Liverpool VS Swansea match preview,team new, match facts and betting guide

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool remain uncertain over the availability of Joel Matip amid a dispute with the Cameroon national side and could choose not to risk him.

Right-back Nathaniel Clyne may return after missing the last two matches with a rib injury.

Swansea's new signing Luciano Narsingh is unlikely to play because the winger has a slight calf problem.

Danny Ings is sidelined while Marko Grujic is a doubt for the hosts.

Sadio Mane is away with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Modou Barrow is a doubt for the Swans, while Paul Clement is again without Jefferson Montero and Neil Taylor

The Swansea boss could hand a debut to new arrival Martin Olsson, while Tom Carroll is in line for a second debut following his signing from Tottenham.

Clement could bring Leroy Fer into the starting XI in place of Nathan Dyer, whil Borja Baston is also hoping for a start.

MANAGERS OPINIONS

Swansea head coach Paul Clement on Jurgen Klopp: "I have come across him when we played Dortmund at Real [Madrid] in the Champions League. We won 3-0 in the first game and lost the second game 2-0.

"He has been very good for this league, he has energy and charisma and that is the sort of coach you want here.

"I don't know him personally but people I know says he gets every bit of potential out of the players he works with."

Head-to-head

Swansea have never won at Liverpool in the league (D3, L12).
Both of their wins at Anfield have come in cup competitions; a 2-1 victory in 1964 in an FA Cup quarter-final and 3-1 win in October 2012 in the League Cup fourth round.
Liverpool's 1-0 home win over the Swans last season was Jurgen Klopp's first league victory at Anfield.

Liverpool

Liverpool's win over Plymouth was their first in five games in all competitions (D3, L1).
If the Reds beat Swansea, their tally of 48 points will set a new club record for most points after 22 matches of a Premier League season (beating 47 in 2008-09).
They have failed to score in only two of their 24 home league matches with Klopp as manager and both of those were against Manchester United.
The Reds have been behind for just 180 minutes this season, the league's lowest figure.
James Milner has never lost a Premier League game in which he's scored (46 games - W37, D9); he has equalled the record held by Darius Vassell (W36, D10).

Swansea

Swansea have lost six of their last seven matches in all competitions, winning the other game.
They are aiming to win back-to-back away matches within the same Premier League season for the first time since May 2015.
The Swans have conceded at least three goals in nine of their last 12 league games.
They have let in a league-high 49 goals in 21 league matches - only Barnsley have conceded more goals at this stage of a Premier League season (51 in 1997-98).
The Swans have been behind for 731 minutes in the Premier League this season, second only to Sunderland (744).

BETTING GUIDE

There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Swansea's last 9 games (Premier League). Over 2.5 goals 1.43
Liverpool are undefeated in their last 17 home matches (Premier League). Liverpool win or draw 1.04
Liverpool have won their last 5 home matches against Swansea in all competitions. Liverpool win 1.22
Swansea have conceded at least 3 goals in 5 of their last 6 matches (Premier League). Over 2.5 goals 1.43
Swansea have lost 5 of their last 6 matches (Premier League).

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Liverpool ready to beat PL giants in race for 23-year-old quality full-back

According to the English media outlets, Liverpool are ready to rivals another Premier League giants Arsenal in race for Schalke 04 left-back Sead Kolasinac, who has been on Jurgen Klopp’s radar since the last season.

Arsenal have made their desire open this January, though they find themselves up against tough negotiators as Schalke have no intention of selling their key defender at the moment.

The reports from Italian publication Tuttomercatoweb claim that alongside Liverpool and Arsenal, the Serie A champions Juventus are also willing to get the defender’s signature, but the Gunners seem to be stepping up their interest in the highly-rated Bosnia international for a move to bring him to London in summer.

The Gunners already have Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal as options at left-back, but may be planning to replace one of them as 27-year-old Gibbs has been heavily linked with an exit in recent times due to a lack of first-team football.

Kolasinac’s impressive form in Bundesliga has not gone unnoticed by bigger clubs, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also considering the 23-year-old defender as potential target for the Reds.

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Mourinho Makes his former player at Chelsea number one target

According to the latest reports from English media, Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho has made Chelsea defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic his top priority for the summer transfer window

The reports from Sunday Mirror suggest that the Red Devils boss vis considering the Serbia international as the ‘ideal’ replacement for Morgan Schneiderlin, who has already joined Everton officially, and Michael Carrick, who is coming to the end of his career at Old Trafford.

The Special One has already identified four key transfer targets for the summer transfer window and alongside 28-year-old Matic is Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann.

But the report claims that Portuguese manager’s desire to get the signature of the Chelsea midfielder is as strong as it is to lure the France international from Diego Simeone’s side.

Nemanja Matic, who joined the Stamford Bridge side in a £21m deal back in 2014, has been one of Chelsea’s key players in midfield this season. The Serbian star also won the Premier League title alongside Jose Mourinho in 2015.

Meanwhile, Man United manager is considering January move for Benfica’s highly-rated duo, Victor Lindelof and Nelson Semedo, as both player have been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in latest times.

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No Costa no Problem Conte to bid record Chelsea for world class striker

According to the Spanish media outlets, Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has asked the Blues hierarchy to ‘make an effort’ to sign Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata this summer, as the Italian manager is desperately chasing for the top-class replacements for Diego Costa.

The reports from Sport claim that the 24-year-old star is unhappy at the Santiago Bernabeu having started just 10 matches in all competitions for Zinedine Zidane’s side this term.

The Spain international is open to returning to Serie A giants Juventus but a move back to Italy is unfeasible due to the transfer fee.

Antonio Conte reportedly remains desperate to bring his favourite striker to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season  and has already spoken to the Chelsea front office about making the transfer deal happen.

As per the same sources, Chelsea have to meet the striker’s £61.5 million valuation to bring him in west London.

Back in September, Morata confirmed that Antonio Conte failed to sign him for Chelsea during last summer’s transfer window.

Morata told SportBild: ‘Chelsea showed the most interest. Antonio Conte had already signed me for Juventus. And it was a very good offer this time. I would have been the most expensive Spanish player ever.’

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Man United moving for £30m release clause South American target

According to the latest transfer news, Brazilian club Flamengo have snubbed an approach from Manchester United for their teenage starlet Vinicius Junior.
Man United are one of several top European clubs who are closely monitoring the 16-year-old sensation and wanted to agree a first option deal with the South American club.

The talented striker has been compared to Neymar in Brazil and has already scored four goals in six matches in the Copinha U20 tournament this term.

Brazilian big-name stars like Neymar, Lucas Moura and Oscar have all dazzled during the tournament in the past and Flamengo have installed a £30m release clause in Junior’s contract to protect their asset.

However, as the ex-president of Flamengo Kleber Leite claims, the club have rejected an offer from the Old Trafford side to have a first option deal on the young striker.

During his interview, Leite said: ‘[Luz – Flamengo director] told me that he was contacted a while ago by a representative of Manchester United, who wanted to discuss the possibility of them having priority for a transfer.’

‘The talks didn’t get far, because Fred Luz told them plainly that future discussions would depend on the immediate payment of a sum that would give them priority among offers of equal value.

‘At that point, the Englishman, who thought it was going to be a piece of cake, left and didn’t return.’

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THIS STRIKERS GOAL WILL SURELY CHALLENGE CHELSEA FOR THE LEAGUE AS KLOOP PLANS BID

According to the Italian media outlets, Liverpool are keeping close tabs on Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi, who has been on radar of the several Premier League clubs since the last season.

The reports from La Gazzetta di Modena claim that Merseyside giants are among the clubs who have scouted the 22-year-old striker, with Inter Milan are also chasing for his signature.

The Serie A champions Juventus also have the option to sign Domenico Berardi for £22m but the Old Lady have not indicated that they will take up that opportunity.

Italian forward has returned from a four-month absence recently after he was sidelined due to a knee ligament injury.

Berardi, who has not yet been capped by Italy’s national team, has managed to score 40 goals in 92 Serie A matches for Sassuolo. He could be considered as the potential replacement for Daniel Sturridge, who has been linked with a departure from Anfield this season.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are ready to make a move for Southampton defender Jose Fonte, as Jurgen Klopp is considering Portuguese star as the direct replacement of out-of-favour centre-back Mamadou Sakho.

The reports Sunday Mirror suggest that the 33-year-old Fonte is valued at £10 million by the Saints and is wanted by Jurgen Klopp to bolster his defensive options.

The Portugal international has rejected the new contract offer from Southampton and has been left out of the team by the head coach Claude Puel.

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JAN VERTONGHEN INJURY UPDATE

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has said that Jan Vertonghens injury is not as bad as first thought and that the Spurs defender does not need surgery on his ankle unlike it was first rumoured he mig

The Belgium international limped out of his side most-recent 4-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion last weekend and now faces a prolonged period on the sidelines.

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The initial prognosis was that Vertonghen would be out for two months after being assessed, however, Pochettino is confident that the former Ajax enforcer will be back in a Lilywhites
“When your mind is positive it’s easier to recover – he doesn’t require surgery, the Spurs trainer told BBC Sport.

“We have players that can perform in his place and we are very happy with the squad and the players we have.”

Vertonghen will be sorely missed as he has struck up an excellent relationship with compatriot Toby Alderweireld at the heart of Tottenham’s misery defence.

Pochettino charges face top-four rivals Manchester City on Saturday, in what could be a defining game in both teams campaigns.

Spurs are expected to stick with a three-man defence at the Etihad Stadium, with either Kevin Wimmer or Ben Davies slotting into the team in Vertonghens absence.

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