AFTER Manchester United and Arsenal won at the weekend, Liverpool need to follow suit here against Swansea. Will they Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79)?
Swansea v Liverpool | Monday 20:00 | Sky Sports 1
There's no rest bite in the race for a Champions League place, and with Arsenal and Manchester United winning at the weekend, Liverpool must not fluff their lines on Monday against Swansea.
The gap between Liverpool and those two clubs is now five (Man Utd) and six (Arsenal) points. With just nine game left after this fixture, Liverpool can't slip up here.
What about Swansea though? Garry Monk has masterminded a fantastic season for the Welsh club where a Top 8 finish is a distinct possibility. They've beaten Louis Van Gaal's side twice and have won half their league games. Impressed? I am.
Three home defeats out of 14 in the league came against Chelsea, Southampton and Tottenham, and that's the level Liverpool must aspire to. Bear in mind also that the Swans beat Arsenal and Man Utd at the Liberty. This will be tough for Brendan Rodgers' side.
I was fairly chuffed with myself for correctly predicting Liverpool wouldn't beat Blackburn last Sunday in the FA Cup. That draw can only be a good thing, it will realign focus for this match and keep commitment and determination up.
After seven domestic wins out of eight, Liverpool needed to hit a fence at some point and it came at the right time in that Cup tie. They should progress in the replay next month.
I do expect Liverpool to win on Monday, but at 21/20 with William Hill they don't make huge appeal. Swansea have showed how savvy and smart they are at the Liberty, but it's Liverpool's ongoing thrust that's winning me over. Victories over Man City, Southampton and Tottenham in the last five weeks illustrate that.
When I put all that together I'm envisaging a narrow Liverpool win. I'll back Liverpool to win by exactly one goal at 14/5 with Ladbrokes. Two of Swansea's three home league defeats this season came by the odd goal.
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Swansea v Liverpool – Liverpool to win by exactly one goal (14/5 Ladbrokes)
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