Terry welcomes Rafa appointment

Brendan Rodgers was unable to get the better of his former club on his return to the Liberty Stadium as Liverpool played out a goalless draw with Swansea City.

Both sides have both been in decent form over the past few weeks and it was an absorbing game from the start, with Liverpool carving out the better chances in the first half but unable to break the deadlock.

The closest they came was just after the half-hour mark, when Raheem Sterling was denied by the width of the crossbar as he thumped a ferocious volley against the woodwork.

Jose Enrique also had a goal disallowed for offside after sliding in on Luis Suarez's cross, while Glen Johnson headed over from a corner before being thwarted by a Gerhard Tremmel stop.

Swansea played their part, though, with Pepe Reina forced to produce a good save from Wayne Routledge's strike and Pablo Hernandez curling a delightful effort narrowly wide from outside the area.

Michael Laudrup brought Ki Sung-yueng on for the anonymous Itay Shechter at half-time and pushed Michu up front in an effort to alter the pattern of the game.

It worked to some extent as Michu's header was kept out by Reina and Routledge and Michu both had penalty appeals turned down, while Ashley Williams also had an effort cleared off the line during a good spell for the home side.

There was an injury scare for Reina when he rushed off his line and was clattered into by Nathan Dyer, as the match stretched from end to end with both teams hunting for a winner.

Spain winger Hernandez had a low-free-kick brilliantly tipped wide by Reina, but Liverpool looked dangerous on the counter-attack and had a chance when Suarez and Sterling broke from a Swansea corner and had only Ben Davies in front of them, but a laboured pass from the winger forced the Uruguayan wide and Tremmel held his shot.

The Reds nearly snatched a last-gasp goal when Jonjo Shelvey's drive was repelled by Tremmel, and the referee waved play on after Steven Gerrard went down under pressure from Chico.

In the end both sides had to settle for a point apiece and a result which keeps them in mid-table, with Liverpool now unbeaten in eight but still one point behind Swansea.

There have been suggestions some of the Blues' senior players might be sceptical about former Liverpool boss Benitez being handed the reins following his run-ins with his new club while at Anfield.

But Terry wrote in his programme notes for Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester City: "On Thursday, we welcomed Rafa Benitez as our first-team manager. All the players are looking forward to working with him."

Terry also paid a glowing tribute to Roberto Di Matteo, who was controversially sacked on Wednesday after a run of two wins in eight matches.

"It has been a difficult week all round, both on and off the pitch," Terry wrote.

"I want to say that it was a privilege to play for Robbie. I had the pleasure, as a YTS player growing up, of watching and learning from him and to go on and play under him as captain was an honour.

"To win two competitions last season, including the Champions League that we had wanted for so long, was incredible.

"Robbie is a great man and an absolute legend. We wish him every success in the future, because saying thanks doesn't seem enough."

Terry's absence through suspension and injury was arguably a key factor in the slump that led to Di Matteo's downfall.

The defender is expected to return in two weeks and he added: "It's been really difficult for me, missing these last two games.

"Believe me, I can't wait to get back out there again."