Liverpool vs. Swansea: Key Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Cup Game

It was at this stage of Brendan Rodgers’ first season at Liverpool two years ago that his former club Swansea dealt him a hammer blow.

Rodgers opted to start the fourth-round League Cup tie against the Swans at Anfield with an XI including the likes of young German forward Samed Yesil, youngster Jack Robinson and the declining Joe Cole, with Michael Laudrup’s side brushing the Reds aside, 3-1, on their way to winning the competition at Wembley.

It was far from a crisis-inducing defeat—no League Cup loss ever is—but given the opposition and the pressure on Rodgers to quickly adapt to the job, it did come as a bit of a shock to the Northern Irishman.

Two years on, the Reds face Swansea in a clash that has been given added importance due to Liverpool’s league struggles this season. Progress in a cup competition would at least give the Reds something of a feelgood factor, which Rodgers will be desperate to provide.

For Swansea—whose manager Garry Monk came on as a substitute for the team that night two years ago—the match represents a chance to build on Saturday’s win over Leicester, although they will have their minds on their tough upcoming league fixtures.

Here some key factors ahead of the clash at Anfield.

The Mario Balotelli-Rickie Lambert-Fabio Borini Question

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Like everyone else associated with Liverpool, Rodgers will be desperate to see misfiring Mario Balotelli find some form sooner rather than later, but whether that will equate to giving the Italian a start against Swansea is doubtful.

Balotelli started on the bench in the last round against Middlesbrough, coming on to score two penalties in the epic shootout, and he might find himself kept in reserve again as Rodgers gives a start to Rickie Lambert.

Both men played up front together in the final half hour or so against Hull City on Saturday, and the Reds looked more potent as a result. But given the selection issues that are occurring elsewhere in his team, Rodgers is likely to revert to playing just one centre-forward, with Lambert likely to be the man to get the nod.

One thing that the manager could do, though, would be to start with Fabio Borini in a wider position and encourage the Italian to get into the box to support Lambert.

Will Swansea Play Better Under No Pressure?

Clive Rose/Getty Images

The importance of Swansea’s win at home to Leicester at the weekend simply cannot be overstated.

While everyone else was watching El Clasico, Wilfried Bony’s brace delivered the Swans their first three points since August and only their second win in seven games in all competitions—with their first being the 3-0 victory over Everton in the last round of this competition.

Everton are the Swans' opponents back on Merseyside on Saturday, before Monk’s side complete a nightmare trio of league games by hosting Arsenal and travelling to Manchester City.

After picking up a much-needed three points, though, they might see this period as a stress-free environment in which they can simply express themselves, something which could prove dangerous for those three league opponents and Liverpool here.

Liverpool’s Midfield Shape

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Jordan Henderson was unusually rested from the Liverpool side for all but the final 15 minutes of the draw with Hull, meaning the vice-captain is extremely likely to return to the team from the start here and take over the captain’s armband from the presumably rested Steven Gerrard.

Bar the armband, the same goes for Philippe Coutinho, with the Brazilian especially impressive when he came on against Hull and leading many to lament that Rodgers didn’t start with him.

If both players start, then the shape of Liverpool’s midfield becomes all important, with perhaps Emre Can best suited to playing in the centre with Henderson, with the out-of-favour Lucas Leiva and youngsters Jordan Rossiter and Jordan Williams—who both made impacts in the Middlesbrough win—overlooked on this occasion.

How Many of Swansea’s Fringe Players Will Make It?

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Wilfried Bony has spent the first part of the season trying to play himself into form, and judging by his two well-taken goals against Leicester, he has now certainly found some.

If Swansea are to have any chance of taking something from the aforementioned three tough league games, then you’d have thought that they’ll need the Ivorian on top form. Therefore, Garry Monk might be tempted to rest him for this one and give a start to summer signing Bafetimbi Gomis.

The Swans played a strong side against Everton in the last round, but given that Gylfi Sigurdsson was forced off with an injury against Leicester, it would be a surprise if he started, while Nathan Dyer, Tom Carroll and Marvin Emnes could also come in after starting the win over the Foxes on the bench.

Will Lazar Markovic Finally Shine?

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

With three in midfield, Lambert up front and perhaps Borini coming in from the right to support him, the other position in the Liverpool attack could go to Lazar Markovic, who has failed to play a minute of the last three league games.

The Serbian has struggled for form since his switch from Benfica in the summer, but time is on the 20-year-old’s side as he looks to adapt to life in English football, with matches such as this one hugely important for his development.

Should Markovic be picked alongside Coutinho and Borini as part of the trio supporting Lambert, the Reds would be lining up an attacking quartet that has scored just one goal between them this season—Coutinho’s at QPR—and therein lies their post-Luis Suarez problem.