Liverpool turn their attention back to domestic football with a clash against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium this weekend. The Reds come into the game with a crucial Europa League semi-final second leg looming large over Anfield and the squad will be rotated to that effect.
Swansea, 15th in the EPL table, will look to end the season with a few positive results after a largely poor season for the Francesco Guidolin led side.
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Kickoff and Live Telecast
Channel: Star Sports 1, Star Sports HD 1
Date and Time: 1 May 2016, 4.30 PM IST
Venue: Liberty Stadium
Live Stream: Starsports.com
Betting Odds: Swansea: 21/10; Draw: 5/2; Liverpool: 7/5; via Bet365
Team News
Swansea
Swansea enter the game with Alberto Paloschi and Leroy Fer ruled out with hamstring injuries with the rest of the squad fit for selection. Francesco Guidolin could ring in the changes after a heavy defeat last game. This could mean starting births for the likes of Ki, Barrow and Montero
Liverpool
Liverpool are expected to field a second string side for this game with the semi-final of the Europa League hanging over their head. Youngsters like Danny Ward, Sheyi Ojo, Cameron Brannagan, Kevin Stewart and Conor Randall could all get some playing time. Martin Skrtel and Christian Benteke will be in contention for starts as well.
Probable Lineups
Swansea (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Britton, Cork; Montero, Sigurdsson, Barrow; Ayew
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Ward; Randall, Skrtel, Toure, Smith; Stewart, Brannagan; Ibe, Lallana, Ojo; Benteke
Form
Swansea
Swansea come into the game with a set of terrible results having lost 3-0 and 4-0 to Newcastle and Leicester respectively. Francesco Guidolin’s men beat Chelsea, drew at Stoke and won against Aston Villa prior to those two results.
Last 5 matches: W-D-W-L-L ( Last match: Leicester 4-0 Swansea)
Liverpool
Liverpool come into the game on the back of a loss at El Madrigal against Villarreal after having drawn the game against Newcastle last week. Jurgen Klopp’s men have been in fine form otherwise and will be expectant of a result which gives them the three points at the Liberty Stadium
Last 5 matches: W-W-W-D-L (Last match: Villarreal 1-0 Liverpool)
What the managers say
SwanseaFrancesco Guidolin believes his players are ready to take the game to Liverpool and had this to say:
"We need points. After that we can speak about other situations and other problems, but all I want is to make sure we are safe mathematically.”
"I have spoken to the players and they convince me they are ready to play to the final game."
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, is not in the best mood about the timing of the game after having played a really exhausting away game at Villarreal. He had this to say:
"We could have started at two or four, so four hours more and that sounds absolutely okay. It is Sunday, all English people will have lunch and we play football.
"I am pretty sure no one slept immediately when we got home (in the early hours of Friday). It wouldn't make sense to start with the same line-up. We need fresh legs and fresh minds at Swansea."
Key Stats:
- Liverpool have won their last 5 games against Swansea in all competitions
- Swansea have kept a clean sheet in their last 3 home matches.
- Swansea have won their last 3 home matches.
- Liverpool are undefeated in 9 of their last 10 matches.
Key Battles:
Christian Benteke vs Ashley Williams
You would be forgiven to have forgotten Christian Benteke was a Liverpool player at all, owing to the absence of the Belgian forward from the starting lineup for so long. Life has not been all that rosy for Benteke since his mega-money move to Liverpool and things have gotten worse for the forward since Jurgen Klopp took over.
Christian Benteke will look to turn that around as he looks to end the season on a high having been left high and dry for long now. This game is the perfect opportunity for Benteke to remind the world exactly why Liverpool paid such money for his services.
Drawing battle lines against the giant Belgian will be Welshman Ashley Williams, who himself has been a rare bright spot in a season that most of the Swansea players will like to forget. Capable of silencing most forwards on his day, Williams will hope to add to Christian Benteke’s misery.
Martin Skrtel vs Andre Ayew
Most Liverpool fans could have their eyes closed for this one. Martin Skrtel provides some scary memories. The Slovakian could be held responsible for offering goals to the opposition on a plate since his return from injury which has led to him being sidelined in favor of Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure especially in light of Mamadou Sakho’s suspension.
The Slovakian could be afforded a rare start in this game with the Europa League tie looming large on the Anfield faithful.
Up against him will be Andre Ayew. The former Marseille man exploded into life upon arrival into the Barclay’s Premier League with goal after goal from his boots but his season has quieted down since. He still remains Swansea’s second highest scorer this season with eight goals and will hope to add to the tally.
Prediction
Liverpool fielding their B-team could allow Swansea to sneak in a result on the night especially if you consider the home team’s home form of late. Liverpool will hope to wrap up all the three points but a draw would be the likeliest result.
Swansea 0-0 Liverpool
