How we think the Reds will get on in their Christmas run…
Things are starting to improve at Liverpool, mainly because they couldn’t have got much worse. A good performance against Arsenal looked set to be wasted after yet more careless defending, but a late Martin Skrtl header saved a point and gave the side a huge boost heading into a vital run of three winnable Christmas games.
Here’s how we think the Reds will deal with their three games over the next 9 days.
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Burnley v Liverpool
Burnley are not to be underestimated, and they seem to be slowly adjusting to life in the Premier League, and Liverpool’s capacity to mess up against lesser teams this year has been truly astonishing, but the Reds should have just enough about them to see off the Clarets.
Much will come down to mental fortitude, but Liverpool should be able to score enough to counteract their defensive deficiencies.
Prediction: Burnley 1 – 2 Liverpool
Liverpool v Swansea
The toughest of Liverpool’s winter matchups on paper, Brendan Rodgers’ old team carry plenty of threat for the Reds. Wilfried Bony is a real threat up front, and in his last game before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations he will be very excited about facing a ragged Liverpool defence.
If Gylfi Sigurdsson is fit to start, Swansea will cause serious problems, and Liverpool’s striker shortage could be a problem against a solid Swans back four.
Prediction: Liverpool 1 – 1 Swansea
Liverpool v Leicester
As close to a free three points as one gets in the Premier League. Leicester are rock bottom of the table, with NINE losses and a draw in the last ten games. If Brendan Rodgers can’t beat the Foxes, he should resign there and then.
This is also a great chance for Liverpool’s shaky back-line to keep a clean sheet, and get some organisation and confidence back in that part of their game.
Prediction: Liverpool 3 – 0 Leicester
Festive Total: 7 from 9 points
These three games are the perfect opportunity for Liverpool to get some goals and some spirit back in the side, and a big win against Leicester in particular, followed by another in the cup against Wimbledon four days later could raise hopes and spark some life back into a poor 2014/15 campaign.