Verdict: Liverpool win and both teams to score
Best Odds: 15/8
Bookmaker: Bet365
On Monday night, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side will travel to the Liberty Stadium flying high on confidence after ending Manchester City’s unbeaten Premier League run. Looking to climb up to third, Liverpool will face off against a Swansea side hoping to close the gap on the drop zone.
Swansea
For the Swans, former Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal is the man entrusted to guide Swansea to Premier League safety. After picking up just five points out of an available 39, Paul Clements tenure at the Liberty Stadium came to an end in December. Swansea have recently shown some brief signs of life, Carvalhal’s new team still remain bottom of the Premier League and are already chasing down a four-point deficit. Although Swansea are coming off the back of a morale-boosting FA Cup win against Wolves in midweek, Carvalhal will be desperate to drag their FA cup form into the Premier League. Still sat in 20th, Swansea are now chasing down a six-point deficit at the bottom of the table. After seeing Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente move on last summer, Swansea’s major problem this year has been a lack of creativity in the final third. Managing to score just 14 goals in their 23 Premier League matches, no side in England’s top flight has scored fewer goals than the Swans.
Team News
Swansea are waiting to assess striker Tammy Abraham as he has missed the last four games with a hip injury, but the return of Wilfried Bony from a hamstring problem has bolstered the strikeforce.
Mike van der Hoorn (muscle injury), Renato Sanches (hamstring) and Angel Rangel (calf) should all be available.
Liverpool
As for Jurgen Klopp’s free-scoring Liverpool side, the Reds confidence will be at an all-time high coming off the back of last weekends dramatic victory over Manchester City. Putting four past the runaway league leaders, Klopp’s men brought an end to City’s unbeaten Premier League run. Despite the departure of former talisman Philippe Coutinho, the Merseyside club are now on a five-game winning run, they have also scored 15 goals in their last five matchups. Although Klopp’s side are in fine form, Liverpool are still involved in a battle to secure a top-four finish come May. Currently occupying that lucrative fourth position, Liverpool have a two-point buffer with Tottenham, however, a victory in Wales on Monday night will see the Reds jump into third.
Team News
Liverpool top scorer Mohamed Salah and defenders Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan are all expected to recover from illness. Fellow defender and record signing Virgil van Dijk could make his first Premier League start for the club after shrugging off a hamstring strain.
Captain Jordan Henderson (hamstring) and Alberto Moreno (ankle) are back in training but are not likely to be ready until next weekend’s FA Cup tie at home to West Brom.
Key Factors to Consider
- Liverpool have won seven of the past 10 Premier League meetings with the Swans (D1, L2).
- Swansea have recorded just one victory in their past seven Premier League games (D2, L4).
- They have also kept just one clean sheet in 10 top-flight matches, conceding 20 goals.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in 14 Premier League games, winning their past four (W10, D4).
- The Reds have also scored 29 Premier League away goals this season, more than any other team.
Conclusion
Although Swansea have shown some much needed recent improvement under their new manager, the struggling Swans look set for another hard day at the office. With only a single victory in their last seven Premier League matches, Jurgen Klopp will be confident of carrying on Liverpool’s fine winning record. With Mo Salah scoring 24 goals in his 30 appearances this season, Liverpool’s attacking trio will certainly produce chances against a Swansea side that have only kept one clean sheet in their last 10 appearances. Although we do expect Liverpool to leave the Liberty with three points, Liverpool have shown some defensive issues throughout the season. Without a clean sheet in their last four matches, Swansea have been revitalised in the final third.
Verdict: Liverpool to win and both teams to score
Best Odds: 15/8
Bookmaker: Bet365
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