Liverpool 2-3 Swansea: Premier League as it happened

A truly remarkable second half on Merseyside. Sigurdsson's winner sees Swansea lift themselves off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone. That is their first EVER league win at Anfield.

Liverpool's title hopes take a battering as their formidable 17-game unbeaten home run comes to an end. They are likely to find themselves 10 points adrift of Chelsea by the end of play tomorrow.

No chance to dwell on arguably the biggest upset of the season so far, however. Join me for further live coverage of five 3pm kick-offs including Stoke vs Manchester United.

Full-time

Liverpool 2-3 Swansea

Fabianski gathers another poor cross and Rangel sees the ball safely out of play after Origi's stumble.

Surely that is it now.

Interesting that Klopp is now resorting to long balls after being somewhat critical of similar tactics deployed by Jose Mourinho last week...

Jay Fulton comes on for Fer and Klopp replaces Wijnaldum with Matip. The centre-back goes straight up front.

Wijnaldum's left-wing cross is gobbled up by Fabianski. Fer goes down holding his foot and signals that he needs to come off. This will lead to more time being added on.

The ball is pumped long to Origi, but he can only head it on and out of play to provide Swansea with some much needed breathing space.

Fer tries to win a free-kick off Clyne and is swiftly cautioned for simulation.

Five minutes of added time for the Swans to negotiate.

Swansea wisely decline to throw unnecessary numbers forward for a free-kick and Sigurdsson ends up bending his effort well wide of Mignolet's left-hand post.

The all-action Lallana dinks the ball onto the crossbar and then heads over from Sturridge's cross.

Can Swansea hold on here?

Wijnaldum alleviates some of the pressure on Swansea by fouling Sigurdsson, who was back doing his share of the defensive work.

Llorente will not have a chance to complete his hat-trick. Fellow Spaniard Borja Baston comes on instead.

Anfield winces as Lovren lines up a long-range effort. However, this shot poses far more of a threat and is helped on its way over by Fabianski.

Almost a real chance for Sturridge to draw Liverpool level once again. Clement's first change of the afternoon sees Rangel replace Olsson.

11 minutes plus stoppage time left for the hosts to avoid a shock defeat that would come as a significant blow to their hopes of chasing down Chelsea, who host Hull City tomorrow.

Liverpool go back on the attack after sending on Origi in place of Can, but Swansea demonstrate superb fighting spirit to retake the lead.

After some nifty feet in the box from Carroll, Klavan inadvertently deflects the ball into the path of Sigurdsson. The Icelandic playmaker slides home despite Mignolet's best attempts to narrow the angle.

What a wildly entertaining second half this has been.

Goal: Liverpool 2-3 Swansea (Gylfi Sigurdsson)

A terrific second goal from Firmino has Liverpool back on level terms with 20 minutes still to play.

Milner finds Wijnaldum with a lofted pass down the right and the Dutch midfielder takes Fernandez out of the game with a wicked touch before producing a pinpoint cross.

Firmino cushions the ball on his chest and arrows a brilliant half-volley into the bottom corner.

Goal: Liverpool 2-2 Swansea (Roberto Firmino)

Swansea come agonisingly close to restoring their two-goal advantage as Sigurdsson's corner is headed narrowly wide by Mawson. Fernandez might have reacted quicker to provide the finishing touch at the back post.

Lallana surges forward in search of a Liverpool equaliser but runs into a wall of white shirts on the edge of the Swansea box. Good defending from Mawson and Fernandez.

Klavan, already on a booking, stands his ground and sends Llorente sprawling to the turf.

Friend decides against a second yellow card, but the centre-back is certainly on very thin ice now. It would not be a surprise to see him replaced by Matip sooner rather than later.

Klopp withdraws Coutinho in favour of Daniel Sturridge. Clyne's persistence leads to a sight of goal for Henderson, but Fabianski gets down to hold his low shot.

We're all set up for a fascinating last half an hour.

After a dull opening 45 minutes, the start of this second half has been utterly breathless. Liverpool reduce the deficit back to one as Firmino heads home a Milner cross.

Poor defending from Olsson, who appears to be claiming that he was pushed by the Brazilian.

The Anfield crowd has certainly livened up now.

Goal: Liverpool 1-2 Swansea (Roberto Firmino)

Amazing stuff at Anfield as Llorente notches again to quickly double Swansea's advantage.

After a great pass from Olsson, Carroll produces a super cross and the Spaniard rises above Wijnaldum and Klavan to power an unstoppable bullet header past Mignolet.

Goal: Liverpool 0-2 Swansea (Fernando Llorente)

No wonder Conte has reportedly shown an interest in reuniting with the former Juventus striker...

What a start to this second period from Swansea. Sigurdsson's corner from the right is headed down by Fernandez. Routledge then keeps the attack alive and Llorente is on hand to prod home from close range.

Is there an upset on the cards?

Goal: Liverpool 0-1 Swansea (Fernando Llorente)

Swansea apply some early pressure and a decent forward run from Fer invites Lovren to panic and head the ball behind for a corner.

We are back underway on Merseyside.

A frustrating half for Liverpool at a sleepy Anfield. They've dominated possession for the most part, but have struggled to break down Swansea's committed rearguard. Klopp's side are yet to record a single shot on target.

Despite their understandably defensive mindset, the visitors actually came closest to breaking the deadlock when Lovren deflected Carroll's low shot against the post.

Half-time

Liverpool 0-0 Swansea

Llorente cynically hacks down Henderson from behind after being crowded out by three red shirts.

Friend decides that a warning will suffice. That easily could have been a yellow card.

Liverpool's frustration continues as Clyne and Coutinho both make errors that allow the ball to run out of play for a couple of goal kicks.

One minute of added time signalled at the end of this first 45.

Lallana smartly gains a yard on Fer and supplies another cross that Firmino is unable to head goalwards.

Swansea look like they are going to make it through to half-time at 0-0.

Liverpool's latest attack ends with a woeful drive from Lovren that was never, ever likely to trouble Fabianski.

Klopp remains rooted to his seat in the dugout amid a very subdued atmosphere at Anfield. A goal would surely change all of that.

Olsson shows a great burst of pace to break free of Wijnaldum, only to then be clattered by a not-so-subtle bodycheck from Klavan.

The rugged Estonian is shown a yellow card and Sigurdsson's free-kick comes to nothing.

Fabianski takes a couple of seconds to gather himself after soaring above Can and Fernandez to confidently pluck a cross out of the air.

Still goalless after 35 minutes at Anfield.

Naughton initially looks to have snuffed out the threat of Lallana, but Coutinho wins possession back for Liverpool and tees up Firmino for a powerful drive that is blocked in committed fashion by Mawson.

Great defending from the 22-year-old centre-back.

Olsson prevents Can's deep cross from reaching Clyne, who, like Milner on the opposite flank, does not need a second invite to bomb forward.

Very timid appeals for a penalty from the home fans unsurprisingly fall on deaf ears.

Milner tries to pick out Firmino with a right-footed cross. Mawson just does enough to put him off.

An exquisite pass from Coutinho releases Milner, but his low ball towards Firmino is cut out by Fernandez.

Coutinho is then prevented from racing onto a lofted ball from Lallana by the offside flag.

It's been all Liverpool during this opening 20 minutes, but Swansea are trying to fight back and strike the woodwork when Carroll's side-footed effort is deflected onto the post by the knee of Dejan Lovren.

That certainly would have been against the run of play.

Lallana tries to channel his inner Andy Carroll with a bicycle kick, but, unlike the West Ham striker's phenomenal goal against Crystal Palace, this one sails over the crossbar.

Brilliant play from Firmino to leave Alfie Mawson for dead and provide an inviting dinked cross.

There is just no outlet ball for Swansea at the moment as Liverpool press high up the pitch and win possession back in advanced areas.

After a promising counter-attack, Coutinho releases Lallana with a lovely flick. However, the England international's cross towards Firmino goes over the top.

Alert defending from Federico Fernandez to stop Adam Lallana from connecting with Firmino's dangerous near-post cross.

Liverpool continue to apply pressure from the corner, with Sigurdsson making another clearing header and Llorente dispossessing Henderson.

Having been involved in the build-up, Llorente is unable to stop a Routledge cross from the right flank being comfortably gathered by Simon Mignolet.

Henderson whips in a delicious cross that is guided over the crossbar by Can, who looked debatably offside as he beat Kyle Naughton to the header.

At the other end, lone frontman and reported Chelsea target Fernando Llorente appeals in vain for a free-kick after losing out to Ragnar Klavan.

Swansea, operating with an extra man in the middle, are getting plenty of men behind the ball in the hope of springing forward on the counter with the pace of Wayne Routledge and guile of Gylfi Sigurdsson, who is operating on the left-hand side.

You feel they will need to maintain strict discipline and get a healthy dose of luck if they are to avoid conceding this afternoon.

Lots of early possession for the hosts, as you might expect. Emre Can finds Henderson, whose lofted back-post ball towards the run of Georginio Wijnaldum is slightly overhit and sails out of play.

Right then, away we go. Kevin Friend is today's referee. Both sides are in their home strips, with Liverpool kicking from right to left in the first half.

Will this be the comfortable Liverpool win that everyone is expecting, or can Swansea spring an upset in their bid to avoid the drop? Let's find out...

The two teams make their way out to the pitch and we are now just moments from kick-off.

The stars are out in force at Anfield. Isn't Ferrell a Chelsea fan?

As mentioned above, Swansea have won exactly none of their 15 previous league meetings at Anfield (three draws and 12 defeats). Their only victories here came in a 1964 FA Cup quarter-final and a 2012 League Cup fourth-round fixture.

Liverpool have also been imperious at home under Klopp. The Reds are unbeaten in 25 matches on their own turf.

Swansea's 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool in October sounded the death knell for Francesco Guidolin, who was promptly dismissed and replaced by Bradley with his team having lost five of seven games and outside the bottom three on goal difference only. Fer's close-range effort had actually given the relegation battlers a surprise lead that day, but Henderson later teed up Roberto Firmino for a headed second-half equaliser.

James Milner leathered home the winning penalty with six minutes to play after Firmino was brought down by Angel Rangel. Which brings me on to another rather interesting stat...

Highly-regarded coach Clement, meanwhile, is expecting an even tougher test than his side faced against Arsenal last time out.

"This may be an even more difficult game because we are away from home against title contenders who play good football and defend with a lot of energy," he said.

"I have come across Jurgen Klopp when I was at Real Madrid and we played Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-final. We won 3-0 at home and then lost 2-0 away. He has a lot of charisma and a lot of energy. People I know who have worked with him say he is excellent with the players. He gets every bit out of them."

"For both teams, obviously it's very important," Klopp said of today's clash at his pre-match press conference.

"Swansea are already playing for staying in the league, we play for whatever but each game – especially in your opinion – decides nearly the whole season. That's really intense. But we are really looking forward to this opportunity. All we did until now is creating a base and we are still doing this for the finish. We will see when the finish actually starts. Maybe it has started already.

"We are still in the race and that's really good. There is a lot of quality around. We had maybe the biggest problems in the last three, four, five weeks, of all the top teams in the league. I think we have coped pretty well with it. We didn't speak a lot about it, we didn't think a lot about it – we took it like it was or is. That's the way we want to carry on and that's really good.

"I like how my team takes all these challenges. Now, the next challenge, and a home game. Hopefully everybody is waiting for us and for this game. If the weather is like today, it's the perfect location for a really good football game against a strong side."

A reminder that a reasonably popular former player sealed his return to Anfield last night....

Olsson and Carroll are thrown straight in at the deep end after their respective moves from Norwich City and Tottenham. Stephen Kingsley and Ki Sung-Yueng make way.

This is technically Carroll's second debut, with the midfielder having spent the entire 2014-15 campaign on loan at the Liberty Stadium.

Clement's third change sees Leroy Fer replace Nathan Dyer.

Clyne and Henderson start for the hosts, while Matip is included as a substitute. Coutinho is the only player to retain his starting berth from that 1-0 win at Home Park.

This will be his first top-flight start since 26 November.

Klopp's XI shows two changes from Old Trafford, with Alexander-Arnold and Divock Origi both dropping to the bench.

The teams are in...

Swansea could hand debuts to new signings Martin Olsson and Tom Carroll today, but a calf injury means that Dutch international Luciano Narsingh will have to wait a little longer to make his first appearance in English football.

Neil Taylor, Jefferson Montero and Modou Barrow are all definitely out, while long-serving midfielder Leon Britton is rated as doubtful.

Much to Klopp's delight, Joel Matip is also in contention once again after missing both United and Plymouth due to a bizarre, confusing and drawn-out row regarding his eligibility to feature at domestic level during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 25-year-old, who considers himself retired from international football and has not played for Cameroon since September 2015, was one of seven Indomitable Lions players to draw the ire of Hugo Broos and the Cameroonian Football Federation by withdrawing from a 35-man provisional squad for Gabon.

Fifa finally provided a ruling on the ugly saga on Friday, with Liverpool subsequently releasing the following statement...

Liverpool FC can confirm that all charges against the club and its player Joel Matip have been dismissed by FIFA following confirmation this evening from world football's governing body.

The club had requested FIFA to provide guidance on Matip's eligibility after a complaint had been made by FECAFOOT to FIFA concerning the player's purported call-up to the Cameroon national team for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Following FIFA's ruling, the club now considers the player available for selection.

Matip is now fully recovered from his own ankle injury. Senegal's Sadio Mane is still away at Afcon, though.

Before we get wind of today's confirmed lineups, let's run through the latest injury news.

Klopp is hopeful that first-choice right-back Nathaniel Clyne and captain Jordan Henderson will be fit to feature today having both been expected to return to team training on Friday. Clyne missed that draw against United due to a rib/abdominal injury suffered in the 1-0 EFL Cup semi-final first-leg loss at Southampton and his absence has given 18-year-old academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold a chance to shine.

Henderson, meanwhile, made his first appearance since New Year's Eve at Old Trafford but is still feeling the effects of a lingering heel issue. Philippe Coutinho is also likely to play a key role after lasting for 65 minutes against Plymouth on his first start since recovering from ankle ligament damage.

Adam Bogdan and Danny Ings have both been lost for the season, while Marko Grujic remains sidelined with a hamstring issue.

Good morning and welcome to IBTimes UK's opening live coverage of another bumper weekend of Premier League action. Our first stop this lunchtime is Merseyside, where Liverpool can wrestle second place back from Tottenham and cut the gap to leaders Chelsea down to four points with a victory over struggling Swansea City.

Jurgen Klopp's free-scoring side had just begun to stutter somewhat of late, with that midweek FA Cup third round replay defeat of Plymouth Argyle representing their only win in five matches across all competitions. Only a late equaliser from Zlatan Ibrahimovic denied them all three points against Manchester United at Old Trafford last Sunday.

With Chelsea to come at the end of the month, the Reds will be under pressure to easily dismiss a Swansea side that remain bottom of the table after new manager Paul Clement's first league match in charge since succeeding the hapless Bob Bradley ended in a heavy 4-0 home defeat by Arsenal.

No top-flight team has conceded as many times or possesses a worse goal difference than the 2013 League Cup winners this term. It is also worth noting that Swansea, losers of six of their last seven games, have yet to win a single league fixture at Anfield.

What a day this would be to buck that trend....