third time (1966, 1972, 2015). Grit.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 2015
Liverpool’s need for the three points was greater than a Swansea side who had already reached the 40-point mark expected to guarantee another season of Premier League football, but it was the hosts who enjoyed the greater possession and scoring opportunities in an enthralling first half.
Gerrard was sent on after 64 minutes with Liverpool firmly in the ascendancy and he was soon celebrating a goal, even if it came in rather fortuitous fashion.
Skrtel advanced from the back and his pass squirmed through off Sturridge before Amat’s attempted clearance cannoned off Henderson and over the helpless Lukas Fabianski.
RT LHervie14: Jokes on you Fergie, if Henderson had a normal gait then he wouldn’t have scored this goal https://t.co/XqV5O2DQbU #vine
— Tta (@_tta__) March 17, 2015
