Liverpool not trying to play like Swansea insists Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers is not looking for his Liverpool side to play like former club Swansea.

The Northern Irishman watched the teams play out a goalless draw at the Liberty Stadium yesterday, which was high on technical ability, if not cutting edge.

Rodgers' move to Anfield was secured on the back of Swansea's impressive displays of possession football during their maiden Barclays Premier League campaign, leading some to compare them to Spanish giants Barcelona.

The former Watford and Reading boss has looked to impose his passing principles at Anfield, and an eight-match unbeaten run suggests progress is being made towards that end on Merseyside.

But Rodgers does not want the Reds to become a clone of his Swans' sides.

He said: "Swansea play the Swansea way of playing. It is not that we want to play the way Swansea play.

"Liverpool have played good football for many, many years and we are just looking at a different way of working and the players have been terrific in their response.

"You see as each game goes by the method in our game is improving, but we are not looking to play like Swansea."

Despite having a Jose Enrique strike ruled out on a marginal offside decision and seeing Raheem Sterling hit the bar, Rodgers was satisfied with a point and believes his side are building nicely as they prepare for their clash with Tottenham on Wednesday.

He said: "It is always a tight game at Swansea. We wanted to keep our run going but we would never say coming here is two points dropped.

"It is a difficult place to come but when you play well and have a couple of chances and a goal ruled out you are obviously disappointed if you don't take the three points.

"But our performance level is improving and we are chipping way at climbing up the league and we will do that."

Luis Suarez and Michu, two of the Premier League's in-form goalscorers, failed to find the net at the Liberty, but Swansea manager Michael Laudrup was quick to praise the contribution of the Spaniard, whose acquisition from Rayo Vallecano for just £2million already looks a real bargain.

The 26-year-old has been employed in midfield and as a striker for the Swans, scoring eight goals so far this term, and played both roles against the Reds as he was pushed forward after the break.

Laudrup said: "He works a lot, he likes scoring goals but he can play in two or three positions.

"He works hard and is used to that from the clubs he played for before.

"When you sign players like that they have to adapt, we have to work hard with the ball and without it.

"We have to be able to get it back quickly and when he plays in midfield he has to be the third midfielder to win the ball back, and the second striker when we are going forward."

Laudrup will hope to have Danny Graham available to face West Brom on Wednesday after the striker missed out through sickness while Jonathan de Guzman also picked up a knock.

PA