Liverpool's Jonjo Shelvey
Reuters

Liverpool host Swansea City at Anfield in a pulsating top-flight clash in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup, with the main talking point being Reds boss Brendan Rodgers facing his former employers for the first time since taking charge of the Merseyside outfit.

Where to Watch

Kick-off is set for 8pm GMT. LFC TV will have a build-up to the match from 7pm. Watch highlights of the game on The League Cup Show on BBC One at 11.15pm.

Overview

The Reds have not started the season the way they wanted under Rodgers and are now languishing at the wrong side of the Premier League table (12th). They have collected just two wins so far and have managed only 10 points from nine games.

Liverpool come into this match much aggrieved by the draw in the Merseyside derby last week. Rodgers' side found an early two-goal lead at Goodison Park but Everton fought back and levelled the scores before the break. And though Luis Suarez found the back of the net in stoppage-time, the potential winner was controversially ruled out for offside.

Swansea, on the other hand, started the season on a high under new boss Michael Laudrup, who replaced Rodgers this summer. However, the Welsh side have found it hard to maintain their form and have won only once of their last seven league matches. They played well and lost to Manchester City 1-0 at Etihad at the weekend, when Carlos Tevez netted a late winner.

Swans midfielder Miguel Michu is currently the second highest goalscorer in the Premier League, behind Robin van Persie and Demba Ba, with six goals to his name. But the Spaniard might not start this Capital One Cup game, as Laudrup has one eye on the league fixture against Chelsea next week.

Liverpool defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at the Hawthorns in September to qualify for the fourth round, while Swansea scored three goals in each of their two League Cup wins so far; a 3-1 triumph over Championship side Barnsley in August and a thrilling 3-2 victory away to League One club Crawley Town last month.

Swansea City
Reuters

Form Guide

Liverpool

  • Last five (all competitions, most recent first): D W W D L
  • Last result: Everton 2 - 2 Liverpool

Swansea City

  • Last five (all competitions, most recent first): L W D L W
  • Last result: Manchester City 1 - 0 Swansea City

Team News

Liverpool: Rodgers has no fresh injury concerns other than long-term absentees Lucas Leiva, Fabio Borini and Martin Kelly but the Reds are expected to rest most of their first teamers for the League Cup campaign anyway. Pepe Reina and Glen Johnson are confirmed absentees, while the likes of Steven Gerrard, Suarez, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger will surely be left out as well.

Jon Flanagan, Jamie Carragher, Sebastian Coates and Jack Robinson are expected at the back. With Gerrard and either Joe Allen or Nuri Sahin set to be rested, Jordan Henderson and Jonjo Shelvey will find starting berths in midfield. Stewart Downing and Oussama Assaidi should feature on the flanks, with either Samed Yesil or Dani Pacheco leading the attack.

Swansea City: Michel Vorm will miss the game after the goalkeeper suffered a groin injury against City. Angel Rangel will serve a one-match ban for receiving his fifth yellow card of the domestic campaign last week. Defenders Neil Taylor and Kyle Bartley remain long-term absentees, while Ashley Williams and Wayne Routledge have late fitness tests.

Laudrup has fielded a mix of regular starters and reserves so far in the League Cup. And with the league leaders visiting them this weekend, the Dane is expected to rest most of his key players for this clash. However, striker Danny Graham and winger Nathan dyer could start, after being left on the bench against City and Wigan Athletic in recent weeks.

Possible Starting Line-ups:

Liverpool (4-3-3): Jones; Flanagan, Carragher, Coates, Robinson; Henderson, Sahin, Shelvey; Downing, Yesil, Assaidi

Swansea City (4-5-1): Tremmel; Richards, Monk, Tate, Tiendalli; Shechter, Agustien, de Guzman, Gower, Dyer; Graham