Liverpool vs. Swansea: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League Game

Adam Lallana scored twice in the second half as Liverpool finished 2014 with a 4-1 victory at home to Swansea City on Monday in a thrilling Premier League match at Anfield.

Liverpool dominated the first half and went ahead through Alberto Moreno in the 33rd minute. Lallana then doubled the lead six minutes into the second half following an error by Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

The Swans pulled a goal back through Gylfi Sigurdsson just one minute later, but Lallana restored the Reds' two-goal advantage with his second of the match in the 61st minute. Swansea's Jonjo Shelvey, who was perhaps fortunate to be on the pitch after hitting Emre Can with an arm late in the first half, headed into his own net in the 69th minute to extend the Reds' lead to 4-1 and finish off the scoring.

With the victory, their second in four days, Liverpool moved ahead of Swansea and into eighth place with 28 points through 19 matches. Swansea, who also have 28 points, are now ninth based on total goals scored.

With exactly half of the season played, Liverpool will enter the new year with a renewed sense of optimism. The Reds endured a difficult start to the season but now have lost just once in their last seven league matches. If results continue to improve, Brendan Rodgers' side will fancy their chances to make a run at another top-four finish.

In addition, Monday's performance—perhaps Liverpool's best of the season—came without 34-year-old captain Steven Gerrard in the midfield. 

Liverpool started as the better side and created a pair of good chances in quick succession in the 13th minute. First, Raheem Sterling hit a powerful volley at Fabianski, who saved. The ball then bounced around the box momentarily and fell to Lallana, who shot over the bar.

Philippe Coutinho had a low shot saved in the 16th minute as Liverpool continued searching for the opener. Swansea's first attempt on target came in the 31st minute, when Nathan Dyer headed straight at Simon Mignolet, who came up with the save.

Liverpool broke the deadlock two minutes later. Moreno started and finished the scoring sequence, passing to Lallana in the middle before continuing his run into the box. Meanwhile, Lallana passed to Jordan Henderson on the right, who curled an inviting cross back into the goalmouth. Unmarked, Moreno volleyed in off Fabianski for a 1-0 Liverpool lead 12 minutes before half-time.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Coutinho nearly made it 2-0 in the 36th minute, dribbling to the byline before beating his marker with a deft pullback. Sensing an opportunity to beat Fabianski at his near post, Coutinho fired off a cheeky snap shot. But Fabianski was not fooled and made the save.

Swansea responded with a good spell of pressure but were unable to create any clear chances. Instead, Coutinho came close again for Liverpool in the 45th minute, testing Fabianski with a powerful, swerving shot from outside the box.

The score remained 1-0 until half-time, but the match sparked to life in the early minutes of the second half.

Liverpool doubled their lead in the 51st minute, as Lallana took advantage of an error by Fabianski. With the ball at his feet following a routine back pass, Fabianski had plenty of time to pick a pass out of his box. But the Polish goalkeeper took too long, allowing Lallana to chase him down. When Fabianski finally attempted to clear, the ball hit Lallana's torso and caromed into the net.

The Reds suddenly had a 2-0 lead, but it didn't last long. Just one minute later, Swansea pulled a goal back.

Jon Super/Associated Press

The home side's familiar defensive frailties showed again as Can misplayed a high ball into the box, giving Wayne Routledge a chance to cross. Mamadou Sakho was first to Routledge's high pass, but the ball fell to Sigurdsson, who powered in from close range to make it 2-1 in the 52nd minute.

Within seconds of the restart, Swansea nearly drew level. A Liverpool giveaway gifted possession to Wilfried Bony, who forced Mignolet into a good save with a low shot from the edge of the box.

Liverpool then created another big chance with a flowing move in the 53rd minute, Sterling hitting the post after being picked out by Jordan Henderson's fine cross from the right.

Eight minutes later, it was 3-1 as Lallana netted his second of the match. Coutinho played the role of creator, freeing Lallana with a clever heel flick in midfield. With the ball at his feet, Lallana continued his angled run into the box, finishing back across his body at the far post for a 3-1 lead.

Liverpool continued to pile forward and were rewarded with a fourth goal in the 69th minute. Henderson curled in a corner toward the near post, where Shelvey flicked into his own net from a tight angle.

The fourth goal took much of the sting out of the match, but a few incidents were still in store. In the 81st minute, Sterling was fortunate to remain on the pitch after slapping Swansea's Federico Fernandez in the face.

Three minutes later, Swansea substitute Bafetimbi Gomis curled a shot off the woodwork. At the other end, Liverpool sub Mario Balotelli came close in the 89th minute with a low shot that Fabianski did well to save at his near post.

Up next for Liverpool is a home match against last-place Leicester City on New Year's Day. Swansea play at Queens Park Rangers the same day.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Simon Mignolet	6.7
Emre Can	6.7
Martin Skrtel	6.9
Mamadou Sakho	6.7
Javier Manquillo	7.3
Lucas Leiva	7.0
Jordan Henderson	8.2
Alberto Moreno	7.7
Adam Lallana	9.6
Raheem Sterling	8.0
Philippe Coutinho	8.5
Lazar Markovic (for Lallana, 77')	6.2
Mario Balotelli (for Sterling, 83')	6.0
Fabio Borini (for Coutinho, 90')	No rating

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Lukasz Fabianski	5.9
Ashley Richards	6.4
Federico Fernandez	5.9
Ashley Williams	6.7
Neil Taylor	6.9
Leon Britton	6.4
Jonjo Shelvey	5.9
Nathan Dyer	6.5
Gylfi Sigurdsson	7.1
Wayne Routledge	6.1
Wilfried Bony	6.7
Angel Rangel (for Richards, 46')	6.6
Bafetimbi Gomis (for Bony, 62')	5.9
Ki Sung-Yueng (for Britton, 67')	6.2

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