Cold weather, boots, braces and smiley faces in a cauldron of pure football hatred

Keith Haynes looks back to a time when the footballing authorities made even more absurd decisions than they currently do...

Swansea City v Crystal Palace

Monday January 14th 1980

FA Cup Third Round - 2nd Replay

The authorities who govern the game we all love have made many mystical decisions, and indeed I would say some pretty decent ones as well over the years. The formation of the Premier League would be one, three points for a win another. Notwithstanding recent times and the wonderful environment we all watch our football in, there were other, let's say less tasteful days, when even more bizarre decisions were made by our football governing bodies. For me, as a Swans' fan all those years ago the decision to replay an FA cup tie on neutral territory after two drawn games v Crystal Palace was one such case, it seemed to be the way back then. Penalties were seen as a foreign way of concluding games, thus many a cup tie went on and on until open play brought matters to an end.

It seems so crazy today that this would happen, but happen it did, and one Swansea game as mentioned went to the "neutral" ground of Ninian Park, Cardiff on a winters night thirty three years ago. Back then I was a slightly Leftfield, punk rock driven, Swansea supporting skinhead who clung to the back of the Swansea north bank with a clenched fist raised in defence of our club. Northampton Lane, and a pub called 4J's was our domain pre and post match. Punk music blasting through the pub speakers and local bands and spiky tops all mingled as one, the Swansea scene was buzzing, especially on matchdays. The 4J's gave us all quick access out on to the main drag and a clear 'run' down to the Vetch Field. 

Back in 1980 I couldn't believe the FAW would sanction such a ridiculous decision by the FA to play this FA Cup game in Cardiff. We had already seen quite extreme bouts of violence just two weeks before as Swansea beat Cardiff at The Vetch by a  2-1 scoreline on New Years day, so to offer the hooligans another crack at each other seemed a very odd decision indeed. The initial cup game against Palace ended 2-2 at Swansea, and the replay 3-3 at Selhurst Park, with a certain David Giles excelling for the Swans against a club he would later play nearly a hundred games for. 

The scene for a cracking cup tie replay was set and we travelled east, first from Haverfordwest to Swansea, then by train in to Cardiff. The trains were rammed packed full of Swansea supporters, and they had been all the way from Pembrokeshire; hundreds and hundreds in standing room only compartments rattling towards a night that would change some peoples lives forever. And, in one case, end it completely.

It is really difficult to reflect now on a sixteen year old kids' mindset of the time. We had stood up to all manner of governmental changes, strikes, cultural differences and conflict for at least three to four years previously; they even turned the lights out and talked about three day working weeks.  Music had smashed down the barriers all over the UK and British music in particular was impacting in every corner of everyone's day - both personally and politically.  As a full on Swansea North-Banker I had some trepidation in my mind as to what this fixture in Cardiff would bring. I mean, I had witnessed first hand the bloody New Years Day battles across Swansea only two weeks before, and nobody could be blamed for feeling the same way. 

The burning hatred that filled the night was tangible. The Cardiff v Swansea rivalry was pretty new, but I felt a huge rush of adrenalin as thousands of Swansea fans headed from the main station to the ground. Yes, there were many, many skirmishes and sirens filled the cold Cardiff night, our small group of maybe twenty just a small part of the black mass of Swans fans cheering and running in to the night. The streets were full of many, many protagonists urging each other forwards and punches were being thrown between the people of Swansea and Cardiff - in the name of what I have never been able to work out. People far more intelligent than me have tried to explain this rivalry, but I have heard nothing sensible on the subject and even less sense from people who have no idea of football culture or mentality. 

Sadly, it just happens.

That night we would form a part of a crowd at Ninian Park that's officially recorded at just under 24,000. News reports at the time estimated some 19,000 in the crowd were Swansea City supporters - an incredible support away from home. The rest? Well, obviously Palace brought a number of fans to the game, and then there were the locals who, well, they wanted their say as well. Swans fans dominated the Bob bank and all parts of the ground, as the side won a stirring nights' football 2-1. Cold weather, boots, braces and smiley faces all together in a cauldron of pure football hatred, it's the only way I can describe it. 

Hatred. 

At a football match.

Before, during and after the game three sets of fans clashed - the Palace supporters generally just looking to get home safely, but one or two took matters far further than any football divide should go. They took a life. Sadly, that night outside the ground Swansea fan David Williams was killed, knifed by a Palace fan named Barry Rondeau who was aged just twenty. Another supporter survived a knife attack and ten months later Rondeau was sentenced to life for murder. He killed himself at HMP Long Lartin ten years later - I read recently in a moronic book of 'Legends' he was a friend of lunatic inmate Charles Bronson. A tragic tale of total sadness that often surfaces in my mind when I see our beloved Swans taking on Palace, and one which needs retelling so that our new generation of most welcome fans know a little bit more about our history, and most importantly recognise and respect that football, like everything else, is not worth a life, nor is there ever going to be any justification for the cold blooded killing of another human being because they support a different view - no matter your colour, creed or nationality.

Nowadays we mingle freely together at Premier League matches, not always comfortably it has to be said, with the bubble trips between Swansea and Cardiff the only exception, and this will need to be reviewed at some point in the future I am sure - but not now. The cold and heartless behaviour that came out of the seventies and flourished in the eighties may well be played out by smaller groups  these days, and indeed in different locations, but we must be mindful of protecting the game we all love. 

After one of the most breathtaking weeks in my Swansea supporting life we once again go to Crystal Palace, a team that are newly promoted and healthy in their respect for our club. In Ian Holloway they have a manager whose whole football philosophy changed when he saw 'The Swansea Way' for the first time -putting it in to place seems to be a bit of a problem for him though. 

Sunday sees another great fixture between two clubs steeped in football history and two sets of fans will support their sides as the world watches on. Much has changed over the past thirty three years, no cold chill greets any of us in the brave new premier world, but at all times we should remember and respect what has gone before. How we got here may be the stuff of glory or some film makers dream (indeed, the forthcoming film entitled Jack to a King serves to emphasise that point) however anyone who's witnessed the harshness at the other end of the scale will tell you that that too needs remembering. And recording. Those that have passed on deserve at least that.

The bright, bright sunlight of our fantastic new dawn spreads such warmth amongst us all now, and I like you feel that anything is achievable, and that there is still much more to come. I will remember also, and thank my lucky stars, that I have witnessed so much since our club was nearly stolen from us by the known, and not so known, faces from Swansea City's history. 

Football has never felt so good, maybe because football has never offered so much good to so many people.

But we must never forget.

Ever. 

STID.

Keith is a published author and you can buy any of his books by clicking the link at the top left of the site. You can follow him on Twitter @_KeithHaynes

Valencia v Swansea - Match preview, team news, statistics & analysis

The Match

Valencia are currently enduring a very sticky start to their league campaign. Three losses out of four means that, much like Swans fans were hoping for a positive EL result against Petrolul to help boost the squad's confidence, they'll be looking to put on a show against a side most Spanish fans would expect them to beat. With the squad hovering just above the La Liga relegation zone they'll be hoping for a win which would provide some much needed confidence ahead of their next league match - against Villareal on Sunday.

Swansea, on the other hand, will have drawn a lot of confidence from the Liverpool game and any nagging doubts about how we'll be able to compete against top teams seem to have been negated for now. They showed enough in both attack and defence to suggest we can trouble any side on our day, and with Valencia low on both form and confidence, plus having the tags of "clear favourites", it's likely the Swans will be able to play with more confidence and freedom than their hosts, who will have a huge weight of expectation placed on them by the home crowd.

Prior Form (Most recent at top)

.

.
.
.

Team News

Valencia are, if the internet is to be believed, able to pick from a fully fit squad. Alright for some!

Swansea will be without Pablo Hernandez, who will no doubt be miffed to miss out on the chance to run out against a club he spent eight years at over two separate spells. The winger picked up a hamstring injury which looks set to keep him out until after the Palace game. Neil Taylor is still suffering with a bruised thigh, while I've heard rumours Jose Canas may be unavailable. Nathan Dyer was withdrawn at half time against Liverpool but it's unclear whether that was injury-related or purely tactical. Leon Britton is suspended due to his red card in the last round at Petrolul.

Completely guessed lineups

Sadly the lack of a squad predictor thingy means there'll be no pretty graphics for Europa League predicted lineups...

Statistics & Trivia

• Valencia actually made it to the First Knockout Round of last season's Champions League before being beaten by Paris Saint-Germain, but qualified for this season's EL after finishing 5th in La Liga.
• This will be the first ever match between the two sides, and also the Swans' first against Spanish opposition.
• In the 93/94 season, Laudrup's Barcelona won the league courtesy of Valencia coach Miroslav Djukic's penalty miss in the last minute of Deportivo La Coruna's last game that year. 
• Djukic previously spent six years at Valencia as a sweeper, winning La Liga and reaching two Champions League finals during his time at the club.
• Swansea haven't won away in Europe since the 82/83 season, when we beat Maltese opponents Silema Wanderers. 
• In matches between Spanish and Welsh opposition, the Spaniards have so far come out on top with 4 wins, 3 draws and only one loss (Real Madrid lost 1-0 to Cardiff in the 70/71 Cup Winners Cup, but overturned the deficit in the second leg). 
• Swansea have won just two of their last 14 away games.

Straight from the horse's mouth

Speaking after the Liverpool game, Michael Laudrup ramped up the pressure on Valencia:

“All of the pressure is on Valencia. They have not had a good start to the season and they have a tough game against Sevilla coming up at the weekend. Their crowd are not like our fans - It’s like the theatre over there. They come in to the stadium, sit down and, if the team play well, they applaud, but if the team do not play well, they boo. 

“Valencia have been one of the top clubs in Spain for a number of years and the fans will feel they are nearly the same as Real Madrid or Barcelona — they are used to playing in the Champions League, but now they play Swansea in the Europa League, so there is a lot of pressure on them. We have to try to take advantage of that. 

"They are the favourites. They are the top seeds in the group, but we will go there and try to play our game. We have had a tough start to the season and a game against Valencia is another difficult one for us, but we can come through this.” Michael Laudrup  

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Michael-Laudrup-Swansea-City-upset-Valencia-crowd/story-19810649-detail/story.html#ixzz2fF2jPbwl 

Valencia midfielder Andres Guardado acknowledged recent performances haven't been up to scratch:

"We need to get our act together and come out with attitude. The most important thing right now is to win the next match against Swansea." Andrew Guardado

http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2013/September/17/uefa-europa-league-preview-valencia-v-swansea-city/n240038/

Speaking to Skysports News, Swansea's adopted son Angel Rangel is looking forward to showing Spain what the Swans are all about:

"It's always great to go back. Hopefully we will be able to show a big side like Valencia and the whole of Spain how good we are as a team. 

"It's one of those games where we know we aren't the favourites and away from home it's a difficult game, but we're looking forward to it. We know that the Mestalla is a tough place to go and we know that Spanish style of football is always to try and play the ball, combined with attacking intent. We know we will find that on Thursday night. 

"Valencia like to press high, they don't give much time to the opposition to play the ball, and they are an opponent that will be a difficult game. We have to be at our best, but we're really excited and we know that with the draw we got with Liverpool on Monday we can be confident on Thursday and try to do a good job again." Angel Rangel   

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11731/8928000? 

Last time out

I thought I'd put in some highlights of Valencia's last match, against Real Betis. Bearing in mind Betis lost Jose Canas and his midfield partner Benat over the close season, it doesn't seem to have affected them too much as they, if highlights are to be believed, walked all over Valencia. Let's hope we get a similar performance from Los Murcielagos, as they really didn't look up to much judging by this video...

Analysis

I'll be honest, while I know a bit more about Valencia than I did about either of our previous EL opponents, it would very much be a creative writing exercise if I embarked on an in-depth tactical preview, but what do we know?

After a poor start to the season, there really will be a lot of expectation on the home team, and that's liable to influence how the play. Normally in a game like this you'd expect a Spanish team on home soil to look to retain possession and "suss us out" before prying for openings, but with a crowd baying for an upturn in form they'll likely fly out of the blocks and look to press us high up the field.

Laudrup will be more than aware of this, and it's probable we're going to look to keep things tight early on and try to hit Valencia with fast counter-attacks. Up front for Valencia we'll have Helder Postiga to deal with - I'd be lying if I said that worried me massively as, despite occasionally impressing, I've never really seen much in the ex-Spurs striker.

The only other player I know anything about is Ever Banega, who'll captain the side. I have a soft spot for him after signing him as a 16 year old on "Championship Manager" back in the day, and have kept an eye on his career since. He's developed more or less as the computer game predicted, in fairness, and is a tasty defensive midfielder who has a very good first touch, as well as a predilection for a big tackle. He is Argentinian, so you'd expect that, but what you wouldn't expect is he spent a large spell on the sidelines after being run over by his own car after failing to put the handbrake on at a petrol station. He'd only just returned from a knee injury, and that incident saw him miss the remainder of the season. He is a current Argentinian international though, so despite any foolhardy injuries it'd be unwise to take him too lightly.

As for the rest of the team, I probably know as much as you do so it's pointless hypothesising too much. I honestly fancy us to get a result here though, as Valencia have a massive amount of pressure on them. If we can keep them out for 20 minutes then, as Laudrup hinted at, the catcalls from the stands will start and we should start to see things unravel at the seams, which should lead to more opportunities for the Swans attacking players.

I'm going to predict a score draw, but in all honesty I am quite confident about this for no reason in particular. Swansea's first away win in Europe in 31 years? Go on then...

What're your predictions? Get involved in the comment section below or by clicking the link to the forum at the top of the site!

Now the dust has settled, what did we learn from the Liverpool match?

What lessons can we take from Monday's performance?

Sometimes you come away from a football match with the feeling that what you've just witnessed is pretty much what you were expecting, or have come to expect, from your team. Given how the Swans have developed a definite playing style over the last few years, generally it's been fairly easy to predict how we would fare against most teams, but since Laudrup's influence on the team has grown greater it's started to become quite difficult to call the outcome, style of play or even team selection ahead of any given match. 

With Shelvey alongside Britton in midfield and Michu ahead, it's always going to be hard for us to control the midfield. At the moment, that midfield trio is just too...well...non-Swans for me, and in the first half we did struggle to impose ourselves. Shelvey likes to wander, and at one point Michu spent the best part of five minutes playing at something akin to "Right sided defensive midfielder" - Leon is good, but even he can't make up for the tactical naiveties of his midfield counterparts all the time. 

Shelvey obviously drew pretty much all of the attention last night after his first half showing, and understandably so. After scoring inside the first 90 seconds, he proceeded to gift Liverpool two goals before settling and going about his business for the rest of the match, and more respected people than myself have commented that it speaks volumes about the character of the man that he carried on, and if anything upped his level of performance as the game wore on. He gave a very emotional interview post-match:

While the sentiment is good, I think he'd already done more to redeem himself than any words could. It would have been so, so easy for him to disappear for the rest of the game, but the fact that he didn't could be a sign of better things to come. Sometimes there are moments which define a player's career - I doubt there'll be many more memorable matches than that for Shelvey - and we can only hope this match can prove to be the catalyst as he looks to kick on into the next phase of his career.

Sticking (partially) with Jonjo, I still have my doubts that the best team we can put out features all three of Michu, Bony & Shelvey. The balance of the midfield has appeared off of late and the lack of composure in the Swans' engine room has been noticeable - I feel with Shelvey ahead of Leon & one other central midfielder (I really like the idea of Leon & Canas alongside each other), with one of Bony & Michu up top, we'd be a much more balanced outfit and results (and performances) would improve dramatically.

Against Liverpool, for example, in the first half we struggled. Once De Guzman replaced Dyer at half time, however, the Swans gained a foothold in the game and looked a lot more likely to get something out of the game. Ok, he was playing out wide but he's traditionally a more central player and the impact he had on the game was plain to see. A good substitution by Laudrup, one feels, and further evidence of the impact a more traditional midfield three has was in evidence when Pozuelo came on later in the half for Bony. He's looked excellent from what we've seen so far, but it did seem to stabilise and add a great deal of balance to the midfield.

That's not to say Bony and Michu aren't developing an understanding. On a number of occasions they showed signs of a burgeoning partnership and I don't want anyone to think I'm being critical of either player, it's simply that at present I think we'd be better off picking three proper midfielders and one forward, as opposed to trying to accommodate our "best players" in the starting XI.

In defence, pretty much everyone had a really good game throughout. Rangel looked wobbly up against Moses in the first half, but he settled after a while and got to grips with the winger, while Davies, Chico & Ash all put in excellent performances. For me, Davies was my MOTM and he's turning into a proper marauding full-back. I was loving the vociferousness with which he was calling for the return pass after playing a little pass inside and going past his man down the line - he appears to be developing more and more confidence and clearly feels he's an important part of the team now. Neil Taylor must be starting to worry Davies has cemented the first team berth as his own...

Chico & Ash are turning into the two players you can actually predict the performances of, and for good reason. The Swans' centre-backs are looking a formidable pairing and time and again they nullified Liverpool's attacking forays with timely tackles, headers and interceptions, and the pick of the bunch came late in the day (possibly even in injury time? My memory fails me...) when Chico pulled off what can best be described as a flying scissor-backheel to cut out a pass which seemed to be setting Liverpool free down the line. Outstanding.

After we seemed to turn a corner at West Brom it was followed up by an even better showing at home to Liverpool, and I'm more confident than ever that we can turn around what had become a very poor run of league form. If we play like we did on Monday night we'll have nothing to worry about. Bring on Valencia!

(Highlights) Cardiff Development 1 - 0 Swansea Development

While Swansea were entertaining Liverpool, our youth side travelled up the M4 to take on our nearest & dearest

Firstly - apologies about the commentary. I stumbled upon this on Youtube and it's from the official Artists-Formerly-Known-As-The-Bluebirds Youtube channel, so it does start to grate after a while. To anyone thinking "they've only included highlights of Cardiff in attack", it does improve which makes me think that we spend the early part of the game under the cosh.

Once we found our feet there were two players who stood out for me - Kenji Gorre & Gregor Zabret. The winger looked lively all night - he hit the bar twice as well as having a goal ruled out for offside. I'd like to see that one again. One of the aforementioned chances also included a delicious nutmeg to set the chance up - more of that please Kenji!

As for Zabret, he appeared calm and collected throughout, and whenever Cardiff broke through on goal he seemed to know where to be and minimised the shooting angle very effectively. The Slovenian U19 international looked a classy operator and, still only 18, I think we've made a very prudent acquisition by bringing him in.

Elsewhere, Rory Donnelly looked lively while Kristian Scott (recently signed from Stoke) also featured, but they couldn't stop Cardiff running off with a 1-0 win thanks to Kadeem Harris (who Cardiff signed from Wycombe last year).

Hopefully the squad can learn from their mistakes and go on to have a good season - they showed in patches they're very dangerous and with a bit more clinical finishing this game could have been put to bed before Cardiff managed to open the scoring. With luck, we'll start to see some players making their way into the first team before too long, and with PL Chief Executive Richard Scudamore yesterday officially opening the Landore training facility (which will ultimately be solely for the development and youth sides) we should see more and more youngsters making the grade and progressing through the ranks.

That's the idea, anyway...

(Highlights) Swansea 2 - 2 Liverpool - Match Report

Superb second-half showing sees Swansea rescue a point against Brendan Rodgers' men

When news broke of the two teams selected by their respective managers, it seemed pretty clear we were going to enjoy an expansive, free-flowing game of football. Laudrup opted for Britton, Shelvey & Michu in central midfield while Rodgers deployed Gerrard, Henderson & Lucas, and with Shelvey in particular keen to renew acquaintances with his ex-employers it wasn't long before we saw some fireworks.

Less than two minutes had elapsed when Shelvey took a swing at a dropping ball on the edge of the Liverpool area, and the travelling fans surely started jeering their former player who'd gone on record as saying he "had a few tackles to make". Any mickey-taking was short lived, however, as the shiny-headed midfielder's scuffed effort fell kindly, allowing him to surge past debutant Mamadou Sakho, and while his first effort was blocked he managed to shift the ball onto his left foot and place a shot across Simon Mignolet into the far corner.

It was the first goal Liverpool had conceded in the league this season, but they didn't have long to wait to restore parity. With seemingly no pressure on him, Shelvey played a weak backpass which saw Daniel Sturridge steal in and tuck the ball beyond Michel Vorm. The lead was nice while it lasted...

Sadly for Shelvey, things got worse before they got better. Again, with little pressure on him he gave the ball away when trying to play a drilled pass out to Angel Rangel, who was advancing down the right wing. The direction was slightly off, however, which allowed Victor Moses (also making his debut for the Reds) to steal in and utilise the space created by Rangel's forward run to drift across Chico before firing a show in low which wrong footed Vorm before nestling in the corner of the net. 2-1, and both goals we'd conceded were absolute gifts.

It would have been very, very easy for Shelvey to disappear from the game at this point, but to his credit he carried on playing his game, and he can be thankful he had the calming influence of Leon Britton alongside him. Britton was excellent throughout tonight, and his presence was crucial in Shelvey being able to find his feet after clearly feeling the strain of giving away two goals.

Between the two Liverpool goals the Swans had, in truth, struggled to assert themselves, with Coutinho in particular looking a menace. His link play with Sturridge, Moses & the Liverpool midfield was causing the Swansea defence all kinds of problems, with Rangel in particular enjoying a particularly uncomfortable first-half. There had been a few chances - Shelvey blasted over when well placed while Bony drew a good save from Mignolet, but to be honest we spent a lot of time watching Liverpool knock the ball around much like we've become accustomed to. 

The second goal came in the 35th minute, and for a while I honestly thought this was going to be a game where two individuals would be the post-match talking points - Shelvey and referee Michael Oliver. Oliver seemed, for a while at least, to be trying to infuriate the home support and made a couple of really bizarre decisions which went in favour of the away team, but thankfully the events that unfolded in the second half ensured this was a match remembered for the football as opposed to any particular refereeing decision. 

The second half saw renewed Swansea pressure - the team seemed to have picked up on the growing sense of urgency emanating from the stands, and when Phillipe Coutinho went down injured after clashing with Ashley Williams the game swung markedly in the Swans' favour. The wee Brazilian had been integral in everything good that Liverpool had achieved and his replacement, one-time Swansea target Iago Aspas, didn't seem to understand the role he was being asked to fulfil well enough to be of any use. Jonathan De Guzman had replaced Nathan Dyer at half-time, and that too seemed to help the Swans retain possession, despite De Guzman occupying an unfamiliar wide role.

Swansea piled on more, and more, and more pressure and it didn't take long for Liverpool to crack. Some excellent build up play which was started by Shelvey saw Bony lay the ball of to Leon who dinked it forward to Shelvey, who'd continued his run into the box, and he glanced a header inside to Michu, who dispatched it past Mignolet with a cultured flick of his right boot. Yes, you read that right: his right foot. And there was me thinking he'd forgotten he had one.

The last half an hour saw the Swans wrestle control of an increasingly feisty fixture. Some late challenges from Wisdom and Henderson saw them pick up yellow cards while Shelvey and Lucas were both booked for a bit of handbags earlier on in the night. The best chance of the closing stages fell to Swansea with the momentum firmly swinging in their favour, but Jonathan De Guzman's powerful drive swung to the right of Mignolet's goal. It would have been some winner...

So, what do we make of the overall performance? After some misgivings during the first half I came away very pleased with the performance, and that's honestly the best I've seen us play at home for quite some time. I still think that playing Shelvey as one of our two deep midfielders with Michu as the CAM is asking for trouble against "bigger" teams, and I think how fluid we looked once Pozuelo replaced Bony only adds fuel to that argument. Bony & Michu did show more signs today that their partnership is developing apace, but I find myself increasingly wondering whether any "Best Swans XI" can contain both our forwards. A case of the sum of the parts being greater than the whole, perhaps?

At the back, Chico & Ash were absolutely outstanding while Davies & Rangel were both excellent. Rangel had a torrid time early on against Victor Moses but settled by the 2nd half and enjoyed a much better time of things, while Davies showed just why he's been drawing more and more attention. Time and again he linked well with Routledge, and he showed an eye for a pass on numerous occasions when looking to play in his left-sided companion.

With Britton suspended for the Valencia game it's likely we'll see him back in the team for the next league match (Crystal Palace away) but I'm hoping we'll see a midfield of Leon & Canas deep with one other midfielder ahead of them. Who that is, you can take your pick, but I think if we can first bring a bit of balance to the midfield we'll then be able to add to that formula as we look to kick on and once again improve on last season's league finish. 

A much better night's football then. Still no home win, but given how events had threatened to unfold a point was a very pleasing result indeed. 

Swansea v Liverpool - Match preview, team news, statistics & analysis

The Match

Swansea will be hoping to build on a good showing at West Brom with their first league win of the season, against a much fancied Liverpool side. They've shown enough in their early-season encounters so that fans will be hopeful of a result against Brendan Rodgers' men, and with the majority of the squad not having featured in midweek internationals the squad should be refreshed and chomping at the bit to get back on the field, so expect a high-octane performance.

Liverpool are starting to look like they understand what Brendan Rodgers wants from his side, and if they avoid defeat against the Swans they'll go back to the top of the Premier League, so they've got serious motivation heading into this one. With Daniel Sturridge finding top form and Luis Suarez soon to return to the side it's likely they're going to enjoy a very successful season, and if they can add a few goals to the mix (they've won all three PL games so far 1-0) they'll be a very dangerous outfit indeed.

Prior Form (Most recent at top)

Premier League          West Brom            0 - 2   Swansea
Europa League            Petrolul Ploiesti     2 - 1   Swansea
Premier League          Tottenham             1 - 0   Swansea
Europa League            Swansea              5 - 1   Petrolul Ploiesti
Premier League          Swansea              1 - 4   Manchester United

Premier League           Liverpool             1 - 0    Man Utd
League Cup                  Liverpool             4 - 2    Notts County
Premier League           Aston Villa            0 - 1     Liverpool
Premier League           Liverpool             1 - 0     Stoke
Friendly                        Celtic                    1 - 0     Liverpool

Team News - Provided by Physioroom.com's Ben Dinnery

Swansea have been boosted by the news that new-signing Jonjo Shelvey will be available for the visit of Liverpool, the £5 million man has recovered from the knee problem which forced his withdrawal from the recent U21 Internationals. Michael Laudrup will also welcome back Nathan Dyer, the midfielder having missed the previous two games with a hamstring injury. However one player who won’t play any part is full-back Neil Taylor, the defender is not expected back for a couple of weeks after suffering complications following a dead leg. 

One of the biggest talking points of this weekend is the availability of Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, the England forward missed both of ‘The Three Lions’ World Cup Qualifiers due an on-going thigh problem and is currently considered a doubt for Monday Night Football. Sturridge, in a rich vein of goal-scoring form and recent winner of the Barclays Player of the Month Award may just benefit from the extra days rest to force himself into Rodgers plans. The Liverpool manager will also need to make a decision on whether to include Kolo Toure for the trip to Swansea. The central defender picked up a groin injury on Capital One duty but has now recovered and will be pushing for a return after impressing in his opening two Premier League games. Martin Skrtel could be the unfortunate man to make way despite a solid performance at Old Trafford. 

Full-back Glen Johnson will miss out however having picked up a nasty ankle injury in the goal-less draw at Manchester United and new signing Aly Cissokho is another definite absentee. The French defender lasted only 9 minutes of his full-debut before an ankle ligament injury ended his day. Initial reports suggest around 5 weeks for the pair with a return possible for the Newcastle game in October. Welshman Joe Allen will be included in the Liverpool match-day squad having recovered from a slight hamstring problem.

Completely guessed lineups

Statistics & Trivia

• Liverpool are one win away from their 400th in the Premier League.
• Liverpool have never won and kept clean sheets in their first three top-flight games, while they've never won their first four Premier League games, which they'd achieve by beating the Swans.
• Swansea's last home win came back in March against Newcastle in the wake of the League Cup win.
• Jose Canas is second only to Yaya Toure so far this season in terms of passes attempted (235 & 267 respectively).
• With 33 clearances, Chico has made the joint most in the league.
• Daniel Sturridge has scored 11 goals in his last 9 games for Liverpool.
• Along with Robbie Fowler, Sturridge is the only other Liverpool player to score in the first three matches of a PL season.
• Liverpool have kept clean sheets in six of their last seven league matches.

Straight from the horse's mouth

Analysis

Coming into this game I'm less confident than I was ahead of the Spurs and Manchester United games. Despite a quality showing at West Brom, we need to "revert to type" to a point and look to retain possession and build from the back. Once we've got the team playing fluidly, the chances will come and it's important for the team to acknowledge how much our continued top-flight status owes to our possession game.

Even though West Brom looked a shadow of the team of last year, we showed enough to believe that those elusive wins are just around the corner, and that continued belief in Laudrup's footballing philosophy is well-founded. We finished the game having had 58% of the possession, and it's no surprise that our first win in a while coincided with our best showing in terms of ball retention so far. While we have an increasingly talented crop of players at our disposal everything we've achieved so far has been based around our team game, and I feel we've gone away from that somewhat to a game which relies more on individual skill and less on keeping play ticking over by retaining possession at the back.

For their part, Liverpool have, of late, been doing exactly what I've just spent two paragraphs banging on about. Buck has got them playing how he wants, and it'll be interesting to see how Luis Suarez fits in when he eventually returns from his suspension. They've been playing solidly and in Simon Mignolet they've got a quality keeper who'll help keep a lot of clean sheets this season. At the back Glen Johnson is out so the Swans will no doubt look to get at Andre Wisdom early on, and see what the youngster's made of. Bony will have some formidable defenders to get past - Rodgers could pick from Skrtel, Agger, Sakho or Toure. With defensive options like that to choose from whoever we pick up top will have a tough time getting past the Liverpool defence.

In midfield it's really hard to say who Laudrup will pick in the "anchor" position. I can't see him dropping Jonjo Shelvey, and with Michu and Bony surely starting that leaves just one central midfield position to play for. I'd hope it's Leon Britton that wins that particular race, but with Canas impressing from the off its more than possible he'll get the nod. With Sturridge expected to lead the line for Liverpool with one-time Swansea target Aspas and Coutinho supporting him, the Swans' defence will have to be on their guard from the word go, otherwise we will be punished. Fix up, look sharp, as it were. 

While I do have confidence in the team, especially so given the performances thus far of our new signings, I'm not confident of a win here. I think a realistic result would be a one-all draw, and I think that's a result Laudrup would be happy with. It'll be an interesting clash of football styles, and an opportunity to assess how far we've drifted from Brendan's style of football. 

Jonjo Shelvey to score the winner from 35 yards? Hmm...

To listen to a podcast preview of the game featuring myself and Max Munton of ThisIsAnfield, click here:

http://www.theswanseaway.co.uk/2013/09/podcast-swansea-v-liverpool-match.html

Keith Haynes: One man's viewpoint

The Swansea Way's Chief Football Correspondent returns with his take on recent international goings-on

In a week where the media tell us that footballers don't earn enough to survive after their retirement (barring the top 5%, apparently) and of course once again the Wales national side fell at every hurdle, optimism returns! It returns in the form and shape of Swansea City taking on Liverpool at The Liberty on Monday night (8.05pm KO) as the SKY cameras once again beam Swansea football to the world. 

A number of Swans fans bemoan the international breaks we all endure, the most recent one a point in case, and don't think its over folks! No, no, because next month there is another one as the final World Cup qualifiers are played out, and in November we'll endure another blank weekend of non fixtures as well. I don't blame any supporter for wanting more and more of the success and glory the Swans have achieved over the past eleven years or so though, the momentum gathered has been relentless, and season after season of non-stop glory is one hell of a drug. Those players not involved in these international breaks and blank fixture weekends are at least, I would hope, getting some fiscal advice -  so they at least know how to go to the bank and open up a savings account. 

Now and again I have a listen to our friends at Talk Sport - a station which employs a certain type of person, with a certain type of viewpoint, about a certain international football team. We all know which team that is - they're called England. Regardless of the presenter's nationality the script is always the same - they spend hour after hour analysing, de-constructing and criticising an international team that I think would struggle to get a draw against our beloved Swans (or indeed the majority of Premier League clubs!). Mark Saggers is a decent enough sports journalist, only one of a few at the station though. I recall his very lucid reporting of the 1993 grand national failed start, a reporters dream no doubt, but professionally done. He got an award for it I understand, but what's more he had his own viewpoint on whatever he found himself reporting on.

Unlike some of the stations presenters he hasn't served a prison term or been arrested and charged with criminal offences, which I suppose gives him a professional head start. I do give more credibility to a reporter with a professional background that doesn't include drug supply, drink driving, assault, criminal damage or animal cruelty. Mind you the station employing Andy Gray and Richard Keys after their pathetic and bullying comments on SKY for me, endorses anything I think of them as a media outlet and its reputation - and I haven't mentioned their employees being sacked for on air verbal abuse yet! Do you recall ex-QPR player Simon Stainrod on Talk Sport? He was employed by the station to manage a football phone in, but sadly for Simon his ability to understand the words football and phone in meant he was relieved of his duties on air. Not the brightest or shiniest of stars.

Saggers recent moaning about England's 0-0 draw in the Ukraine reflected the stations very clear agenda. It's a national radio station reporting on one country (England) and wherever possible focusing on the south east - and I mean wherever possible. If this isn't possible then it has to be one of the top 6 clubs, and most certainly sod the rest. Even in a relatively successful period for England (who are top of their group) Saggers found time to criticise them in the midst of World Cup qualification. Mind you he did have Tony Cascarino as a guest, a man who played eighty odd times for the Republic of Ireland before admitting he didn't have any ancestry to do so - In his own words "Im a fake Irishman, I should never have played".

So, another chap who fits the Talksport profile perfectly, but we wont talk about his private life here. Overall the programme bemoaned how England didn't have the guile and skill of more competent countries like Spain, for example. One news hack stated 'Yeah, but tippy tappy football wouldn't be acceptable to England fans' - the arrogance that oozes from Talksport couldn't have been more obvious than in this comment. This foolish person genuinely felt winning world and european cups as an international side should be done the 'English way' (off the bar with a dodgy linesman?), but personally if I want to see a team win any competition or game I would rather they did it 'The Swansea Way'.

Many people say to me 'I don't listen to Talk Sport' ..... Well I do, as I do to many things I don't rate that highly. We all have opinions, but surely to have one we need a little bit of experience? It's on this final point that the word 'experience' becomes subjective. Many England commentators and so called pundits hate the way their international side play, and more competent players like Matt Le Tissier (when he's not trying to assist a spread bet on putting the ball out of play in a premier league game) asked recently 'Why cant England just pass it to each other and build play from there?' I had to laugh when I heard this; poor old Matt, always looking confused, and still trying to put the ball out of play. He made this comment after two seasons of Swansea football and three years  of Premier League stats endorsing a club which do just that. 

And so it passes, the pun continues - as the so called clever people look at their top six, their south east teams and news reports amid their own agenda they don't see the players who could maybe help their international side. I'm not endorsing they should pick a player with better passing stats than Messi, or a player scoring the most goals or with top ten assists over every game he plays. Or indeed a player now finding his feet now he's out of the sights of Steven Gerrard. All I'm saying is the world of football, is just that; a world of football...but not at the English FA, and many a Swans fan will be thankful for that as well.

This is why Spain are the dominant force in the world game when it matters. Like Germany in tournaments, they always produce due to personal style and ethics, but of course, if it's about ethics and indeed ethical practices, then England will never aspire or succeed. Their mindset is such that it isn't allowed to - ego defeats common sense every time. With prejudiced views surrounding their game from those that write about it to those that played it they haven't got a chance, and never will have.

The thing is they cant see it, and nor do they care, because if it means their own prejudices being exposed they will never learn or develop. At media level, at club level and at international level, like a repeat offender the national side of England is riddled with an arrogance that is difficult to explain, but very clear and visible in its practice...and I haven't even mentioned Greg Dyke yet - the new man in the frame, the new voice that must be listened to. 

Go on pick a year, any year .....

See you under the bright lights of The Liberty on Monday folks!

Keith Haynes

Follow Keith on Twitter at @_KeithHaynes, and check out his latest books by clicking the link at the top left of the site.