Saturday, November 24, 2012

Match Preview: Swansea vs Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers returns to Swansea City as an opposing manager for the first time when he takes Liverpool to Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

The former Swans boss swapped Wales for Merseyside in the summer after accepting the offer to succeed Kenny Dalglish at Anfield.

Rodgers is expected to receive a warm welcome having guided Swansea up through the Football League and finishing 11th in the Premier League last season.

But Michael Laudrup has continued the good work of his predecessor and will want another win over Liverpool after knocking them out of the Capital One Cup in October.

Swansea currently sit one point and one place above their weekend visitors in the league and so will be determined to build on their impressive win at Newcastle United last weekend.

However, Liverpool will kick-off in Wales on a seven-game unbeaten run in the league in the wake of last Saturday's victory over Wigan Athletic.

Influential Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng has been sidelined after a recent hamstring injury and is not yet certain to play at the Liberty Stadium.

The summer signing from Celtic sustained the fitness problem in the game against Southampton and missed last weekend's win at Newcastle United.

Former Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley has returned to training and could be in contention.

The £1million recruit had been sidelined since September after picking up a hip injury but he is now back with Laudrup's senior squad.

Liverpool boss Rodgers is likely to recall his main men to the first XI.

The Anfield manager rested the likes of Jose Enrique, former Swansea star Joe Allen and Glen Johnson in Thursday's Europa League draw with Young Boys.

Luis Suarez, captain Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling were used as substitutes but can expect to return to the starting line-up.

Lucas Leiva is back in full training after his thigh injury but he has not played a first-team game since the end of August.

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