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Preview: Swansea City vs. Liverpool

Sports Mole previews Monday night's Premier League clash between Swansea City and Liverpool at the Liberty Stadium.

Liverpool can stretch their unbeaten Premier League run to 13 matches when Brendan Rodgers takes his side to his former club Swansea City on Monday night.

The Reds are firmly in the race for a Champions League position as they currently reside just two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, but they face a side who have suffered just one defeat in their last five home fixtures.

Garry Monk's team were tipped to be one of those scrapping for relegation by the end of the season, but the Swans are ninth in the table and reached the 40-point mark with a 1-0 win over Burnley on February 28.

The big news surrounding Swansea prior to this weekend's match is the health of Bafetimbi Gomis, who collapsed during the 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on March 4.

Despite early concerns, Monk has insisted that Gomis is fit to play as he has a history of fainting on the field and it is a condition that he knows how to handle.

As mentioned above, Liverpool have been in fine form in the top flight and they head to the Liberty Stadium unbeaten in their last five meetings against the Swans.

In the Anfield fixture in December, Jonjo Shelvey scored an own goal against his former club to contribute to a 4-1 victory for the Reds, but the midfielder will be hoping to rectify his mistake on Monday.

Despite Swansea's less-than-perfect form against Liverpool, they have proved their worth against top opposition this season having recently grabbed a 2-1 victory over Manchester United on home turf.

Monk's side have also scored in all but two of their last 20 fixtures in the top flight, which could prove to be a test for Liverpool's defence.

With regards to team news, despite Gomis being healthy, the striker is likely to start the game on the bench, which means that Marvin Emnes could be given the nod, while Gylfi Sigurdsson is expected to provide attacking support just behind.

Liverpool have captain Steven Gerrard available again, but Joe Allen could return to the fold after also returning to fitness as he impressed in midfield during the skipper's seven-game absence.

Alberto Moreno could start in place of Lazar Markovic, while Raheem Sterling is expected to continue playing at wing-back, leaving Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge as an attacking trio.

Despite getting stretchered off with concussion in Liverpool's goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, Martin Skrtel is expected to be fit to play on Monday.

Swansea City:

Form in Premier League: WDLWWL

Possible starting lineup: Fabianski; Taylor, Fernandez, Williams, Naughton; Ki, Shelvey; Routledge, Sigurdsson, Cork; Emnes

Liverpool:

Form in Premier League: WDWWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWD

Possible starting lineup: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Lovren; Sterling, Henderson, Allen, Moreno; Coutinho, Sturridge, Lallana

Sports Mole says: 1-2


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Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho celebrates scoring their second goal in front of the Liverpool fans during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north west Engla
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10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
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16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
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19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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