Liverpool travel to the Liberty Stadium on Monday night with a top four position firmly in their sights. The Reds are currently two points behind bitter rivals Manchester United, who currently occupy fourth place position in the Premier League.
Swansea themselves could leapfrog Stoke City who suffered a defeat away at West Brom on Saturday. The Swans will need a good run of results between now and the end of the season if they are to qualify for next season’s Europa League.
Team News:
Swansea defender Kyle Bartley will be out until early April with a knee injury, and there are also doubts over Bafetimbi Gomis after his worrying collapse against Spurs. The French striker has returned to training, though it remains to be seen if Garry Monk will use the striker against Liverpool. The Swans have no further injury concerns.
Liverpool could welcome back as many as four players from injury to their match day squad. Captain Steven Gerrard (hamstring), Martin Skrtel (head), Mamadou Sakho and Joe Allen (thigh) could all be included. Rising star Jordon Ibe is sidelined until April, and Lucas Leiva will need at least another week before returning to the Liverpool midfield.
Interesting Facts:
- Liverpool are in great form, winning seven of their last eight matches in the Premier League.
- Swansea have been won three of their last six matches, including a 2-1 win over Manchester United.
- Liverpool have scored at least twice against Swansea in their last five matches in all competitions.
- Ki Sung-Yeung is Swansea’s leading scorer in the league after the departure of Wilfried Bony, with six goals.
Key Men:
Swansea: Jonjo Shelvey
The former Liverpool man has become a key figure in Swansea’s team this season. While it didn’t work out for Shelvey at Anfield, he is still just 23 years old, and will be looking to force his way into Roy Hodgson’s consciousness once more. Shelvey has started nineteen times in the league, scoring two goals, including a winner against Southampton, and contributed three assists. His passing percentage is up at almost 80%, and his direct style and eye for goal will be crucial as Swansea look for a push towards the Europa League places.
Liverpool: Adam Lallana
Lallana got off to a slow start for Liverpool, not helped by injury of course. He is now starting to show the form evident last season in his Southampton performances, that eventually earned him a place in England’s World Cup squad. Lallana has scored four Premier League goals so far this season, and has three assists. His passing percentage is a high 83.2%. Lallana will have to continue his current good form as Liverpool slowly return to full strength after a high number of injuries.
Possible Line-Ups:
Swansea 4-3-3:
Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Ki Sung-yeung, Cork, Shelvey, Montero, Sigurdsson, Gomis.
Liverpool 3-4-3:
Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Markovic, Henderson, Allen, Moreno, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling.
Prediction:
Liverpool have been in great form, and I think they’ll be too strong for Swansea. They are 17/2 with William Hill to win 2-0, which looks good value as they have kept a clean sheet in their last five away matches in the Premier League.
