After the high of beating Champions-elect Manchester City at Anfield, Liverpool cannot afford any complacency to set in, when they travel to Liberty Stadium, to face the bottom-placed Swansea City on a Monday night kickoff. The Reds are on an 18-game unbeaten run and are favourites to take all three points from this tie.
The Swans are fresh from a draw against Newcastle United and also managed to beat Wolves to enter into the next round of the FA Cup. The Reds are just three points ahead of Spurs in the 5th place and have a chance of jumping into the 3rd place, depending on Chelsea’s result, who play earlier in the week. Here is the predicted lineup Jurgen Klopp might field for this tie:
Team News:
The manager said in his press conference that skipper Jordan Henderson and full-back Alberto Moreno are both back in training and could make the bench for this game. However, they are still without the services of Nathaniel Clyne and Daniel Sturridge, who are both out injured. Klopp also revealed that Ragnar Klavan, Mohamed Salah and Dejan Lovren missed training on Friday. Both Klavan and Salah are, however, expected to be fit for this tie. Defender Virgil van Dijk is also back in action and should start against Swansea.
Expected lineup (4-3-3):
Defence:
Klopp was confident that Loris Karius will come good and revealed that he will keep his place in the first team under the bar, pushing Simon Mignolet to the bench. Joel Matip remains the first choice at the back for Klopp who should be partnered with the record-breaking signing Virgil van Dijk, even though Ragnar Klavan is fit.
This will be Van Dijk’s league debut. Young Joe Gomez is making strides at right-back and is expected to keep his place in the side while Andrew Robertson should continue at left-back, giving Alberto Moreno a tough fight to regain his first-team spot.
Midfield:
Jordan Henderson is back in training but should not be pushed into the first team, giving Emre Can yet another start, in the no.6 role. He will be accompanied by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is putting in some match-winning performances recently.
Georginio Wijnaldum was also at the top of his game against City but could be replaced by Adam Lallana, who will add a bit more of creativity to this Liverpool midfield.
Attack:
The Reds have one of the most consistent attacks in the league at the moment. Wingers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have been in devastating form and will be the danger men for Swansea who will also have to keep a close eye on Roberto Firmino, who is adding goals to his industrious play in attack.
Here is how they might line up:
