Liverpool v Swansea: Reds to get back on track

Successive 2-0 defeats in the space of three of days have put Liverpool in dire need of victory when Swansea come to town.

They’re available to back relatively generously at 8/15 and whenever the bookie gets charitable, the punter must take advantage.

The Swans could be forgiven for having half an eye on their first major cup final next weekend and even if Michael Laudrup doesn’t afford his top stars the weekend off, it’s tough to imagine them going to hell for leather in their efforts to win at Anfield for the second time this season.

At 5/1, they’re too short for a match punt, even if the Reds are enduring a mini-slump. The same can be said of the draw at 3’s.

A more favourable bet will be for the Welsh club to find the back of the Anfield net at least once as Brendan Rodgers’ boys are erring on the side of reckless in their approach to defending. Each of their previous five games – including a shock FA Cup defeat at Oldham – have seen them ship at least two goals, so there’s nothing to deter the Swans from having a go.

They haven’t bagged a single goal in four away days on the bounce, but the 4/7 that says they’ll leave Merseyside having registered more than 0.5 goals is worth a punt, while the Swans to top 1.5 strikes at Anfield is tempting at 14/5.

Strong prices are also available in the both teams to score (4/5 for ‘yes’) and over 2.5 total goals (7/10) markets and, given Liverpool’s unseasonal demonstration of goodwill, these should both be backed.

For those who just can’t see the Swans finding a way past Pepe Reina, however, a home win to nil is the punt for you.

West Brom’s shock away win at the beginning of the week ended a three-match run in which the Reds had won without conceding on their own patch and if you envisage them getting back into the swing of things immediately, you can get paid out at 33/20.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date