Ahead of the Game: Swansea City

Swansea City vs Liverpool

Premier League

Liberty Stadium

16/09/2013

20:00

Liverpool travel south to face Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night. Both sides will be feeling upbeat ahead of the meeting, after each winning their game prior to the international break; Swansea took three points from The Hawthorns with a two-nil win over West Bromwich Albion, while Liverpool produced a battling display to beat Manchester United one-nil at home.

Steven Gerrard opened the scoring from the penalty spot last season
as Liverpool beat a weakened Swansea side five-nil.

The pair’s last clash came in February at Anfield, when the reds romped to a five-nil victory, although the away side perhaps had one eye on their forthcoming Capital One Cup final.

August’s Premier League manager of the month, Brendan Rodgers, oversaw a goalless draw as Liverpool manager last season, on his first return to former club, Swansea. Ten months on, the Northern Irishman has assuredly eased his way into the Anfield hot-seat and is beginning to cultivate a strong reds squad. The progress is highlighted by the fact that a Liverpool win on Monday night would see them start the Premier League campaign with four successive victories, for the first time ever. The reds also own the league’s official player of the month for August in Daniel Sturridge. The award winner has been integral in Liverpool’s recent good form, scoring the only goal in each of his side’s three one-nil league wins at the start of 2013/14. Sturridge missed both of England’s World Cup Qualifiers last week with a thigh injury, but Liverpool remain hopeful that he will regain full fitness in time for their visit to Wales.

Steven Gerrard, another bedrock of the reds’ success – during the last 15 years, not just recently – will captain his team for the 400^th time on Monday evening: a largely unprecedented achievement. While the influential skipper’s name is one of the first on Brendan Rodgers’ team-sheet, there is more room for contemplation on who to select in defence. The transfer deadline day arrivals of Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori have bolstered a previous lack of central defensive options, as have the returns from injury of Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel. A change of personnel will also be required at right-back, with Glen Johnson nursing an ankle injury.

Don’t be deceived by Swansea’s tally of just three points from a possible nine at the start of the 2013/14 campaign. The 16^th placed side dictated large parts of their clash with Manchester United on the opening day of the season, but were cruelly beaten four-one by their more clinical opponents. They then lost narrowly to Tottenham at White Hart Lane, due to a soft penalty.

Monday will see two young, visionary managers go
head-to-head.

Much like Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, Swans boss Michael Laudrup is building a neat, technical squad, which is capable of a top ten league finish this season in my opinion. The Dane recruited reasonably well over the summer – maintaining his policy of buying predominantly from Spain’s La Liga – with tenacious midfielder Jose Canas seeming a particularly shrewd addition. The Welsh side’s possession-based footballing philosophy is similar to Liverpool’s, so don’t expect a one-sided affair; both team’s will jostle for control of the game, as they attempt to lure the opposition out of shape with patient build-up play.

My Line-up

I’d be inclined to deploy a 4-3-3 here to combat Swansea’s desire to dominate centrally and control possession. With Glen Johnson absent through injury, someone will have to come in at right-back. Despite saying in a previous post I’d like to see Jordan Henderson given the nod in place of Johnson, this isn’t the game to do that; as I explained, Henderson would be a suitable wing-back option against weaker opposition. I expect Andre Wisdom to be handed an opportunity here – although, were he fully fit I’d prefer it to be Martin Kelly.

Brendan Rodgers confirmed on Friday afternoon that he expects Kolo Toure, Daniel Sturridge and Joe Allen to be fit for the match. Allen will probably have to settle for a role on the bench but the impressive Toure and Sturridge should start. I’m fully aware of the talent and reputation Mamadou Sakho holds, and I’m sure he will force his way into the Liverpool side at some point, but to hand him a start straight away would be unfair on the influential Kolo Toure, who has performed admirably so far.

Further forward, I’d like to see deadline day signing, Victor Moses, given a chance in place of Iago Aspas. The Nigerian’s pace could cause Swansea’s defence problems down the channels and behind their full-backs as they inevitably venture forward. Accurate, diagonal Steven Gerrard long passes could prove particularly fruitful for Moses to run onto, as he sneaks around the back of the home side’s defence.

View From the Other Side

Swansea fan @EVS376Y - "Going with a 2-1 home win,with Swans goals coming from Michu and Bony...Liverpools reply coming from Sturridge. Danger man for you guys Sturridge he's been in superb form! #scfc #lfc"

Swansea fan @Mister_Snoops - "main concern is Sturridge and Gerrard. We have good home form. I predict score 2-2."

Swansea fan @FansofSwansea - "Going to be tough, Sturridge should be kept an eye on, prediction would be a 1-1 draw. Looking to break the streak then!"

One to Watch

Michu – The Spaniard boasts more cleverness and subtlety than his nonchalant exterior and loose-jointed frame would make you believe. Comfortable in a midfield or forward role, he has just about every attacking facet to his game and his astute movement will have to be observed closely by Liverpool’s defence. Shades of Dimitar Berbatov, upon the Bulgarian’s arrival to the Premier League.

Swansea’s Last Six

WLLWLD

Liverpool’s Last Six

WWWWWL

Odds

Swansea - 5/2

Draw - 5/2

Liverpool - 5/4

My Prediction

Swansea 1 – 1 Liverpool

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