EPL – Match Preview – Liverpool vs Swansea City

EPL – Match Preview – Liverpool vs Swansea City

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Liverpool will play host to Swansea City at Anfield on Monday to close out another week of English Premier League action.

The Reds will head into this weekend with plenty of confidence following their destructive 4-1 victory over Manchester City and their important 2-1 win against Bordeaux to secure progression out of the group stages in the Europa League.

On the other hand, the Swans are a little low on confidence as their 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth relegated them to three games without a win after successive defeats to Norwich City and Arsenal.

Key Battle – Philippe Coutinho vs Andre Ayew

The Reds’ little Brazilian rocketed back into some magical form with a brace at the Etihad and an assist. Coutinho linked up with Roberto Firmino exceptionally well and he has been the focal point at Anfield since the departure of Luis Suarez.

Ayew was once wanted by Liverpool, now Jurgen Klopp will have to be weary of the lethal winger who scored last week versus the Cherries. In total, the Ghanaian has netted six times this year and collected a bundle of assists.

Everything will run through this pair on Monday and where the three points will go depends heavily on this clash of attacking wit.

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Team News

It is the tale no Liverpool fan wants to hear, but one every Red is all too familiar with. Daniel Sturridge was set to return to the first team in the Europa League midweek until he suffered another injury, this time to his foot. Klopp also has the dilemma of choosing between Firmino, who scored his first goal against City, or Christian Benteke, who added another to his tally versus Bordeaux.

Jordan Henderson was reinstalled to training last week and the captain could make his return at Anfield, especially considering the Reds’ busy schedule.

Liverpool Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Mignolet (GK); Moreno, Skrtel, Lovren, Clyne; Lucas, Henderson; Milner, Coutinho, Lallana; Firmino.

The Swans have shuffled Bafetimbi Gomis and Eder up front in an attempt to find a consistent source of goals, so it will be interesting to see who Gary Monk selects this week. There is also some debate as to whether he will choose Kyle Bartley or Federico Fernandez at centre-back.

Swansea City Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski (GK); Naughton, Bartley, Williams, Taylor; Ki Sung-yueng, Britton; Routledge, Shelvey, Ayew; Gomis.

Head-to-Head

Liverpool dominate the recent history of this fixture having gone undefeated over the last seven meetings. The Reds have scored seven goals in the past three matches and ran out 4-1 victors the last time they played at Anfield.

Prediction

Although Liverpool have had a busy week, they scored two crucial wins and are high on confidence while the Swans are stuttering. The Reds should cruise to victory with the return of Henderson.

Liverpool 3 Swansea City 1

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