Last time Liverpool played in the Capital One Cup, they equalled a British record. They beat Middlesbrough from the penalties which went on till 14-13 and Brendan Rodgers would hope that tonight’s match would not be as intense.
Liverpool have not started their season on positive note with them faltering in almost all the competitions they have taken part till now. Even last weekend they could not record a win against Hull City and that has frustrated the supporters. But one positive note that the manager can take from the game is that after a long time they managed to keep a clean sheet and now they need to build on that.
Tonight Rodgers would be looking to make a number of changes to the squad. Lazar Markovic should be making his way into the side as the former Benfica man is on the lookout to impress at his new club. Rickie Lambert was pretty decent after he came on against Hull in the second half was Rodgers praised him for that. He should be in the team today ahead of a misfiring Balotelli. The other person who should be in the team today is Suso who scored a goal against Middlesbrough, but has not got enough chances in the first team.
On the injury front Liverpool have no new worries with Daniel Sturridge and Jon Flanagan the long term absentees. Sakho is still a week away from fitness and thus he would be unavailable for this game. But Kolo Toure should be in the centre of the defence today for the Merseyside club.
Swansea have a relatively smaller squad than many heavyweights in the league and thus manager Gary Monk do not have the luxury to rotate as much. He would prefer an almost unchanged squad from their last match as they gear up to face Liverpool at Anfield.
The last time that Swansea won the Capital One Cup they beat Liverpool on their way under the captaincy of Monk and now he would relish the opportunity of facing his old manager. Monk has been applauded for his performance after he has been appointed as the permanent boss of Swansea and now this would be his acid test.
But Swansea have to move without their star player Gylfi Sigurðsson who left the filed with a twisted ankle in the league match. But still the Welsh side is confident about registering a win against the Kops and with this they can keep up their good start to the season.
Liverpool vs Swansea Possible starting lineups
Liverpool: Jones; Manquillo, Toure, Lovren, Enrique; Can, Henderson; Markovic, Suso, Borini; Lambert
Swansea: Tremmel; Rangel, Williams, Fernandez, Taylor; Shelvey, Ki; Dyer, Carroll, Routledge; Gomis
Liverpool vs Swansea Match Facts:
- Swansea have only won two of their 19 trips to Anfield in all competitions (D3 L14), but the most recent win was at this stage of the League Cup in October 2012 (the year they went on to win the competition).
- This is the 35th meeting between the sides. Liverpool have won 17 times, Swansea nine and there have been eight draws.
- Brendan Rodgers won three of his five matches in the League Cup as Swansea manager (60%); he has won just two of five for Liverpool so far (40%).
- Liverpool’s third round victory over Middlesbrough featured the highest scoring penalty shootout in League Cup history (14-13); Raheem Sterling was the only player to miss for the Reds.
- Swansea have only made it past the fourth round of this competition once in their history, but that was when they lifted the trophy in 2012-13.
- The Swans are unbeaten in four League Cup games against fellow Premier League sides (W3 D1).
Facts compiled from BBC.
Liverpool vs Swansea Prediction:
Liverpool 2:1 Swansea