Afternoon all. So, 14 Premier League teams played yesterday afternoon and the other six will finish off the programme today. Here, we have two sides that need the three points for very different reasons - Liverpool vs. Swansea City.

Before we look at the facts and figures surrounding this match, the team news from Anfield is just starting to filter through to us. Let's begin with the home side's starting lineup...

LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flanagan; Gerrard, Henderson; Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez; Sturridge

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Jones, Teixeira, Toure, Moses, Allen, Aspas, Cissokho

The big plus for Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is that he is able to call upon Glen Johnson at full-back for the first time in over month. The England international had been suffering with an ankle complaint, but having trained all week, he's been included in the team. Elsewhere, there are no real surprises, as Daniel Agger partners Martin Skrtel at centre-back, while the likes of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and skipper Steven Gerrard all start.

And now for the away side...

SWANSEA XI: Vorm; Rangel, Flores, Williams, Taylor; Britton, De Guzman; Shelvey, Dyer, Routledge; Bony

SWANSEA SUBS: Tremmel, Amat, Tiendalli, Canas, Hernandez, Emnes, Ngog

Former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who joined the Swans during the summer, is fit again and starts following a stint on the sidelines with a hamstring complaint. As a result, he has joined a three-man midfield attacking unit that also includes Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge. Meanwhile, last season's leading goalscorer Michu is still absent through injury, meaning that Wilfried Bony will continue as a lone centre-forward.

A quick scout of Liverpool's official Twitter page shows that they are pleased to have Johnson back in the team:

Photo: Today's #LFC starting XI match graphic pic.twitter.com/bMZB7Hlx7K — Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 23, 2014

As you'd expect, a lot of the talk around this game surrounds Brendan Rodgers, who guided Swansea to the Premier League in 2011 prior to his departure to Liverpool a year later. In fact, his opposite number today, Garry Monk, was his captain at the Liberty Stadium. Here is what Rodgers had to say about Monk's recent appointment:

"I speak a lot with the senior players whatever team I'm at and obviously at the time I was there he was a magnificent captain for me. In a lot of our conversations, which were very open, I said to him that I thought he should start thinking about his coaching, two to three years before he finishes playing.

"He was always a bright lad, always very honest and loyal as a captain, but he was one I could see having a future in coaching and management if he wanted to go down that route. Of course it's probably come unexpectedly, especially being put into the Premier League, but he's looked very calm and seems to be enjoying it."

Rodgers has also backed Monk to reverse Swansea's recent fortunes: "The players have responded to him. He'll have gained respect because of his status as a player and he'll be looking to make that similar impact over time as a coach and manager.

"He's a great learner and always has been, and I think over the course of the coming games and months he'll get better."

Can Monk inspire his side to a win today, though? The head to head records between the two teams would suggest not. After all, Swansea have won just once at Anfield, but that was in the League Cup and not a league fixture. During the 14 meetings on Merseyside, Liverpool have won 10, scoring 47 goals in the process. Swansea, meanwhile, have scored just eight times during that time.

Despite a less than favourable record, Monk has insisted that he will send out his team to play positive football. He told reporters on Friday: "It will be a very difficult game, but we will have a go. I said all along that the best bit is when people doubt you.

"For a club like us, we have to continually try and prove ourselves. I said to the players that they are top players, who deserve to compete at this level on a regular basis. I have never doubted them and they shouldn't doubt themselves. We've done so well up to this point, we don't want to slip up now. We will go there to win, we always do. That has to be the mentality."

Monk was actually in the Swansea starting lineup last season when they were thrashed 5-0 at Anfield. It was a horrid afternoon for Monk, as the highlights below show:

Reflecting on that encounter, Monk didn't hold back, saying: "They tore us apart last time. Mentally we weren't right. We had a lot of changes with the cup final happening the following week, but there's no excuse.

"It hurts bad when you perform like that. We were lucky we had the cup final the week later, which basically covered up the cracks of that performance. As players, you don't forget games like those. I lost there 7-1 once, when I was 19-years-old. I haven't forgotten about that. We are an honest group and I am 100 per cent sure the effort will be there. Against a very strong side, we have to have a game plan that will help the players. We will go there to win."

PREDICTION: Right, with around 10 minutes to go until we get started, let's have a go at predicting the outcome of this contest. There have been a number of surprises in the Premier League this season, but I can't see one happening today. Put simply, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have been in such good form when their availability as allowed them to be, it's unlikely that Swansea are going to keep them at bay. Let's go 3-1 to the home side.

There, of course, quite a few Swansea fans hoping that my prediction is wrong:

#Swans will be backed by 1,700 fans here at Anfield this afternoon - our full allocation. Thank you for your magnificent support! — Swansea City FC (@SwansOfficial) February 23, 2014

Here come the players then as 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is played over the speaker system. Only a couple of minutes until proceedings get underway at Anfield.

KICKOFF! Visiting Swansea, attacking from left to right during the first half, get the game started.

This could end up being a long afternoon for Swansea. Angel Rangel cuts inside midway inside the Liverpool half, but he gifts possession to Raheem Sterling, who moves forward. Having assessed his options, the young winger uses the outside of his right boot to thread a pass through for an onrushing Daniel Sturridge. From there, the striker rounds an advancing Michel Vorm and lofts the ball into an empty net.

SAVE! Sterling seems to have got the bit between his teeth today. Having set up Suarez, he attempts a shot of his own from the edge of the area, but Vorm gets down low to turn the ball around the post.

Interestingly, Sturridge's goal means that he has now scored in his last eight Premier League matches, which equals Ruud van Nistelrooy's record. Surely he will be an automatic starter at the World Cup with England?

A good opening for Swansea and it's former Liverpool midfielder Shelvey that is heavily involved. He loses the attention of Gerrard down the right flank and sends over a dangerous cross towards Bony. Any sort of touch would have forced Simon Mignolet into action, but the visiting striker fails to make a clean contact and the chance is wasted.

And again there is a chance for Bony as Neil Taylor reaches the ball on the left byline to cross. This time Bony gets a touch, but Mignolet springs off his line to thwart the danger. Nevertheless, Swansea are starting to have a positive impact on this game.

That, Swansea, is what happens when you do not make the most of your openings. Sturridge turns provider as he cuts in from the right to pick out Jordan Henderson on the edge of the Swansea area. He takes one touch, before curling the ball away from Vorm and into the top corner of the net from a standing position. That's a Goal of the Week contender from another Liverpool player who must be in contention to go to the World Cup.

Wow, what a surreal moment! Swansea's Shelvey puts Henderson's effort in the shade with an effort that bends into the net from 25 yards out via the crossbar. A diving Mignolet had no chance of stopping that. Considering his Liverpool connections, Shelvey decides not to celebrate - a decision which is met by applause from some of those sitting in The Kop! Swansea are back in it!

What a game this is turning out to be! Swansea, who looked doomed five minutes ago, are back level. Skrtel is booked for a foul on Shelvey and from the resultant free kick, De Guzman floats the ball into the Liverpool area. It's harmlessly flicked on by Bony, but his header cannons off Skrtel's shoulder and flies into the net beyond a wrong-footed Mignolet. The home supporters are not happy and you can understand why - their side have been too casual.

It's almost a third goal for Swansea as De Guzman sends a pacey corner from the right towards the near post. It appears that Ashley Williams has a simple headed chance, but at the final moment he is crowded out and the danger is cleared.

Looking back at the timings between the two Swansea goals, there was just three minutes and 44 seconds. In truth, they look the more likely to score the game's fifth goal. They are controlling the midfield area, with the likes of Leon Britton, De Guzman and Shelvey bossing Gerrard and Henderson at the moment.

But then, what do I know?! It's Liverpool that regain the lead and Swansea will be kicking themselves. They first allow Suarez too much time to cross the ball towards Sturridge. Williams fails to mark the striker, who powerfully heads in his 18th goal of the season. There's relief all around Anfield, but the hosts must defend better because they will soon be pegged back if not.

Is there a more aware striker in the Premier League than Suarez? Having seen Vorm off his line, Liverpool's talisman launches a shot goalwards from just inside the Swansea half. It's close enough to worry a back-tracking Vorm, but the ball eventually flies a yard wide of the post.

SAVE! The Liverpool defence are struggling to deal with Bony's threat right now. Both Agger and Skrtel back off him 20 yards from goal, so the Ivorian strikes low. There is plenty of power in his effort, but Mignolet gets down quickly to parry wide. From the resultant corner, Rangel heads off target.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

So, referee Mike Jones has just brought an end to one of the most entertaining opening 45 minutes of Premier League football that you are likely to see this season.

From Liverpool's point of view, they lead, but Rodgers is not going to be happy with his players. Going forward they've been their usual dangerous selves, but defensively they've been very poor at times. That's not just to blame the defence, either, because the midfield has not helped out as it should. The main thing is the score, though, which is in their favour.

Everything that was just said about Liverpool could also be used to accurately describe Swansea's performance during that half. They've created a host of opportunities, but look as though they are going to concede every time that the home side go forward. The team that can tighten up the most at the back might just win this clash.

STATS! In terms of possession during the first 45 minutes, Liverpool edge it with 52%, while four of their seven shots have been on target. As for Swansea, they've actually carved out nine shooting opportunities, three of which have been on target.

RESTART! As Liverpool get the match back underway, there's a blow for Swansea because Shelvey, who was playing well, has not returned for the second half. That has to be because of an injury. Nevertheless, Jose Canas replaces him.

Swansea continue tearing up the script at Anfield. Not for the first time this season, Skrtel pulls back a striker inside the area. It's Bony who is fouled, but unlike other occasions, referee Jones blows for a penalty. Skrtel argues his case, but he clearly tugged the Swansea striker. Bony steps up to power the resultant spot kick beyond a diving Mignolet. What a start to the second half for Swansea.

SAVE! When put through one-on-one with a keeper, you'd put good money on Suarez scoring. His clinical touch eludes him, though, as he hesitates over his shot, which allows Vorm the chance to narrow the angle and then block. Frantic stuff at Anfield.

CHANCE! It's a case of trying too hard for Suarez right now. Having inherited possession from Sturridge, he bursts into the area and despite the angle being against him, the Uruguayan goes for goal. However, the outcome is not pretty as the ball flies halfway up The Kop.

It looks like that former Swansea midfielder Joe Allen is getting ready to come on for Liverpool. Rodgers is obviously not happy with how easily his team are giving up possession right now.

SUBSTITUTION: And here comes Allen, who has replaced Sterling. The youngster started brightly, but has faded since then. With Allen in the middle of the pitch, it may allow Gerrard to operate closer to Suarez and Sturridge.

SAVE! Big opportunity for Swansea to score a fourth and Bony is involved again. On this occasion he flicks the ball into the path of De Guzman, who just has Mignolet to beat. The Belgian stands tall, though, which seems to put off the Swansea midfielder. His shot is tame and the Liverpool keeper is able to block with his feet. The Dutchman should have done much better with that.

SUBSTITUTION: Second change in quick succession for Liverpool and it's a strange one. Agger, who doesn't appear to be injured, comes off and is replaced by Kolo Toure. It's a straight swap and if we are being honest, Toure has hardly covered himself in glory of late!

Despite my earlier thoughts, Gerrard has not pushed further forward. If anything, he's dropped even deeper and is now playing just in front of the back four. Ahead of him are Allen and Henderson, with Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge in attack.

PENALTY APPEAL! Big shouts from Liverpool the players and supporters for a penalty as Suarez takes a tumble following a challenge from Williams just inside the Swansea box. He went down dramatically, but without a replay, it's hard to tell if there was contact. The referee didn't think that there was as he waved play on.

Suarez is not happy at the moment. Within the space of a few seconds he laid into Sturridge for not passing him the ball, then he shot well wide from the edge of the area. Even so, you wouldn't back against him scoring the winning goal, would you?

SUBSTITUTION: A second switch of the match from Swansea boss Monk and he is throwing even more pace into the action in the form of Spaniard Pablo Hernandez. He has replaced De Guzman.

What a big goal this could prove to be for Liverpool come the end of the season. Suarez's shot from distance is mishit and is blocked by Williams. The ball rebounds to Henderson, who fires goalwards 10 yards from goal. Vorm does brilliantly well to make the save, but Henderson reacts quickest to poke in the rebound from close range. Anfield erupts, as does Rodgers on the touchline!

SUBSTITUTIONS: Final roll of the dice from Monk as he brings on former Liverpool striker David Ngog in place of Dyer. Ngog scored nine goals for the Reds, all of which came at Anfield. There is also a change for Liverpool as Sturridge is replaced by Chelsea loanee Victor Moses.

All of a sudden, there is a lot of tension inside Anfield. Swansea are having the majority of the possession and a lot of what Liverpool are doing right now is aimlessly clearing the ball up field. They need to take the sting out of the game.

Credit to Liverpool, because in the last couple of minutes they've kept possession much better and have even mounted a couple of attacks. If they keep this up, they should be able to see this game out.

POST! Gerrard is just inches away from sealing all three points for his team. It's a trademark effort from the Liverpool skipper, but he sees his low shot from 25 yards out strike the inside of the post and roll across the face of goal before it is cleared to safety. The Reds have three minutes of stoppage time to hang on.

And Liverpool do hold out to claim what is a crucial three points. They are now four points of leaders Chelsea, while Swansea, who will be disappointed to be leaving Anfield empty handed, remain 12th.

That's all we have time for from Anfield. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.