Swansea City vs Liverpool: Final score 2-2

Sep 5, 2013; San Jose, COSTA RICA; General view of Nike soccer balls at United States training session at Estadio Nacional in advance of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Liverpool came into the match up atop the Premier League table with 3 wins this season. Swansea City’s season was off to a rougher start to their season  sitting in 18th with three points. In the last game for Liverpool they got off to a quick start against the 2012 defending champions, Manchester United.

This week there was a different start to the game. Former Liverpool player JonJo Shelvey got to take on his former team and started the game off with a incredible goal in the first 90 seconds of the game. He got the ball in the box, shot once which was saved by a sliding Liverpool defender. The ball bounced back to Shelvey who put it in the top left corner to give Swansea a 1-0 lead. It was also the first goal scored against Liverpool all year.

About 90 seconds later while Swansea was on defense, Shelvey got the ball about 30 yards out from his own goal. He tried to pass the ball back to the goalie but instead it went straight to an open Daniel Sturridge who scored to tie it up at one goal a piece. It was Sturridge’s fourth goal of the season.

Jonjo Shelvey made another mistake later in the first half when he made a pass from the center to the side line. It was intercepted by Victor Moses who took it all the way into the box on his own. A Daniel Sturridge run distracted defenders and Victor Moses stepped inside to put a shot in goal in the bottom left corner to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead.

There were a couple of close chances for Swansea to knock in some shots that bounced of Liverpool goalie Simon Mignolet. Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel made an incredible save off the second chance just one yard out from the goal.

In the second half there was a little tension between a obviously frustrated Jonjo Shelvey and his former teammate Lucas Leiva. There was a disagreement over who the ball should go to. Lucas had his arms out frustrated that Swansea was playing the ball and not giving it back to Liverpool. The ball was kicked out of bands after that, and Shelvey and Lucas got into a bit of a pushing match and they both received yellow cards.

Shelvey finally was able to climb all the way back to redemption in the 64th minute. A breaking Shelvey got a lob pass his way and at the edge of the penalty box he jumped to get the pass and delivered a backwards header to Michu who tied the game up 2-2 on the left side of the goal.

Swansea continued to apply pressure through the second half but Liverpool looked content to hold onto the tie and played keep away to the best of their abilities. Swansea had multiple chances later in the second half but was unable to convert. Liverpool almost got a chance as stoppage time was winding down but ultimately it ended in a draw.

The win moves Liverpool back atop the table, but instead of having a more commanding three point lead early in the season, they’ll have to be content with a 1-point lead ahead of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

That one point also moved Swansea up to thirteenth place in the table.