SWANSEA, ENGLAND - Monday, March 16, 2015: Liverpool's substitute Steven Gerrard replaces Alberto Moreno against Swansea City during the Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Swansea 0-1 Liverpool: Rodgers’ half-time change and introduction of Gerrard prove pivotal

Some tactical ingenuity from Brendan Rodgers deserves a large measure of the credit after Liverpool’s 1-0 away victory over Swansea City, writes Jack Lusby.

SWANSEA, ENGLAND - Monday, March 16, 2015: Liverpool's substitute Steven Gerrard replaces Alberto Moreno against Swansea City during the Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

A 1-0 victory away to Swansea City was enough to push Liverpool closer to the Premier League’s top four, and some Brendan Rodgers mastery propelled the Reds to another win.

Jordan Henderson scored the only goal of the night with a fortunate deflection, while Liverpool’s defence will be celebrating another clean sheet.

In what was a gutsy win, Rodgers deserves much of the credit for a second-half tactical switch, which involved captain Steven Gerrard returning from injury to play a major role in Liverpool’s Liberty Stadium rejuvenation.

 

First-Half Trudge

SWANSEA, ENGLAND - Monday, March 16, 2015: Liverpool's goalkeeper Simon Mignolet makes a save against Swansea City during the Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

After an eight-day break, Liverpool were expected to be refreshed and raring to go on Monday night, but instead Rodgers’ side looked lethargic and disconnected.

Swansea manager Garry Monk deserves much of the credit for this, with his tactical outlook supressing Liverpool’s thrust expertly; dominating the midfield, Swansea stifled the Reds’ creativity, and the Swans looked most likely to break the deadlock before the break.

At half-time, Liverpool had seen just 39 percent of possession.

Liverpool’s struggle to show their influence was outlined by their three best performers being primarily defensive ones:

Simon Mignolet

https://twitter.com/MostarLFC/status/577568518947749888

Mamadou Sakho

https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/577572815399976961

Joe Allen

https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/577573940052246528

Rodgers’ side looked fairly comfortable for a draw, but a change was needed for any more than that.

 

Rodgers’ Tactical Switch

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, December 29, 2014: Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers and Swansea City's manager Garry Monk during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

With Liverpool looking deflated at half-time, despite a solid defensive effort and some fine contributions from Mignolet, Rodgers needed to formulate a tactical switch in order for his side to gain a foothold.

This came in the 63rd minute, with the largely ineffective and hot-headed Alberto Moreno withdrawn, with Gerrard taking his place.

Liverpool then switched to what is most simply described as a 3-4-3 diamond formation.

Football - FA Premier League - Swansea City FC v Liverpool FC

Adam Lallana took up a left wing-back role, with Philippe Coutinho moving into a more central No. 10 position, while Henderson and Allen assumed the diamond-flank roles they performed adeptly in last season.

Gerrard, who struggled immensely in the defensive midfield role in the first half of the season, was surprisingly comfortable on his introduction against Swansea, and proved crucial.

The 34-year-old made two tackles and one interception, as well as completing 95.5 percent of his passes in what was a limited role at the base of the diamond—importantly, Gerrard made none of his infamous Hollywood passes on Monday night.

Providing stability ahead of the defence, Gerrard’s intervention allowed Henderson and Allen to probe forward, and Liverpool’s attack looked hugely improved.

It was Henderson’s persistent running that gave Liverpool victory, with Jordi Amat’s clearance deflecting off the midfielder and into the Swansea goal.

 

Uncharacteristic Victory

SWANSEA, ENGLAND - Monday, March 16, 2015: Liverpool's captain Jordan Henderson celebrates scoring the first goal against Swansea City during the Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The manner of Liverpool’s victory on Monday night was somewhat uncharacteristic, with Rodgers’ side not having the arrogance, or sheer luck, to pull off a performance such as their first-half offering and still come away with the three points.

But with Liverpool now chasing a top-four placing after a dramatic surge in form in the second half of the season, these victories are crucial.

Rodgers is often criticised for his lack of an in-game ‘plan B’, but the manager disproved this as his ingenious switch to a 3-4-3 diamond nullifying the first-half threats of Swansea.

[pull_quote_center]Second half we were outstanding. First half we were nowhere near the standard. It’s complex system that we’re playing, the 343. We became a diamond and became a 343 in a different format. Outstanding mentality from the players. – Rodgers[/pull_quote_center]

No longer were Ki Sung-Yeung and Jonjo Shelvey enjoying the freedom of the midfield; no longer was Wayne Routledge tormenting the hapless Emre Can.

Liverpool go into Sunday’s monumental clash with Manchester United just two points off the Red Devils and, surprisingly, just four points off Manchester City in second.

Every game is now a must-win for Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, but this victory showed the Reds manager has the cajones to rebuild his challenge at the top end of the Premier League table.

Statistics via WhoScored.

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What did Brendan Rodgers prove against Swansea City on Monday night? Let us know in the comments below.