Jordan Hendersona s unlikely and fortunate goal in the 68th minute ensured that Liverpool went back with all three points after a tough encounter at Liberty Stadium with Swansea City, and importantly closed the gap on United to two points before Sundaya s meeting at Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers said that the Reds had a real chance of pushing for a higher finish than fourth place and with Manchester City losing to Burnley on the weekend, the Reds had a real chance of doing so.
a The aim is to finish as high as we can, the aim isna t just to finish fourth,a the Liverpool boss told Sky Sports. a Obviously with Manchester City losing at the weekend it gives us an opportunity to push on.
a We havena t done anything yet but certainly [they deserve credit] from where we were at the start of the season for the intent theya ve shown and the work theya ve had to put in to claw that back to give ourselves a fighting chance.a
Liverpool got their sixth consecutive clean sheet and Brendan Rodgers is rightly taking confidence and encouragement from his teama s new-found defensive form.
a Last season we were a team right up there with Arsenal as the team who won the most games away from home,a he added.
a I think this year wea re up there again among the top two or three teams so we know that we can go away and win with the character and resilience of the team as well as their quality. It shows the strides that the team is making.a
Rodgers hailed Simon Mignolet and said that the Belgian is high on confidence and helped his side be in the game in the second half.
a There is no doubt that in the last three months with the team hea s been outstanding,a he added. a We were still in the game because of him and the two important saves that he made in the first half.
a Hea s been excellent. The team suffered early in the season but clearly you can see his confidence now along with the team.a