On January 21st, Liverpool welcome Swansea City to Anfield.  New Swansea manager Paul Clement underwent a baptism by fire against Arsenal in his first Premier League match and it won’t get any easier away to Liverpool.
Liverpool  have had a tough start to 2017, winning their first game in the calendar year on their fifth attempt midweek away to Plymouth.  Still, the Reds lie third in the table on goal difference and will look to get back to their winning ways against a vulnerable Swansea City.
Clement faced a difficult test in his first Premier League match at home against Arsenal. Â After losing that match 4-0, he has to take his team to Anfield, and Liverpool are yet to lose at home this season, while Swansea have only won two of 10 away games. Â If Swansea are to survive relegation they’ll need to start picking up points soon, but points will be very tough to come by at Anfield.
Team News
After missing out against Manchester United, Nathaniel Clyne has a chance to be fit against Swansea, according to Physioroom.com. Â Danny Ings and Marko Grujic however are set to miss out on Saturday, according to Physioroom.com.
The status of Swansea’s new signing Luciano Narsingh is still up in the air after he missed out against Arsenal with a calf injury, according to Physioroom.com. Â However they do know that they’ll be without Jefferson Montero, Modou Barrow, and Neil Taylor.
Key Players
Liverpool: Roberto Firmino
With Mane away at the African Cup Of Nations and Philippe Coutinho yet to play 90 minutes after recovering from his injury the performance of Roberto Firmino is vital for Liverpool.  The Brazilian spent most of the beginning of the season playing as a striker, but since the injury to Coutinho has played as more of a wide player.  This has limited his goal output, but the Brazilian is still capable of putting in big performances.  With the absence of Mane only Adam Lallana has more Premier League goals in Liverpool’s active squad than Firmino.  He scored against Swansea in Liverpool’s come from behind victory in Swansea and he’ll hope to put in a similarly impactful performance at home.
Swansea City: Fernando Llorente
Swansea have been unable to keep clean sheets all season, so they’ll have to score a few goals if they are to beat Liverpool.  Fernando Llorente is Swansea’s leading goalscorer with six goals and has scored four goals in Swansea’s four wins with braces against Sunderland and Crystal Palace.  Chances are Liverpool will score multiple goals, so Llorente will need to step up big and chip in with at least one goal if they are to have  chance of getting any points, much less all three points.
Prediction
It’s hard to see any result that’s not a Liverpool win from this match. Â The Reds are clearly the better team, Swansea have been in a tailspin for months, and Liverpool are at home. Â Jurgen Klopp’s men should win this one by a wide margin.
Prediction: 4-1 Liverpool
