1. Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho are the biggest beneficiaries of Liverpool’s new system
A lot of Liverpool players are settling in this new 3-4-3 formation and it was encouraging to see the Spanish wing-back duo of Alberto Moreno and Javier Manquillo embrace the licence to bomb on knowing that they had enough cover at the back should play quickly bypass them.
But it is Lallana and Coutinho who have shone the brightest in their free roles just behind Raheem Sterling. They link-up play with real quality in the final-third. Their work ethic when out possession has also been impressive since Brendan Rodgers’ tactical change and Lallana was rewarded with a goal from Lukasz Fabianski’s goal kick.
2. More controversy for Jonjo Shelvey against Liverpool
Last season, Shelvey had a hand in all of the four goals in a 2-2 draw between Swansea and Liverpool as he scored a beauty before allowing the Reds to score two goals with his sloppy passing. In this game, he was neat with his passing but then he also expressed the other side of his character.
Despite Garry Monk warning the midfielder before the game to mind his discipline, Shelvey caught Emre Can with a raised arm and he could face retrospective action from the FA.
When defending a corner kick in the second-half, he was busy joking with Lallana just moments before he scored an own goal.
3. Brendan Rodgers could not have picked a better game to bed in Emre Can
Can started as the right-sided defender in a back-three with Kolo Toure dropping to the bench as the Ivorian defender prepares to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations. The midfielder had a gentle game with Swansea barely causing problems.
The Germany Under-21 international’s passing ability also allowed Liverpool’s central midfielders to focus on backing play in the middle of the park rather than dropping back to initiate play all the time.
4. Txiki Begiristain must have been a disappointed observer as Wilfried Bony was relegated to a spectator
Manchester City’s director of football Begiristain was at Anfield as the champions continue to be linked with signing a new striker in January. But he had very little on his report card as Swansea struggled to create good chances for Bony to come to life. The striker only lasted for an hour before Monk tried to chase the game with Bafetimbi Gomis.
5. This is now the perfect time for Liverpool to show some consistency
Liverpool have not won three games in a row so far this season as they have struggled for consistency throughout. The Reds can change that now as they have a working system which has allowed them to create a healthy amount of chances in all their last five games.
Liverpool have winnable league games in January against Leicester City, Aston Villa, Sunderland and West Ham. The key for Rodgers’ men is to maintain the form they showed in this rout of the Swans. They are just five points behind the Champions League spots and, if they can extend their winning run, they could have a much better second half of the season.
