Premier League: Liverpool 0 Swansea 0

Liverpool have dropped points at home for the second time in two weeks after being held to a 0-0 draw by Swansea on Saturday.

Both teams came into the game on the back of impressive wins in the Premier League, Swansea posting a 3-1 victory over Bolton, while Liverpool got back to winning ways at The Hawthorns, winning 2-0 against West Brom.

Swansea showed no signs of nerves in the early stages, playing in their usual passing style, but after just seven minutes the home side should have taken the lead.

Charlie Adam’s inch perfect pass set Stewart Downing off down the left hand side.

The winger drilled a low cross to Andy Carroll, and with his preferred left foot, the England man somehow smashed his effort against the crossbar from just six yards.

After a spell of domination from the hosts in which they failed to capitalise, Swansea almost punished them against the run of play.

Some great work down the left flank from Wayne Routledge allowed the winger to float a teasing ball into the Liverpool area.

In-form striker Danny Graham stole ahead of his marker and got the slightest of touches on it, but Pepe Reina was able to claw the ball away from goal.

Reina’s opposite number Michel Vorm had to be at his best just minutes later, getting down low to his left to parry Luis Suarez’s curling effort wide, after the Uruguayan displayed terrific footwork to fashion the chance.

The game had a real cup tie atmosphere to it, end to end the whole way through, and Brendan Rodgers would have been by far the happier manager as the teams left the field for the half-time break.

Shortly after the interval, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish signalled his intentions for the second half, replacing the ineffective Jordan Henderson with the more attacking minded Dirk Kuyt.

The substitution had little effect on the game though, as Swansea continued to retain possession, to the groans of the increasingly frustrated Anfield faithful.

As the game progressed the away side continued to grow in confidence.

Danny Graham’s effort from the edge of the area was spilled by Reina, and the Spaniard had to be at his best to deny Nathan Dyer from the rebound.

Both managers decided to roll the dice late on, with the pacey Scott Sinclair brought on for Swansea and Craig Bellamy introduced for the hosts.

Swansea could have won the game late when Graham’s cushioned header was perfectly weighted for Mark Gower, who somehow blazed his 12-yard effort over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

It was then the home side who thought they had won it when Kuyt latched on to Daniel Agger’s knock down to head home from just 5 yards, only for his celebrations to be cut short by the linesman who correctly ruled he was offside.

To the frustration of the home crowd, Liverpool could not find a late goal and they were held to a draw for the second consecutive league match at home.