Swansea City 1-2 Liverpool: James Milner and Roberto Firmino score in comeback - 5 things we learned

Fer scored early in the first half but Firmino's header brought the Reds level and the Brazilian was then brought down in the box, Milner converted the spot kick

Francesco Guidolin looked for all the world like a beaten man, after watching hisSwansea side succumb to irresistible Liverpool.

The Italian manager admitted he needed to win this game to keep his job, but instead saw his team throw away a first half lead given to them by Leroy Fer, and a wonderful display of pressing football.

But the visitors looked a different side after the break, and led by Roberto Firmino, who equalised on 54 minutes, they took a strangle hold on the game, creating many chances to win.

In the end it was a James Milner penalty, his fourth goal of the season, who won it, after Firmino was clearly fouled by Angel Rangel.

Mike van der Hoorn then missed a glorious chance to equalise with the final kick of the game.

And those two moments surely condemned Guidolin to the axe, with the Italian looking a sorry figure under his hood in the pouring South Wales rain at the end.

Here, our reporter David Maddock offers his observations on the game.

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Leroy Fer scores the first goal

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Fer taps the ball into an empty net

1. It looks like the end for Francesco Guidolin

His side performed well here, especially in an energetic first half, but they tired dramatically, and with his club's American owners flying in for the game, it seems like only a matter of time before they pull the trigger on his regime.

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Fer celebrates scoring

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Fer celebrates with Gylfi Sigurdsson

2. Swansea pressed with great energy...

...but lost their way after the break. They seemed to lose belief in their plan, and there was little response form the manager, who seemed to increasingly accept his fate. Ryan Giggs anyone?!

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Firmino sends a header goalwards

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Fabianski is beaten by the header

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Liverpool celebrate equalising

3. Liverpool still can't defend set pieces

Since Klopp arrived, there is only one team in the Premier League who has conceded more from them in the Premier League – Swansea! It is a real weakness, because they conceded far too easily here and it put them on the back foot for most of the game.

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Sadio Mane keeps the ball in play

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Angel Rangel in action with Joel Matip

4. Mane is a mesmerising presence

He's played better of course, but when he is on the ball opponents have no idea what is going to happen, and that gives Liverpool an extra dimension. They can pass the ball swiftly, or they can run at teams at will, and for all their defensive frailty, they do have ridiculous attacking options.

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Adam Lallana and Jordi Amat battle for the ball

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Lallana goes down injured

5. Liverpool have something extra this season

This, more than the win over Hull last week, was a sign that Liverpool now have the strength to guts it out. They were listless in the first half, but showed character to win a game that often in the past they would have thrown away.

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Firmino is brought down in the box

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James Milner scores Liverpool's second goal from the penalty spot