TALKING TACTICS: Swans v Liverpool
15th March
Once again, football statistics website WhoScored.com is here to crunch the numbers ahead of Monday night's Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Liberty.
A narrow defeat at White Hart Lane - that could easily have been a draw but for the heroics of Spurs stopper Hugo Lloris - put an end to the Swans' winning streak, but they will be determined to get back to winning ways against Liverpool.
Swansea have never lost at home to the Reds in the Premier League, drawing the last two meetings to follow on from the 1-0 win in 2012. Brendan Rodgers' side are the in-form team in the league, but should take nothing for granted at a ground that they have very little luck on.
The only home defeat Garry Monk's men have suffered in their last five matches was to runaway leaders Chelsea, making the Liberty something of a fortress. According to WhoScored.com's statistically calculated rating system, at home they are worthy of a formidable score of 7.06.
Last season, Jonjo Shelvey was at the centre of everything against his old club, scoring one and setting up the other of the Swans' two goals during a 2-2 draw, and central midfield partner Jack Cork could play a crucial role this time around.
Liverpool's nimble midfielders will look to find space in central areas and Cork, with a rating of 6.93 since he moved to SA1, will be key to breaking up play.
According to WhoScored.com's match forecasts, which uses teams strengths and weaknesses to predict the outcome of upcoming games, it is 'likely' that Swansea will score as the result of a through ball.
Cork's strength of 'concentration' will mean he is always on point in his quest to stop his opponents, and then his task will be to find the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson - who boasts a strength of through balls - in more advanced positions to release the forwards on goal.
It will be a tough game given that Liverpool are on such a good run at present, but history suggests their luck could be out when they pay their next visit to the Liberty.
*WhoScored.com is a unique website and one of the fastest growing in the sports industry, specialising in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data. Provided with unique stats, they compile and create comprehensive analysis on the major European divisions, including live match stats and player ratings. You can follow @WhoScored and their editor-in-chief @alitweedale on Twitter.
