Swansea – Liverpool 16.09.2013

Swansea didn’t started the new season according to the expectations.

They were heavily defeated to Manchester United in the first round, then lost to Tottenham. However, the manager Michael Laudrup managed to turn the results and his team won against West Bromwich Albion in the previous round.

I think there is a reason for the bad start of Swansea. They were participating in UEFA Europe League qualifications and they managed to reach the group stage after eliminated Swedish side Malmo (4:0 aggregate win) and Romanian side Petrolul Ploiesti (6:3 aggregate win). But the European campaign is also in the players’ minds as Swansea have a match against Spanish Giant Valencia on Thursday. Laudrup has one sidelined player for this match as Neil Taylor is injured. The latest acquisition Alvaro Vazquez are in contention for this match, as well as the former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey who overcame the thigh injury that kept him out of England U-21 national team last weekend.

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Liverpool had a “dream start” in this season. Three matches, three victories, all with 1:0. The Reds managed to beat Stoke City, Aston Villa and Manchester United. The fans almost forget when the last time Liverpool had such successful start. And of course, the fans start talking about the title. The manager Brandon Rodgers is doing a good job. He kept Luis Suarez in the squad, added some new players (Kolo Tourse, Simon Mignolet, Aly Cissokho, Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Mamadou Sakho, Tiago Ilori and Victor Moses) and the results came. Of course, the problems too. Right-back Glen Johnson is sidelined for five weeks with an ankle injury he suffered in the finish of the match against Manchester United. Few more players are also sidelined through injuries – Joe Allen, Aly Cissokho, Kolo Toure and Sebastiean Coates. But Rodgers biggest worries are in the attack. With Luis Suarez still serving his 10-match ban and in-form Daniel Sturridge doubtful due to a thigh injury, Rodgers will be looking for goals to come from elsewhere in his team. But he has only one recognized striker, Iago Aspas. And he is out of form. It is definitely a problem for Rodgers. Of course, Sturridge might recover on time, but it is clear he will not be 100 percent ready. I expect another low scoring match.