Swansea 3 Liverpool 1

So it is Europa League or bust for Liverpool, as far as this season goes. Jürgen Klopp’s team all but surrendered any hope of reaching the Champions League through a top-four finish in the Premier League, as they turned in a performance that practically invited defeat by a Swansea side who confirmed their presence in next season’s Premier League but showed that, at home at least, they remain a force not to be taken lightly.

André Ayew scored twice for the Welsh side, one goal either side of a delicious long-range strike by Jack Cork. Christian Benteke’s goal for the visitors after being introduced from the bench meant nothing in terms of the result but ensured a measure of satisfaction for a player in need of it. That, and a decent display by the goalkeeper, Danny Ward, was about all Liverpool could be content with from a match in which they finished with 10 players, Brad Smith being sent off for two bookable offences.

Klopp made eight changes to the Liverpool side that lost the Europa League semi-final first leg at Villarreal on Thursday, signalling that his priority for the season is to overturn that deficit in this week’s second leg at Anfield. With several inexperienced youngsters given rare league starts, including a top-flight debut for 18-year-old Pedro Chirivella, the Reds looked decidedly green, especially in midfield, where Chirivella and Kevin Stewart found it difficult to cope with the slick hosts.

Swansea were evidently intent on showing they have class both on and of the pitch. The club staged a well-judged tribute to the Hillsborough Justice Campaign before kick-off; and once the game got going, their team played with attractive fluency.

Cork, marshalling midfield well, served as an inventive conduit to Swansea's four dangerous attackers, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Ayew, Wayne Routledge and Jefferson Montero, whose speedy dribbling made him particularly bothersome to Nathaniel Clyne. The right-back was one of the few senior players in Liverpool's line-up, and the rookies in the team would have benefited from more solid support from their experienced team-mates. Philippe Countinho and Daniel Sturridge, in particular, sometimes had the air of laggards, only really coming alive when presented with the ball.

When Sturridge lost possession to Montero in midfield in the 14th minute, he eschewed chasing back and instead stood and observed as Swansea put together an incisive move that might have yielded a goal if Ayew had not volleyed wide from 16 yards.

Six minutes later another shot by Ayew was deflected behind by Dejan Lovren for a corner that led to the opening goal. Sigurdsson delivered with customary accuracy and Ayew showed better timing and more determination than any visiting player to head the ball into the net from close range.

Coutinho led the push for a swift equaliser, tip-toeing his way past three players and into the box before falling under a challenge by Jordi Amat. The referee, Roger East, saw no cause to award a penalty and Swansea resumed their dominance. Danny Ward, making his second league start in place of Simon Mignolet, made an excellent save with his feet to deny Cork after another flowing move by the hosts. Moments later the goalkeeper turned away a shot by Montero at his near post.

Cork left Ward grasping at thin air in the 33rd minute when slovenliness by Liverpool allowed him to retrieve the ball in midfield and he strode forward and guided an exquisite curling shot into the net from 20 yards.

Sheyi Ojo, a pleasingly enterprising 18-year-old, tried to wake Liverpool up. In the 36th minute he released Sturridge with a canny pass from the centre circle. The England striker clipped a first-time lob over Lukasz Fabianski but the ball dropped just the wrong side of the post.

Klopp could not let Liverpool continue as they were. He made two substitutions during the break, introducing Benteke and Lucas Leiva for Coutinho and Chirivella. That helped Liverpool get a slightly better grip. Benteke, a player with even more to prove than any of the tyros, made his presence felt in the 65th minute, stooping to head a corner by Ojo into the net from close range. But that was not the start of a comeback, merely the prelude to more Liverpool bungling, of which Swansea were happy to take advantage. In the 67th minute Montero launched another attack, skipping past Martin Skrtel and into the box, where slapstick defending failed to distract him. Montero looked up and picked out Ayew, who shot into the net.

There was still time for the afternoon to deteriorate for the visitors. Smith, booked in the first half for pulling back Routledge, was shown a second yellow card after bumping into Kyle Naughton after the defender lifted the ball over him. Klopp’s reaction suggested he found the decision poor. His team’s performance was worse. The season could yet end with smiles and a Europa League triumph. Otherwise Liverpool fans may find themselves in the funny position of having to hope for Manchester United to win the FA Cup final if Anfield is to see European action next season.

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