Leroy: We're ready to compete

Leroy Fer reckons improving Swansea City are ready to compete with Liverpool in Monday’s Premier League clash at the Liberty Stadium.

The Swans endured a torrid evening at Anfield last month when they were beaten 5-0 by Jurgen Klopp’s star-studded Reds side.

But Carlos Carvalhal was named the club’s new manager in the wake of the Merseyside mauling – and since then the Swans have been on the up.

They have picked up two wins and two draws in Carvalhal’s first five games in charge, with his sole defeat so far coming in contentious circumstances against Spurs.

And Fer is convinced the Swans can make life much harder for Liverpool as they get set to face Klopp’s team for the second time in a matter of weeks.

“I think we have improved since the last time we played them,” the midfielder said, “and I feel we can deliver a better and more competitive game.

“We have more confidence now than we had just a couple of weeks ago, and we want to win this game in front of our home fans.”

Liverpool have lost a key man since their last game against the Swans, with Philippe Coutinho leaving for Barcelona.

But they have also spent big on central defender Virgil van Dijk – and still have the likes of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah in a menacing frontline.

And Fer concedes the Swans must take care of possession if they are to trouble opponents who have lost only two top-flight games all season.

“It is going to be a hard game against one of the best teams in the Premier League,” he added.

“Even though they have lost a player like Coutinho, they still have plenty of big threats going forward.

“We will have to be very organised and at our best. We have to make sure we don’t give balls away to allow Liverpool to counter.

“If we do that, we will give ourselves a chance of getting a result.”