SAMBA stars Phillippe Coutinho and Roberto Firminio inspired Liverpool to a five star rout of Swansea.
Skipper for the night Coutinho got the ball rolling with a stunning early opener – while his countryman struck twice.
Trent Alexander Arnold and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both scored their first Anfield goals on a good night for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
But managerless Swansea look destined for the Championship – now five points adrift of safety.
Firmino won the ball off Jordan Ayew and passed to Mohammed Salah who in turn knocked it on to Coutinho.
The Brazilian – making his 200th Liverpool appearance – curled a 20 yard shot around Fabianski.
Coutinho skipper for the day in what could yet prove to be one of his last games at Anfield if Barcelona renew their interest next month.
Goals from outside the box have been something of a speciality for Countinho – the Kop will be hoping there are plenty more to come.
HAIL KANE Harry Kane most prolific striker in Europe after smashing Premier League goal record
Ayew almost made amends at the other end but his header was kept out by Simon Mignolet.
The results on the weekend before Christmas had left Liverpool a massive 20 points behind leaders Manchester City – yet the race for the top four was still very much alive.
Firmino fired wide from outside box while Can fired a shot that was too close to Fabianski.
Salah appealed for a penalty when he went down challenging Tom Carroll to get on the end of Firmino’s cross.
Mesa gave ball away – Salah passed to Firmino who skipped past Fernandez but dragged his shot wide.
Most read in football
Swansea fans will not need reminding that the team who is bottom of the table on Christmas Day is normally relegated.
Yet they must have been encouraged by the draw between West Ham and Bournemouth earlier in the day which at least kept their hopes of survival alive.
However their hopes of closing the gap were over within a few minutes of the re-start.
This time Coutinho was the provider as he floated a precision free-kick over the head of Fernandez.
It landed on the boot of Firmino and he made no mistake with a close range volley.
Routledge pulls back for Leroy Fer but he scuffed his shot wide when he should have hit the target.
Cross from Robertson headed out by Alfie Mawson Alexander Arnold nipped ahead of Ayew and blasts in off the bar.
It was the youngster’s first Premier League goal – to score it in front of the Kop was a dream come true for him.
The 19-year-old full-back becomes the second youngest defender ever to score for Liverpool – behind Jamie Carragher.
Yet it got worse very quickly for Swans’ caretaker boss Leon Britton.
Fer’s abysmal back pass put Salah racing clear down the right and he unselfishly squared for Firmino to tap into an empty net.
That allowed Klopp to withdraw both Salah and Firmino – knowing the job was done and with a busy couple of weeks ahead.
Having managed just one goal across their last two home matches, this was much more like it from the Reds.
And in the last 10 minutes they made it five as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was rewarded for his persistence.
When Martin Olsson failed to clear his lines the England international controlled and then steered a clever volley over the head of Fabianski.
It was a stylish first goal at Anfield for the £40 million summer arrival.
Leave a comment