Liverpool held to 2-2 draw at Swansea in EPL

SWANSEA, Wales (AP) Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League standings on Monday night despite its perfect start to the season ending with a 2-2 draw at Swansea.

Brendan Rodgers' team had won its first three games and a fourth consecutive victory would have marked the club's best start ever in the Premier League.

But Michu's second-half equalizer ruined Liverpool's plans after goals from Daniel Sturridge and Victor Moses had given the visitors a 2-1 lead following Jonjo Shelvey's opener.

Liverpool now has 10 points and is one clear of both Arsenal and Tottenham.

Rodgers, a former Swansea manager, received a warm welcome on his return to the Liberty Stadium as he greeted some home supporters.

But there was no time for nostalgia as Shelvey opened the scoring with a left-foot shot from the right side of the box in the 2nd minute after Liverpool defenders failed to clear the ball properly. Shelvey first missed a volley but recovered to get past Mamadou Sakho and beat goalkeeper Simon Mignolet at his second attempt.

But Shelvey, who left Liverpool for Swansea in the summer, went from hero to villain within two minutes by allowing an equalizer when his slack backpass ended up in Sturridge's path, with the England striker firing a low shot past Michel Vorm for his 12th goal in 10 games.

Swansea had a good spell of pressure but Liverpool was the most dangerous team as Steven Gerrard celebrated his 400th game as captain with some superb passes. Sturridge missed a chance when his header from close range was blocked by Vorm.

Shelvey made another big mistake when he misdirected a simple pass to Victor Moses, with the player on loan from Chelsea bursting forward from the middle of the pitch before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box to score on his Liverpool debut in the 36th minute.

Vorm was forced into a good save early in the second half to block Andre Wisdom's volley from close range before tempers frayed Shelvey and Lucas Leiva were both booked.

Shelvey made some amends in the 64th minute as he picked out Michu with a fine headed pass for the Spaniard to level the score.

Swansea had the best of the second half and created several good chances near the end but lacked the finishing touches. Michu could have given the hosts the three points but his last-minute effort in stoppage time was denied by a diving save from Mignolet.