'We need to be winning games like that' - Stewart Downing

Stewart Downing has insisted Liverpool will keep working hard after another disappointing home draw against Swansea City, but admits that his side should be winning home fixtures against newly promoted sides.

Brendan Rodgers' men are the fourth visiting team to grab a point at Anfield this season in just six games, damaging Kenny Dalglish's side's chase for a Champions League spot.

Downing told the club's official website: "Swansea are a good footballing team and they've played well this season, but with no disrespect to them we need to be winning games like that at home if we want to get to where we want to be, so it was a bit disappointing for us not to get the three points."

He added: "It was disappointing to draw, but although Swansea played quite well, if we had put our chances away and scored early it might have been different.

"Probably the pleasing thing for the manager and the team is that we are creating chances. But we're not putting them away.

"We'll just have to keep working on it and keep getting ourselves in the right positions and hopefully they'll turn into goals soon."

The winger pointed to several key chances the Reds failed to finish and hailed the form of Swans goalkeeper Michel Vorm after he made two crucial late stops to keep the scores level.

He continued: "If Andy [Carroll] had scored with that early chance, it may have been a different game - Swansea might have had to change the way they played.

"It was a brilliant save from Glen's [Johnson] shot. I think the goalkeeper has probably been their best player this season, which shows how well he's done.

"But we had chances through Daniel [Agger], Glen as well as Andy's right at the start, and I'm not sure if Dirk's [Kuyt] goal was offside or not."

King Kenny calm despite missed chances

Failure to score against Swansea on Saturday brought just a point for the Reds, their second in succession against a promoted side at Anfield after Norwich drew 1-1 a fortnight ago.

Having also not taken advantage of good opportunities against Sunderland and Manchester United at home, the Reds have dropped eight points at home already this season.

"You are better drawing one, losing one and winning one because you get more points than three draws," admitted the Scot.

"But my perspective has never changed. We look forward to the next game, take each one as it comes and eventually add up the points and see where we are.

"There is no difference."

It is not as if Dalglish's side have not been creating chances. Even against the Swans - whose own performance earned them many plaudits - they could have won comfortably.

The tone was set when Andy Carroll blasted Stewart Downing's left-wing cross at the crossbar from six yards with less than 10 minutes on the clock.

They also found visiting goalkeeper Michel Vorm in great form, denying Luis Suarez with one low save in the first half before producing two brilliant efforts to keep out the Uruguay striker and a fierce Glen Johnson volley moments before the final whistle.

That aspect does not concern Dalglish as much as the way his team allowed themselves to be dominated and occasionally out-played by the Barclays Premier League newcomers.

"The most important thing is to create the chances and the next thing is to put them away," he added.

"We go through this nearly after every game. We must be getting closer if the goalkeeper was tested because we have been missing the target.

"We just need to keep working on it and keep getting in there but we never got in there as much as we have done.

"It is more noticeable when you have chances and you walk off with just a point. It punishes you more.

"But it doesn't matter what your reward is, you have to find a better level than we did.

"If you don't do what you are good at you make it more difficult for yourself.

"But the problems that are there are problems that we can solve ourselves."

Swansea picked up only their second away point of the season but manager Brendan Rodgers felt it could be significant one.

His side have already won many fans for the attacking way they play football and enjoy possession and there were times, particularly in the second half, when it looked like it may bring them an historic first win at Anfield.

Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina was forced into one good save in the first half from Wayne Routledge's cross-shot but he would have been powerless to stop Mark Gower's shot six minutes from time had the midfielder kept his effort down.

"To come to Anfield there is pressure but when you come here and play like we did psychologically it gives you a massive lift going forward," said Rodgers.

"I felt we made a big step forward. We have been growing into the league away from home and we showed we are learning all the time.

"I have an inherent belief in the game I want to play - there might be other coaches who think you have to play a different way.

"We have got very good players. They work tirelessly hard and people respect how we are trying to approach the game.

"We played very well. We matched Liverpool at Anfield, which was incredible."

Keegan backs Carroll to succeed with Liverpool

Former Liverpool striker Kevin Keegan says that Andy Carroll has the required attributes to be a success at Anfield, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Carroll moved to the Reds from Newcastle United for £35 million in January, but has struggled for form with his new side, managing just four league goals since his move.

However, Keegan, who briefly managed Carroll during his second spell in charge of the Magpies three years ago, believes the young forward prove to be a hit on Merseyside.

“What people tend to forget about Andy is that he’s still only young,” said Keegan. “His best days are ahead of him and there’s still a way to go before he fully reaches his potential. He is outstanding in the air, probably the best I’ve ever seen.”