Shelvey praised for his character
Jonjo Shelvey won praise for his character from managers Michael Laudrup and Brendan Rodgers after experiencing a journey through football heaven and hell in Swansea’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
Much of the pre-match build-up had centred on Shelvey’s first appearance against the Reds since his summer move to south Wales, and he made a dream start as he fired the home side ahead after 87 seconds.
But just 99 seconds later his woeful backpass allowed Daniel Sturridge to equalise, and another misplaced pass saw Victor Moses put the Reds ahead on his debut.
Shelvey was left with his head in his hands and the visitors led 2-1 at the break, but he responded by teeing up Michu for an equaliser with a surging run and astute cushioned header.
The 21-year-old went on to apologise to the Swansea fans for his mistakes in a post-match television interview, but Swans boss Laudrup did not feel it was necessary.
“He had no need to do that,” said the Dane.
“Nobody makes mistakes on purpose but it shows how he is.
“The most important thing was his reaction. It’s difficult after a first half like that. You feel you could have done better but I said there were 45 more minutes and we dominated the last 25 minutes of the game.”
He added: “It was a difficult first half for him.
“But I said ’there is no problem, go out there, you still have 45 minutes to turn it around’.
“He knew only he could bring himself back into the game and it was a fantastic reaction to pull himself together.
“It says a lot about him, he is still very young and he will be stronger for this game.”
Liverpool boss Rodgers, who saw his side return to the top of the Premier League table despite their 100 per cent record being ended, was also impressed by the resilience of his former player.
“He kept going, bless him. He is a terrific boy who made a brave decision to leave a club like Liverpool and nights like this are why he left, to learn.
“He took his goal well but when you play against good players they can punish you and Sturridge is lethal and will be one of the top strikers in Europe over the next few years.
“But Jonjo will prove to be a very good player.”
Both sides were left nursing injury concerns after a thrilling encounter.
Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho was forced off by a shoulder injury, with the club waiting for a scan to determine the extent of the problem, and Daniel Agger’s absence was down to a side strain the defender picked up while trying to avoid a dumbbell falling on his foot in the gym.
Laudrup, meanwhile, is likely to be without Pablo Hernandez for this week’s meetings with Valencia and Crystal Palace due to a hamstring injury, while Wilfried Bony is nursing a rib problem.
