Match Preview: Liverpool vs Swansea City

Struggling Merseysiders Liverpool welcome Swansea City to Anfield on Sunday afternoon, at a time when their Champions League aspirations look to be dead and buried for good. Having dominated West Brom completely on Monday, they somehow managed to lose the game 2-0, something that only they seem to be capable of this season. Swansea ran out 4-1 winners against bottom feeders QPR last time out, and will be looking to rectify their horrendous away form against a Liverpool side that has gone three games without a victory.

The Swans have won just one of their last six away fixtures, and will be looking to secure a victory over a Liverpool side that still hasn’t beaten a team in the top half the entire season. The trip will mark Rodgers’ first visit back to Swansea since he joined Liverpool back in August. The Reds haven’t beaten Swansea this season, and were booted out of the League Cup in a humbling 3-1 defeat at the hands of Michael Laudrup’s men in October at Anfield.

Steven Gerrard has enjoyed a rejuvenation of sorts this season, and has been very extremely influential to the Liverpool cause. The skipper has played every second this campaign, having contributed 13 assists; the highest in the division alongside Carlos Tevez. However, Gerrard shockingly fluffed an 80th minute penalty against West Brom on Monday; one of his rare misses, in a game that the Reds ultimately lost.

The Reds have failed to win their last four matches, but have won five of their last seven fixtures at Anfield. Three excellent performances against West Brom, Manchester City and Arsenal were followed by the same old problem plaguing the Reds. Dominating in attack, unable to hold on to a lead, and seemingly incapable of closing out a game. The Swans have conceded only ten goals on the road this season, but haven’t won away from home since winning at Fulham in December.

In Michu, Laudrup secured the bargain of the season, with the instrumental Spaniard having scored 15 league goals this season, including a brace against QPR. Michu and Pablo Hernandez have been excellent for Swansea, who are still well positioned to fight for a European spot, and have also reached the League Cup final.

Defender Chico Flores, another revelation for the Welsh side, will miss the trip to Merseyside, having ruptured his ankle ligaments. It will dent Swansea’s water-tight defence which has conceded only four goals in their last eight competitive fixtures. It will face a stern test against Luis Suarez and co and the Uruguayan will be looking to inspire his side to victory, and at least give them a fighting chance to be the black horses in the Champions League race.

Daniel Sturridge is set to return to the Liverpool starting line-up, having missed a few games due to a thigh injury, which means Jonjo Shelvey will drop to the bench. Phillipe Coutinho is also expected to be given a run-out on Sunday, but is unlikely to start. Swansea midfielder Leon Britton could make his return, after spending time on the sidelines due to an ankle injury.

Interesting Facts:

- Liverpool haven’t scored against Swansea in the Premier League, having drawn two and lost one.

- The Reds are the only side in Europe’s big five leagues (England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France) to have had more than 500 shots on goal this campaign. And to think the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich were more aggressive than Liverpool. If only Messi plied his trade at Anfield…

- The Reds have conceded only twelve goals at home, second only to Man City (11).

- Michu has scored five headers this season, the highest.

Prediction:

The Reds have never scored against Swansea in the Premier League, and they desperately need to secure a victory or risk losing out on even a Europa League spot. The Swans will be confident heading to Anfield, and it may come back to bite them in the end, as the home side are more desperate at this stage. A close victory for Liverpool seems to be a possibility.

Liverpool 2-1 Swansea City