Ayew double puts woeful Liverpool out of misery

LONDON — Swansea City not only made it mathematically impossible for them to suffer the indignity of relegation, but left Liverpool to lick their wounds ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Villarreal.

Two goals from Andre Ayew and a wonderful strike from Jack Cork settled the issue and left 10-man Liverpool nursing a third game of league and cup football without a win.

“We deserved defeat because of our performance,” said frustrated Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. “In the first half we lost a lot of easy balls. It was too easy for Swansea. We changed at half-time.

“The performance ... it wasn’t about effort. Everything I say will sound like an excuse but we are professional footballers. We could have played much better with this line-up.

“Do we have to see a different Liverpool on Thursday? We have to. We have to.”

With Thursday’s Europa League game in mind, Klopp made eight changes from the 1-0 defeat to Villarreal.

Only Philippe Coutinho, Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren survived from the trip to Spain.

And though they started relatively well, it was Swansea who looked the more potent of the sides as the first half wore on.

Ayew was off target with a volley in the 16th minute and though Liverpool posed a threat going forward, their careless distribution was causing them all sorts of issues.

Swansea broke the deadlock in the 21st minute. A sweeping move led to a corner on the left and when Gylfi Sigurdsson whipped in a teasing cross, Ayew rose to head home. It was the Ghanaian’s first goal since January.

It could have been 2-0 five minutes later had it not have been for Welsh goalkeeper Danny Ward. Neil Taylor’s precise cross was met by Cork, who saw his goalbound shot kicked away by the diving Ward. A minute later, Jordi Amat headed Sigurdsson’s corner over the top, from four yards.

There was nothing Ward or any one of the Liverpool defenders could do about Cork’s 33rd-minute strike from 23 metres. The former Southampton midfielder curled the ball beyond Ward after dispossessing Coutinho.

With a greater percentage of possession, after the break the visitors looked increasingly dangerous. Lucas provided greater stability in the central area, with Christian Benteke working well alongside Daniel Sturridge.

Their desire and ambition almost brought its reward on the hour when Clyne found himself inside the penalty area with only Lukasz Fabianski to beat. However, the Polish keeper was equal to the threat and with the help of Neil Taylor deflected the ball for a corner.

From the ensuing corner, the visitors were level. Sheyi Ojo’s corner picked out substitute Benteke, who headed past Fabianski from inside the five-metre box.

Liverpool’s joy turned to despair two minutes later. Jefferson Montero led the Liverpool back four a merry dance before finding Ayew in the box. Ayew held off all comers and duly found the bottom corner from 11 metres.

Any hopes Liverpool might have had disappeared 14 minutes from time when Brad Smith was sent off for a second yellow card. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH