Venue: Anfield
Date: 17/02/13
Kick-Off: 15:00
Liverpool FC will look to end a run of five games without a win on Sunday as they host seventh-placed Swansea in the only Premier League game taking place this weekend.
With six Premier League teams competing in the FA Cup over the course of the weekend and the next set of European fixtures taking place in midweek, after Sunday’s game there will be no Premier League fixtures until next weekend.
It was Liverpool’s shock 3-2 defeat at Oldham in the Fourth Round that started their current winless run, with draws against Arsenal and Manchester City and losses to West Brom and Zenit St Petersburg following.
A return to winning ways on Sunday would see Liverpool climb above their opponents and move up to seventh in the table. Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho will return to the squad after being ineligible for the Europa League game against Zenit, while Daniel Agger will expect to earn a recall after being rested in midweek. Jonjo Shelvey and Lucas will also hope to start at Anfield after dropping to the bench for the match in Russia.
Swansea are unbeaten in their last four games against Liverpool in all competitions, a run which started when the Swans drew 0-0 with the Reds when at Anfield last season. They went on to beat Liverpool 1-0 at home on the last day of the season, while this season the two teams drew 0-0 at the Liberty Stadium, before Swansea knocked Liverpool out of the Capital One Cup with a 3-1 victory on their previous visit to Anfield.
However despite their recent successes against the Reds, Swansea have never beaten Liverpool away in the league in 11 attempts.
Swansea’s main threat is star striker Michu, who scored his 14th and 15th league goals of the season in the Swans’ 4-1 win over QPR last week. Only Robin Van Persie (19) and Luis Suarez (15) have scored more than the former Rayo Vallecano player, who at a mere £2 million is surely the signing of the season.
Reds fans will hope that Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger are able to stop the Spaniard from condemning Liverpool to a third defeat in the space of a week.
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Home to Swansea who are resting some players for cup final . Even Rodgers cant mess this one up