Pre-Match - Swansea v Liverpool Mon 16th March 20:00 Kick Off

It's an option to go back to Sterling up top but Studge still needs minutes if he's ever to get back to last seasons form, this season.  He's still basically in pre season in terms of match fitness, benching him won't help us later in the season.

Lallana, Sterling, Coutinho gives us a fantastic pressing game.
Definitely would like to see it against United and Arsenal.

Lallana, Sterling, Coutinho gives us a fantastic pressing game.
Definitely would like to see it against United and Arsenal.

I agree mate, they defend from the front and scare the bejeasus out of defenders.

I wonder if Brendan's been working on going real gungho and changing to a 334 formation at some stage?  Would we have enough in a midfield 3 of say Lucas, Allen and Hendo to play Raheem, Lallana, Cou and Studge up top?

Let's move the diamond into the final 3rd 

Weird us not having a game for over a week.  Hopefully it's a blessing and not a disruption.  I'm interested to see how we cope having digested the weekend's various results - which hopefully will leave us with something to exploit.

Swansea home game was one of the better Anfield performances in the first half of the season.  Important we get three points to really set us up for the United and Arsenal games.  We want to be in a position that a win over United takes us above them - not just narrowing a gap.

I agree mate, they defend from the front and scare the bejeasus out of defenders.

I wonder if Brendan's been working on going real gungho and changing to a 334 formation at some stage?  Would we have enough in a midfield 3 of say Lucas, Allen and Hendo to play Raheem, Lallana, Cou and Studge up top?

Let's move the diamond into the final 3rd 

Drop Allen and it'll work, with Coutinho slightly deeper.

Drop Allen and it'll work, with Coutinho slightly deeper.

Maybe if we can condense the pitch so there isn't too big a gap from the forwards mate.

It's exciting that it's even a possibility.

Why does Stevie automatically walk back into the starting XI?

What is it going to take for people to realize we are much better without him?

Why does Stevie automatically walk back into the starting XI?

Who said he does or is going to?

Hopefully Allen's back and Sakho got through the U21 game fine.

Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Lallana, Allen, Henderson, Moreno; Sterling, Coutinho, Sturridge.

Hate Monday night games as we're usually absolutely dreadful in them, hopefully this one's different so we can advantage of the United v Spurs result from the day before.

Last time we played on a Monday night 29th Dec Liverpool 4:1 Swansea 

Hate Monday night games

Same here pal but I think our current form, (Blackburn aside) gives us more than enough reason to believe we can come out of this game with all 3 points. I hope this doesn't come back to bite me but Swansea aren't a team that particularly concerns me anymore.

Last time we played on a Monday night 29th Dec Liverpool 4:1 Swansea 

Hopefully a good omen then.


Just to be pedantic that was the last time we played in the League. We beat the mighty Dons after that in the cup.

                               Mignolet
                        Can   Skrtel  Sakho
              Markovic Henderson Allen Moreno
                           Sterling Coutinho
                               Sturridge

Ward; Toure, Johnson; Gerrard, Lallana; Balotelli, Lambert

They have no threat without Bony. Should be a straight forward 3 points this.

                      Mignolet

              Can     Skrtel    Sakho

Sterling    Hendo        Allen      Moreno

            Lallana        Coutinho
                   
                     Sturridge

They have no threat without Bony. Should be a straight forward 3 points this.

                      Mignolet

              Can     Skrtel    Sakho

Sterling    Hendo        Allen      Moreno

            Lallana        Coutinho
                   
                     Sturridge

Team approved 

Why does Stevie automatically walk back into the starting XI?

What is it going to take for people to realize we are much better without him?

Cause he can't run anymore!

Thanks, I'm here all week.

This might be a tricky one. We haven't beaten Swansea at their ground since they gained promotion, so we definitely need to buck that.

Only question for me is who starts at RWB: Markovic or Lallana?

hope the team V blackburn dont turn up and instead the team V city with the addition of Sakho in at LCB as we didnt raise our game last week and will need to against a passing attacking footballing side. without Bony Siggurdson and Kojak will be their only real goal threat as that Gomis i think we can handle.
Pack out the midfield cut off their supply stick Sterling,Sturridge up to and catch them out as they like to press up the pitch. prediction is 2-1 to us going in 1-1 at half time.

Hope Jonjo doesn't play. 

This might be a tricky one. We haven't beaten Swansea at their ground since they gained promotion, so we definitely need to buck that.

Only question for me is who starts at RWB: Markovic or Lallana?

Markovic hasn't warrented a start for me.

Swansea is unpredictable as the weather at times, hence, we have to be cautious, not overly cautious. Give them enough respect and the burning desire to win.

up and down this lot...

But, even on thier day, we should be too strong for them...

2-0 us... Studge (2)

As others have stated, this is a tough one.
The only way to play them and the only way we play at our best is to start off with high energy and press constantly.
Have to select a midfield unit that can dictate the tempo but also be very energetic and combative.
Their fullbacks love to stay wide so Sterling and Lallana to start wide and come in early eliminates them
Add Hendo supporting PHIL with his now confident and assured surges in the middle and we have options.
The back 3 have to be wary of their explosive forwards so Allen has be defensively minded.
Opportunities will come but if we lose it will be evident from the get go and because of some obvious defensive mistake, that have been our issue for the last few seasons.

The sort of game, the Reds should win, but could turn out to be a potential banana skin. A top four place is certainly there for the taking if every game is treated like a cup final. Think Man U are the most likely to be caught and replaced in the top four tbh.