Shelvey’s Liberty roller-coaster

Swansea 2 Liverpool 2

The former Anfield midfielder opened the scoring inside two minutes with a slick finish from six yards, but then duly gifted Liverpool two first-half goals as the visitors set off in pursuit of a fourth successive victory of the Premier League campaign.

But just when all seemed lost for the once-capped Londoner, he set up Michu for a goal that earned Swansea a deserved point.

“I just want to say sorry to the Swansea fans for two bad mistakes,” Shelvey said.

“We started tremendously, getting the goal, but then I’ve made two mistakes. Then I showed a bit of character, getting on the ball and setting the goal up. It’s a bit of a relief but feel I’ve given Liverpool a draw really.

“I just can’t stop thinking about the two mistakes. You want to hide where no one can see you... but it’s happened to great players in their time.

“It’s a horrible feeling – you don’t want to wish it on anybody, even your worst enemy.”

It couldn’t have been a more dramatic start. Shelvey, the former Charlton midfielder, who chose not to listen to Steven Gerrard’s advice and stay at Anfield, broke the deadlock inside two minutes.

He mis-hit his initial shot and saw a second effort blocked by Martin Skrtel. However, the 21-year-old kept his cool and calmly beat the advancing Simon Mignolet to put Swansea in front.

The lead lasted barely 90 seconds and it was Shelvey to the fore once again. Under no apparent pressure 25 yards from goal, he inadvertently picked out Daniel Sturridge with a back pass that gave Liverpool’s leading scorer a chance he duly took.

Sturridge was a constant thorn in the side of the home back four. His trickery on the ball and his willingness off it, kept Ashley Williams on his toes and gave Liverpool’s five man midfield a genuine target.

Philippe Coutinho’s shot at Michel Vorm was Liverpool’s next best effort, in the ninth minute, before Swansea, as they have on so many previous occasions, settled on the ball and reestablished themselves in a contest of real quality.

Wilfried Bony brought a smart save out of Mignolet after a piece of clever approach work from Ben Davies and Michu, but it was Sturridge, at the other end, who was the most menacing player on view. He continued to work the line with great purpose and should have done better with a shot after a dozen minutes.

Unfortunately, he scooped his shot in to the crowd much as Shelvey did moments after when presented with a glorious chance from 25 yards.

Swansea were breathing a sigh of relief in the 21st minute when Williams intercepted a neat cross from Coutinho.

As Liverpool pressed, so Sturridge should have made it five league goals for the season, Moses skipped inside Angel Rangel on the touchline and delivered the perfect cross to the far post. Sturridge rose well, but saw his firm header pushed aside by Vorm.

Liverpool were ahead nine minutes before the interval when Shelvey gifted his former club a second goal. His cross-field pass was easily cut out by Moses, who raced 50 yards before beating Vorm from the edge of the penalty area.

A desperate tackle a yard from his own line by Skrtel prevented Bony from tapping in to an empty net after Nathan Dyer’s shot had been parried by Mignolet.

It was Dyer’s last contribution with Laudrup replacing him with Dutch midfielder Jonathan de Guzman at half time. Williams was yellow carded for a rash challenge on the impish Coutinho and from the ensuing free kick, Flores did well to head Gerrard’s cross over his own crossbar.

However with Coutinho forced off, Swansea started to dominate.

Shelvey popped his head above the parapet once helpd his side level. Leon Britton played a delightful through ball which Shelvey neatly headed into the path of Michu who made no mistake.

There were chances at both ends thereafter, but neither side could find the finishing touch that would have either made or broken Shelvey’s night. De Guzman came closest but Mignolet sprung to his left to beat away the substitute’s free kick four minutes from time.

SWANSEA (4-5-1): Vorm 6; Rangel 6, Williams 6, Flores 6, Davies 5; Dyer 5 (de Guzman 45,7), Britton 6, Shelvey 5, Routledge 6, Michu 7; Bony 6 (Pozuelo 65,6)

LIVERPOOL (4-5-1): Mignolet 6; Wisdom 6 (Toure 69,6), Sakho 6, Skrtel 7, Enrique 6; Henderson 6, Gerrard 7, Lucas 6, Coutinho 7 (Aspas 54, 5), Moses 6 (Sterling 80, 5); Sturridge 6.

Referee: M Oliver.