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Student Monk threatening master Rodgers

Liverpool beat Burnley only three days ago and now face Swansea. A win over coach Rodgers' former club today would get them only 5 points short of spot 4. Swansea never recorded a championship win at Anfield

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Following three rounds without a single win, Liverpool barely managed to beat Burnley 1-0, but the unconvincing performance is definitely not making anyone optimistic.

If Rodgers' side manage to beat Swansea in the final game of the first part of the season, they would get only five points short of spot 4 in the table. Rodgers will have a chance to fix all the mistakes he made over the summer, with the winter transfer window about to open. He acquired ten players back then, most of whom proved completely useless. A clash with the club Rodgers used to coach is definitely very important and providing him with extra motivation.

- We have a long road ahead, but we're getting there. I believe we'll do the second part of the season much better to claim one of the Champions League spots - Rodgers said. He will have to put goal keeper Mignolet in the line up again because Jones got injured last round. Defenders Johnson and Lovren are injured as well, just like forward Sturridge. Midfielder Allen is questionable. 

- We already beat Swansea this season in League Cup when we took the lead late in the game, displaying the fierceness we always have to go for. We are in for another tough game but I think we can keep the momentum and get the three points we need - Rodgers said, warning of Bony and Sigurdsson as the key players on the visiting team.

Rodgers lead Swansea into the promotion to Premier League in 2011, while Garry Monk played the role of team captain. Monk went from being a player directly into taking over as a coach at the greatest Welsh club last season and despite skepticism, has been doing a very good job so far.

Swansea are in spot 8, with three points more than Liverpool. In the aforementioned League Cup game, the Welsh team were very close to winning but a few mistakes in defense saw Liverpool score well into the injury time for a 2-1 win. 

Swansea did great at Anfield last season when meeting Liverpool in their most glorious days, lead by Suarez. The visitors lost 3-4 then but put up a very good fight.

Monk's side is not doing well away, but they managed to beat Hull away last round. The busy schedule is causing some reshuffling, which might result in a few lineup changes today (Gomis might start as striker instead of the top scorer Bony). Swansea can't count on the important offensive midfielder Montero, a fast player with good technical skills.

As a rule, Swanse play a defense-oriented game away, aiming to score from counter-attacks. They are sometimes forced into that kind of a game style by the opponent, which is not good. Liverpool will start attacking from the start to score as early in the game as possible.

- Rodgers is my great friend and an inspiration for everything I do. He's the toughest person a know, but our friendship won't matter today because we both want to win. I know he's under much more pressure, but we want to prove that the best start we had in Premier League ever was no coincidence - Monk said. He doesn't want to pressure his team into getting in one of the European spot, but will encourage them to try if they get an opportunity for it. 

- When I look back, some thought we will be fighting to avoid relegation. Our first goal is to get 40 points to avoid the danger zone and time will tell if we can do more. We believe we can do well against any opponent, with playing the favorites being a great challenge for us - Monk said. Swansea never won in Liverpool, having recorded 10 defeats and 3 draws in 13 games at Anfield.