A brace from Roberto Firmino was not enough to save Liverpool as Swansea secured their first-ever league win at Anfield in a five-goal thriller.

Fernando Llorente had given the visitors a two-goal cushion early in the second half when he pouncd on poor defending to rifle into Simon Mignolet’s net.

The former Juventus striker added a second just five minutes later when he headed home a Tom Carroll cross.

Firmino immediately struck back as he powered past Lukasz Fabianski to reduce the deficit before following up later with a drilled shot on the turn.

But Gylfi Sigurdsson secured victory for Paul Clement’s side when he fired home unmarked with just 15 minutes remaining.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Reds’ dream dies for another season

 

Forget about the Premier League title making its way to Anfield this season.

As things stand, Jurgen Klopp’s side will be clinging to the solace of an extended cup run to cushion the blow of being forced to settle for a top four finish at best.

Liverpool know this path all too well; they last trod it in the 2013/14 season.

Trying to play at a high intensity and out-scoring opponents proved the undoing of Brendan Rodgers’ side in that campaign and has affected his successor also.

Not only did an unbeaten Premier League home record fall by the wayside against Swansea, after being unbroken for a full 12 months, but also hopes of the title.

Ten points could potentially separate the Reds from Chelsea after this weekend, all but confirming that Antonio Conte’s side as the runaway champions-elect.

The Londoners will head to Merseyside on January 31 with a view to adding insult to injury. Once again, a season of promise will unceremoniously peter out.

No case for the defence

 

Klopp has demanded a response from his players following this latest setback.

Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi final will offer Liverpool’s defence the chance to atone for offering more gifts than the January sales to Fernando Llorente.

The Swansea striker will not have much better opportunities to record a hat-trick after recording a comfortable brace in the space of five minutes.

Slapstick marking allowed him to pounce on a loose ball to rifle home while a free header further compounded the case for Joel Matip’s overdue return.

Not even introducing the centre-back far sooner than as Georgino Wijnaldum’s replacement in the second minute of stoppage time would have spared their blushes.

Loss of Mane effect is now sorely felt

 

It was generally accepted that Liverpool would be devoid of an X-factor when Sadio Mane departed for the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this month.

But nowhere was that more damning nor evident than against Paul Clement’s side.

The hosts may have dominated possession and chances, particularly in the first half, but they sorely lacked an end product in the final third.

Inch-perfect deliveries to Emre Can, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino all devolved into half-chances which Lukasz Fabianski saw off comfortably.

Firmino, to his credit, took the fight to the Swans during the second half with two clinical efforts but he was still standing alone in the trenches.

Even with definitive strikers to aim for, in both Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi, Klopp’s players still struggled to wear their visitors down into submission.

The Liverpool manager’s ongoing conundrum is how he will marry Firmino’s attacking guile with the proven finesse of one of his designated front men.

Midfield double act isn’t working

 

Both Can and Jordan Henderson had been earmarked as Liverpool’s midfield pairing of the long-term future but only one is likely to remain, if he is lucky.

The German’s season continues to hurtle towards a total write-off with every listless performance which passes. This proved to be the latest indictment.

His partner in crime was not much better; Henderson’s afternoon was defined by with a series of misplaced passes drawing audible frustration from the Anfield crowd.

Sooner rather than later, Klopp will have to address his deficient duo.