Football News: Premier League Match Preview Monday 22nd January 2018
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Monday 22nd January 2018
Swansea City v Liverpool 8pm kick off
Van Der Hoorn (hamstring injury) slight doubt
Sanches (hamstring injury) slight doubt
Rangel (calf strain expected return 27th January) doubt
Abraham (hip injury) late fitness test
A managerial change has done little to improve the form of the Swans, who have won just 1 game in 6 to sit bottom of the Premier League. There is a tendency for them to fold and concede a bagfull of goals when they go behind, as they showed at the reverse fixture at Anfield when they lost 5-0. Added to an inability to score, that has seen them in real trouble, dropping away at the bottom and running out of games to fix things. They have to show something now, as their run over the next few games is tough, Arsenal, Leicester and Burnley following Liverpool, they have to, at the very least, show fight and character or morale will falter.
Most important player: Wilfried Bony. The Swans need goals and Bony is the closest thing they have got to an out and out goalscorer.
Salah (illness) late fitness test
Klavan (illness) late fitness test
Lovren (illness) late fitness test
van Dijk (tight hamstring) slight doubt
Sturridge (hamstring injury) slight doubt
Henderson (hamstring injury) slight doubt
Moreno (ankle injury) late fitness test
Clyne (back injury expected return 10th February) out
Liverpool come into this game on the back of a big win against Man City making it 4 wins in a row and 14 unbeaten. They will be aiming to extend the winning run, as a draw will see them lose 3rd place to Chelsea. With Chelsea improving their goal difference markedly, Liverpool know that they have to win by a goal margin of 3 or more to regain third place. Will that mean they go for goals or will they just look to get a win and just worry about not having the late slip ups that allowed Man City to make it an uncomfortable final few minutes last weekend?
Most important player: Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian has been getting better and better in his time at Liverpool, even with Mohamed Salah notching so many goals Firmino has arguably been the better player. If he plays well, Swansea will struggle.
Defining Battle: Swansea's defence was their strong point under Paul Clement, but they lacked any ambition in their play. Carvalhal has improved that and they are looking more of a threat, but the key will be their defence today. They are likely to defend deep to deny space in behind for pace to exploit, but that puts a lot of pressure on the midfield to cover and to provide any kind of support to the forwards. They will have to find a way to make the most of any chances they do manage to get to break, while ensuring they are not then exposed at the back by throwing too many forward and turning the ball over.
Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 0-2
Ed003 - 1-3
Ed004 - 1-4
Ed007 - 0-2
Ed018 - 1-3
Ed025 - 0-4
Ed033 - 0-3
Editor's Predictions Table
1. Ed025 - 144 points
2= Ed002 - 141 points
2= Ed033 - 141 points
4. Ed018 - 140 points
5. Ed004 - 139 points
6. Ed003 - 137 points
7. Ed007 - 128 points
*1 point is awarded for the correct result, 3 points for the correct score.
**updated 19th January 2018 (not including results for that day)
Written by Tris Burke January 22 2018 06:18:28