Tom Carroll And Martin Olsson Can Get Swans Flowing Insists Paul Clement

Paul Clement believes new blood can infuse Swansea City at Anfield on Saturday and pump fresh life into the club’s fight against relegation.

The Swans head coach is ready to pitch new signings Tom Carroll and Martin Olsson into the fray at Liverpool, where the visitors have never won in the Premier League.

Clement has revealed that left-back Olsson and midfielder Carroll will feature at Anfield having joined the Swans this week.

There is an outside chance that a third new face, Luciano Narsingh, could also play, although the winger may not recover from a calf problem in time to feature.

Clement says he is excited by what the fresh faces will bring.

“Tom is a really good footballer,” he said. “He fits very much with the style we are looking to develop here at Swansea.

“He has good experience of playing at a high level. He played a lot of games last year.

“Maybe he has not had so many this year, so I think his move comes at the right stage for him to come and play regular football. We are very happy to have him.

“And Martin is someone I worked with briefly before (at Blackburn), so I know everything he is about as a footballer and a character.

“He has experience of this level and the one below, as well as international football, and I think he is a good addition.

“I think these players are going to improve us, absolutely. I would say 90-95 per cent of our thinking when it comes to bringing players in is about them having an impact now.”

Swansea lost 4-0 at home to Arsenal in Clement’s first Premier League game in charge last weekend, meaning they have lost 14 of their last 20 league games.

But despite being rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, an unlikely three points at Anfield would lift them outside the relegation zone if Sunderland and Crystal Palace lose.

Liverpool have won five of their last six Premier League games against Swansea, losing only once (1-3 at Liberty Stadium in 2015-16).

The Swans have yet to win at Anfield in the Premier League, drawing on their first visit but losing four consecutive games since, shipping 14 goals in the process.

They have conceded three or more goals in 11 of their 21 Premier League fixtures this season. This is more than they have done so in any other previous Premier League campaign.

The Reds are one of two Premier League sides yet to lose on home turf (W7 D2), along with Spurs.

“We have to keep working on the training field because we have to be more consistent,” Clement added.

“This may be an even more difficult game (than Arsenal) because we are away from home against title contenders who play good football and defend with a lot of energy.

“I have come across Jurgen Klopp when I was at Real Madrid and we played Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-final. We won 3-0 at home and then lost 2-0 away.

“He has a lot of charisma and a lot of energy. People I know who have worked with him say he is excellent with the players. He gets every bit out of them.

“Liverpool are a good team to watch who play high-intensity football. I think it’s a modern approach.”

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *