Jurgen Klopp: ‘Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Henderson returns good for Liverpool

Midfielder James Milner stepped up to fire home the resulting spot-kick in one of the few highlights in the game.

Monk has come under pressure after a desperate run of form that has seen his side win just one of their last 11 Premier League games.

Liverpool are six points ahead of Swansea after their 4-1 win at Manchester City under new manager Jurgen Klopp. It was a very good away performance against an excellent team, but unfortunately decisions went against us.

“This is an extremely tough game for us and the players are aware of what they need to do”. Maybe we could have done more in the final third but we have restricted a very good attack-minded team to pretty much nothing. Swansea looked like the embattled side they had been billed as but, with Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Jordon Ibe miscuing, Klopp’s side failed to turn their feverish, threatening dominance into cold, hard goals.

Then it was time for Sturridge and Jordan Henderson to make their long-awaited first-team returns.

“In periods in the second half we were excellent with the ball”.

“I won’t look at the table, I will focus on these players”.

The hosts controlled possession throughout the first half, but were unable to create any clear opportunities, as Eder touched the game’s first chance wide for Swansea. We have to play the 26th, 30th and 2nd.

Here are the five things we learned: 1. “That’s what the boys did, so I’m really proud tonight”.

“I think it was our best game in terms of defensive organisation”.

But I would say I’d be surprised if it is the right decision to criticise him because his team plays very well. We are an outdoor sport, no problem, we have to accept all rain, snow, wind, whatever.

If it was Klopp’s availability that cast a formidable shadow over the Premier League’s big hitters when this season started, it is his instant impact on English football that now has the top four’s attention. “This wasn’t our best performance but it was our best performance with a strong wind I’ve seen until now!”

Asked whether he felt his side were gathering momentum, Klopp smiled: “Maybe I should, but I don’t!”

“Maybe I should, but I don’t, because we play again on Wednesday”, he said. “The main point is we trust what we do”, Monk said. We defended really well.

“I don’t know in this moment who will win the league and I don’t care about this, I don’t think about this in this moment”, he added.