Swansea - Liverpool 01.10.2016 / England Premier
This Saturday lunch-time, Jurgen Klopp’s high-flying Liverpool will travel to Wales, to play a troubled Swansea City outfit at the Liberty Stadium.
The Swans have experienced a tough start
to their Premier League, still trying to find their feet under their
new permanent manager in charge – and certainly not helped by the
uncertainty surrounding the manager whose performance is under more
scrutiny with every poor result. Back to back defeats to Manchester City
in the cup and the league, have been weirdly encouraging, in that the
performance in the most recent game was definitely improved and would
have produced a better result against a team of lesser quality. With
only 4 points on board, Swansea need a win here to settle the nerves
ahead of the second international break, but form suggests they will
have to do very well to get anything out of Saturday’s clash against the
Reds from Merseyside.
In contrast, the mood cannot be more
bouncing at Liverpool, even the weather has been ‘good’ remarked their
German manager reflecting their high spirits clearly uplifted by the
results and more importantly their goals. Liverpool have scored the most
number of goals in the top division since Klopp has taken charge of the
Reds, and should be given due credit. It’s a difficult fixture
nonetheless, not long ago, the visitors lost the corresponding fixture
in May last season, and the German is seemingly wary of what the Welsh
club could do, if things went their way. But after wins against Arsenal
and Chelsea, and a five-star performance against Hull last week, it’s
time they showed consistency ahead of the more difficult fixtures in
October.
Team News
Swansea
will monitor defender Federico Fernandez, who missed out on the defeat
by City last weekend because of a minor groin problem. Winger Nathan
Dyer remains out with an ankle injury.
Liverpool centre-back Lovren sat out the
win against Hull with a virus but is now fit and could return in place
of Ragnar Klavan. The Reds will assess Belgian striker Divock Origi, who
is recovering from a minor foot injury.
Interesting Numbers
- Swansea’s tally of four points is their lowest after six matches of a top-flight season.
- They could lose three successive league fixtures for the first time under Francesco Guidolin.
- Liverpool have scored 16 goals in six Premier League games this season. Last term it took them until their 13th match to reach this total.
- No team has scored more away goals in the Premier League in 2016 than Liverpool (26, level with Tottenham).
Key Men
Fernando Llorente – Swansea City
With a reputation to start slowly at
every club he’s played in, Llorente, at 31, is a vastly experienced
player who could be of vital importance to the Welsh side as times goes
on. Having opened this account in the Premier League last week against
Man City, it’s imperative that now he kicks on and builds on that
against Liverpool, who for all their prowess going forward, can still be
vulnerable at the back, following a period of sustained pressure,
something that Guidolin must hope his side are capable of creating on
Saturday.
Jordan Henderson – Liverpool
This could finally be the season that
Henderson actually believes in the fact that he should be Liverpool
captain. The English international has found a new lease of life in his
slightly different role. It is a deeper role in front of his back four,
where he’s expected to set the tempo of his side’s game. It is more
important for Liverpool than at other teams, and Henderson should be
applauded for the contribution he is making to his team’s electricity
and fearlessness on the pitch. His wonder goal against Chelsea is yet to
be rivalled in the league, showing that he has it in his locker to come
up with a sensational goal to win a game if needs be, just like his
what his predecessor was adored for, across the world.
