Liverpool 1-0 Swansea City: 5 things we learned as James Milner's penalty earns Reds victory

Jurgen Klopp's side continued their good run of form but needed a second-half spot-kick from Milner to take the spoils at Anfield

James Milner's second-half penalty earned Liverpool victory against Swansea.
The stand-in skipper struck the only goal of the game from 12 yards after Neil Taylor was penalised for a handball in the box.
Jurgen Klopp's side had struggled to find a breakthrough in the first half, with Roberto Firmino hitting the post.
However, Milner converted after the break to boost Liverpool's hopes of a top-four finish.
Here's five things we learned:

Spot on: James Milner scores the winner

1) Daniel Sturridge is clearly a quick healer

At around 5pm on Thursday evening, the Liverpool striker decided he simply wasn't fit enough to even sit on the bench against Bordeaux, but by mid afternoon on Saturday, he had recovered sufficiently to be named against Swansea. Clearly, the striker has some issues knowing his own body (or rather, is perhaps just a little too sensitive to it).

But he finally got on the pitch here with 20 minutes to go, and showed enough to suggest he'll be an asset under Klopp if he can actually play.

Return: Daniel Sturridge prepares to come on

2) Swansea don't know whether to stick or twist

Naturally enough, after such a poor run, they came to Anfield determined to be hard to beat in an attempt to sneak a point.

In the large part, they defended tremendously well restricting an attack-minded Liverpool line up to few chances.

But is this really how Swansea play? If they are going to get out of trouble, surely they have to stick to what the players know and do best, which is to pass forward with intent...something they did well after going a goal down.

Sandwiched: Adam Lallana and Alberto Moreno compete with Eder

3) Williams leads by example

With Ashley Williams in defence, they always have a chance of nicking a point.

He is such an accomplished defender, with vast knowledge and experience, and everyone at Anfield must still be wondering why he's not a Reds player, given Brendan Rodgers wanted to sign him at least three times.

He is the best example of why it is not always wise to stick rigidly to a policy of finding value with young players in the transfer market.

Captain fantastic: Ashley Williams keeps an eye on Christian Benteke

4) Henderson boost for Reds

The return of Jordan Henderson is a huge moment in Liverpool's season.

He and James Milner created an impressive partnership at the start of the season when the Reds were winning, and he is very much a Klopp type player with his energy and speed in pressing.

He can also be creative too, an area where he is under-rated, and when he is fully fit, he can provide a midfield springboard for the rest of the side to attack with more intent...especially at home.

Boost: Jordan Henderson in the thick of things

5) Lovren is going from strength to strength

For all the praise of Ashley Williams, it is interesting to note the development of Dejan Lovren under Klopp.

He may have just had his best game for Liverpool, and looked far more like the player who was identified as the best defender in the Premier League, when with Southampton, by no lesser experts than Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville.

He still has a little way before the Kop can really trust him and get behind him, but there is no doubting his improvement, and his desire here to be the leader at the back Klopp so desperately needs.