Liverpool Take Momentum into International Break After Comeback Win over Swansea

LIBERTY STADIUM, Swansea — Liverpool took to south Wales for a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday, looking to preserve their bright start to the 2016/17 season with victory over a Swansea City side that have proved a troubling prospect in previous encounters—and the Reds ultimately did just that, taking a 2-1 win back to Merseyside.

In the 40th competitive clash between the two sides, the Reds turned out in a wet, miserable Liberty Stadium having enjoyed just one win from their last five outings at the Swans’ home ground—and with May’s 3-1 defeat to Francesco Guidolin’s side still fresh in the memory.

A brace from Andre Ayew and a 33rd-minute strike from Jack Cork sealed the three points for Swansea that day, with Christian Benteke’s header serving as little more than a consolation, while a red card for left-back Brad Smith compounded the misery on Klopp’s side, with their focus on the UEFA Europa League.

Saturday proved to be a much different prospect for Liverpool, however, and this was marked by the presence of just three players—Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren and Philippe Coutinho—included in the starting lineup in both May and October.

Six players from May’s matchday squad left the club this summer, with Benteke (Crystal Palace) and Smith (Bournemouth) followed by Martin Skrtel (Fenerbahce), Joao Carlos Teixeira (FC Porto), Jordon Ibe (Bournemouth) and Danny Ward (Huddersfield Town, loan) as part of Klopp’s offseason overhaul.

Flying the 180 miles to south Wales on Friday afternoon, Klopp’s much-changed Liverpool brought with them a new, steely mentality, heading into the clash fifth in the Premier League table—five points behind first-placed Manchester City and one point behind second-placed Everton.

Though they made it difficult for themselves, at a crucial stage, the Reds compounded this with a comeback display that bore the hallmarks of a side capable of challenging at the top end of the league in 2016/17.

As usual, Klopp lined his side up in a 4-3-3 formation at the Liberty, with Loris Karius keeping his place in goal behind a back four of Clyne, Lovren, Joel Matip and James Milner, in what ostensibly represents the German’s first-choice defensive unit.

In midfield, Jordan Henderson was flanked by his regular cohorts, Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana, in a three-man unit, while Sadio Mane provided support for Coutinho and Roberto Firmino in Klopp’s forward line.

Having made just one change to the side that sealed a 5-1 victory at home to Hull City the previous weekend, Klopp will have expected the Reds to produce a similarly emphatic attacking display from kick-off.

But …

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