please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Hello and welcome to the official match thread for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League encounter between Liverpool & Swansea City. The game is scheduled to be played at Anfield on Sunday 17th of February 2013 with a kick-off time of 3PM. The game is scheduled to be shown on English T.V but streams showing the game are normally posted in this thread. Preview. Liverpool welcome Swansea City to Anfield in what is the only Premier League game this weekend as the fourth round of the F.A Cup takes precedent. Both sides go into the game closely matched in the Premier League table with Swansea sitting in 7th place (37 points from 26 games) whilst Liverpool sit in 9th place. (36 points from 26 games) Sunday’s game will be the third time Liverpool & Swansea have met this season. The first game was a Capital One Cup tie at Anfield. Michael Laudrup’s side produced an excellent attacking performance as they beat the holders 3-1 in their own backyard and progressed into the quarter-finals. Of course, Swansea are now in the final of the Capital One Cup where they will face nPower League Two side Bradford City next weekend. That game, and it’s potential significance for this game, will be addressed later on in this thread. The other meeting was a league game at the Livery Stadium. It was the first time Brendan Rodgers & Joe Allen, both ex-Swansea employees, had been back to the Liberty since moving to Merseyside in the summer. It finished 0-0 with both managers stating that they were pleased with the point in their post-match press conferences. However, that result extended Liverpool’s lack of goalscoring form when playing Swansea in the league. As this stat will prove… That will be stat that Brendan Rodgers will be looking to end on Sunday along with the failure to beat any of the sides that have been in the top 10 when Liverpool have played them. The recent form for Liverpool can be spun in two different ways. One way of looking at it will be Liverpool’s failure to secure a victory in their last five games which includes successive 2-0 defeats in their last two games. (2-0 loss to West Brom in the Premier League & a 2-0 loss at Zenit in the Europa League) However, Liverpool’s league form, especially at Anfield, has been much better. Liverpool have won 4 out of their last 5 league games with 15 goals scored and just 2 conceded. This has contributed to Liverpool having the joint second-best home defensive record in the league. At home, Liverpool have been good but 4 out of Liverpool’s last 5 games have been away from Anfield and this has seen Liverpool struggle to produce victories. It is, of course, worth pointing out that 2 of those games have been away games against Arsenal & Manchester City who have rather strong home records so a point at those grounds are normally considered good points to pick up. Those statistics and facts certainly makes Liverpool’s form consistently inconsistent and makes the task of deciding what Liverpool team will turn up even more difficult. Swansea’s recent form has also been mixed but has been better than Liverpool’s. In their last five games, Swansea have picked up two wins, two draws and the one defeat. That has included convincing victories at home over Stoke City & Q.P.R but not so strong results away from the Liberty. (A point at Sunderland & a defeat at West Ham) Even though Swansea haven’t performed as well away from home (This is the case for many sides in fairness) their defensive record away from the Liberty Stadium will surprise many. So, the joint-second best defensive record at home against the best away defensive record in the league… 0-0 anyone? Onto the teams now and Liverpool look set to welcome back Daniel Sturridge into the side. The striker has missed Liverpool’s past two games due to a thigh injury which ruled him out of the West Brom game & ineligibility for the Europa League clash with Zenit St Petersburg. In those games, Liverpool were made to play for missing their chances and the return on Sturridge to the Liverpool squad should help Liverpool on that front. Add Sturridge into the mix with Luis Suarez in the attacking positions and Liverpool have some attacking quality to use against the Swansea defence. In defence, it seems likely that Jamie Carragher will continue alongside Daniel Agger in the centre-back position with Glen Johnson & Jose Enrique providing some width from the full-back positions. In midfield, it does seem likely that Rodgers will go with the three that has have played in recent weeks: Henderson - Gerrard - Lucas This is arguably Liverpool’s best midfield three at the moment and would leave the ex-Swansea midfielder Joe Allen on the bench. For Swansea, the Capital One Cup final set to take place next weekend will almost certainly play on the mind of Michael Laudrup. Swansea are looking to lift their first major trophy against nPower League Two side Bradford City and Laudrup may want to rest some players in preparation for the cup final. However, Laudrup will want to collect the three points on Sunday so it’s certainly a dilemma for the Swansea manager. One player who certainly won’t be involved is the Swansea defender Chico Flores. The defender damaged ankle ligaments in the victory over Queens Park Rangers and will miss Sunday’s game. This means that either Kyle Bartley or Garry Monk will replaced Flores alongside Ashley Williams. With the trickery and pace of Sturridge & Suarez, it does seem more likely that Bartley will give the nob as he has the stronger pace than Monk. In the attacking positions, Laudrup has another selection dilemma. With Danny Graham being sold to Sunderland on transfer deadline day, it leaves Swansea with two options up top. One is the vastly impressive Michu who has 18 goals in 32 appearances for Swansea which is better than one goal every two games. However, Laudrup may not want to risk his star striker before the cup final so that leaves Itay Shecter. He has played 13 times for Swansea so far this season but hasn’t scored so far. Certainly selection issues for Swansea to consider. So, an intriguing encounter to look forward to! Can Liverpool score and beat Swansea for the first time since their promotion to the Premier League? Or will Swansea secure the three points which would move them to the 40 point mark and put themselves in excellent form going into the League Cup final? You’ll find out the answers to these questions, and more, on the official match thread on the Not606 Liverpool board. Do join in. (That includes the guests that read this thread. Sign up and get involved!) Injury News. Liverpool. Brad Jones: Shoulder Injury. Martin Kelly: ACL Knee Injury. Swansea City. Chico Flores: Ankle Injury. Neil Taylor: Broken Leg. Suspension News. Liverpool. No suspensions currently recorded. Swansea City. No suspensions currently recorded. Liverpool 5 - 0 Swansea City Goalscorers: Liverpool... Steven Gerrard: 34th minute. (Penalty) Liverpool... Philippe Coutinho: 45th minute. Liverpool... Jose Enrique: 50th minute. Liverpool... Luis Suarez: 55th minute. Liverpool... Daniel Sturridge: 71st minute. (Penalty) Liverpool: Reina - Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique - Allen Gerrard Henderson - Downing - Sturridge SUBS: Gulacsi Skrtel Lucas Shelvey Coutinho Sterling Suarez - Liverpool Substitution: Philippe Coutinho comes off to be replaced by Jordan Henderson. (60th minute) Liverpool Substitution: Lucas Leiva comes off to be replaced by Joe Allen. (72nd minute) Liverpool Substitution: Luis Suarez comes off to be replaced by Fabio Borini. (77th minute) - NOTE: Fabio Borini leaves the field injured in the 84th minute but Liverpool have used their three substitutions. Liverpool down to ten men for the final nine minutes. - Swansea City: Vorm - Rangel Tiendalli Bartley Monk Davies - Dyer Britton de Guzman Agustien - Routledge SUBS: Tremmel Williams Lamah Hernandez Moore Shechter Michu - Swansea City Substitution: Roland Lamah comes off to be replaced by Wayne Routledge. (64th minute) Swansea City Substitution: Pablo Hernandez comes off to be replaced by Nathan Dyer. (76th minute) Swansea City Substitution: Itay Shechter comes off to be replaced by Angel Rangel. (82st minute) - YNWA.
They've only conceded 10 away goals? pretty phenomenal that. Not sure how they'll cope with Sturridge and Suarez without Chico Flores though. Last two times against West Brom (when most voted a Liverpool win) and Zenit (when most predicted a Liverpool lost) I've gone for a Liverpool lost so why ruin a working trend Great thread Chris EDIT: just realised that Kyle Bartley will probably come in for Chico. I thought it would be Monk (maybe it will be?) Been impressed when I've seen Bartley play.
This is a MUST win match for Rodgers who is coming under ever increasing pressure from the home fans after two successive defeats. He will face a Swans side refreshed from a holiday in Dubai and with one eye on next weeks Capital One Cup Final - another defeat for Rogers, especially against his former Club, wil be humiliation. My guess is that Laudrup will tell the Swans to go out and play football, rather than pursue a more defensive game as in recent away matches. As long as The Swans can avoid conceding an early goal I can see us sneaking it 2-1
Amazing how you claim to know just how Liverpool fans are feeling about Rodgers. The result will have a lot more to do with the recovery rate of our side after their trip to Russia than it will to do with Swansea.
Would like to see this team take the fiels. ------------------Reina Johno-----Agger---Carra-----Enr -----------Gerrard—Lucas-------- ---Downing—Suarez—Countin ---------------Stirridge Thoughts on a starting 11?
Lol, those 6 people you mean? Very scientific. Or maybe your misreading all the swans fans views. Its understandable as you lot can't leave Brendan alone since he left you & are permanently camped here spouting your woman scorned views ad nauseam. Honestly you're really are starting to look like Glen Close.
Great thread Chris, we only took a point at Sunderland but should really have thrashed them. You are right to praise our away defensive record, it was fantastic at Chelsea, it is something that Laudrup has brought to the team. I think we can hold you at the back and our attack will really trouble your defence who seem to lack confidence. I'm going for a 0-2, with Michu scoring first. I'm shocked at Liverpool's season and wonder how long Brendon can survive, unlike some other Swans fan's I would always welcome him back at Swansea along with Joe Allen. Keep them safe for us for they are sure to return one day!
depends which Liverpool team turn up for me, hope its the right one. if it is the right one Swansea will be in for a long game, if its the wrong one we will be in for along game. we are so inconsistent its ****ing ridiculous, but the player brought in who was needed didn't play the last 2 games as he couldn't, so hopefully Sturridge will give us more emphasis in attack. bit worried about the top 10 team though lol, hopefully that will be put right
I like this. But maybe Borini in for Downing and Sturridge in for Stirridge. I definitely want to see Coutinho start.
----------------------Reina--------------------- Johno-------Agger---------------Skrtel----Enrique ------------Gerrard----------Lucas-------------- --------------------Coutinho----------------- Sturridge-------------Borini-------------Suarez might not work, but wouldn't hurt to try.
It's funny just how Swans fans are only able to comprehend those comments that accord with their pre-conceptions.
Think I'd rather try this: ------------------Reina--------------------- Johno-------Agger---------------Skrtel----Enrique ------------Henderson----------Lucas-------------- --------------------Gerrard----------------- Borini-------------Sturridge------------Suarez At some point I too would like to see Coutinho but not as a starter. Even though he hasn't played well recently Sterling could also be useful coming off the bench.
Feeling pessimistic about this one, can't see anything but a Swans win or perhaps a draw, we've played twice this week, had to travel to and from Russia, players might not be 100%, the 'we haven't beaten anyone in the top 10' stat, plus they'll be looking to stick one to Buck Rodgers again. Then there's the problem that we're just not playing well atm and giving the ball away like students handing out flyers for the latest club night. I live in hope however, and if the side that dominated Arsenal for 60/70 mins and City for most of that match shows up, then maybe we can come away with all 3. Plus D-Sturrs is back and will hopefully be doing that weird pointy outy sky thing. Who thinks Bucky will be seriously on the ropes if we lose this one??
nope, wont be great from a club point of view as to where we want to be, but he is a long term option not 7 months or so. we cant keep making the same mistake of not letting managers bring their own players in and give them time.
