So want some festive cheer Liverpool fans? How about this...

After defeat at Chelsea on this date last year, the Reds were only in fifth in the Premier League and a place behind their neighbours Everton. They responded with 15 wins from 19 league games to finish runners-up after almost snatching the title.

Brendan Rodgers' men may be 11 points worse off now compared to how they finished 2013 but a similar run would surely put them back among the top four?

No Luis Suarez this time around though...

We are 10 minutes from kick off at Anfield. Liverpool fans, perhaps best not to look at the above graphic...

Image source, Getty Images

How did Lawro get on against Unbroken star Jack O'Connell in predicting yesterday's Premier League matches? Find out here.

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It will be the master v the apprentice in the two dug outs at Anfield this evening - although at the moment it is the apprentice who is coming out on top.

When Brendan Rodgers' Swansea won promotion to the Premier League in May 2011, Garry Monk captained the side. Now - approaching 12 months as manager of the Welsh side - Monk has taken the Swans to eighth in the table and just five points off the top five.

They have bounced back from successive defeats with back-to-back wins and could yet finish the year in sixth.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers on Sky Sports: "The beauty of Emre Can is that he can play in a number of positions. He is a player we brought in because he is multi-functional and can play many roles very well.

"The wide area is one where you need energy and speed and the players we have had playing there have been doing so for a few weeks. The players who come in have a chance now. We need to continue with the momentum we have and if we win tonight we can close the gap on the top four.

"I am sure it will be tight tonight. We had a battling performance against Burnley and I'm sure we can build on that."

It hasn't been the best of years for the Championship's bottom club Blackpool has it?

Just last week, manager Lee Clark sounded an appeal to find striker Nile Ranger, chairman Karl Oyston apologised "unreservedly" for abusive texts he sent to a supporter, and now the club are in the headlines for the wrong reasons again.

Blackpool's on-loan midfielder Jacob Murphy, 19, uploaded an image of himself with Tangerines team-mate Donervon Daniels with the caption "We are going to lose... Again" before Sunday's game with Rotherham.

He has since apologised. Not a great way to endear yourself with a club. Perhaps time to return to Norwich?

Image source, Jacob Murphy

Image source, Getty Images

How important is Wilfried Bony to Swansea City? Very is the easy answer.

The Ivorian is the Premier League's top scorer in 2014 but was reportedly rejected by Liverpool, external in 2007 after two weeks on trial with Rafa Bentiez's Reds.

His £12m move to Wales in 2013 doesn't look bad business now does it?

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

SEASON SO FAR: Very steady and fully deserving of a place in the top 10 ahead of the visit to Liverpool. Solid without being spectacular but possess real goal threats in the shape of Wilfried Bony and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

HOW IS THE MANAGER DOING?: Garry Monk is growing into the job vacated by Michael Laudrup. Built on his work from last season and looks to be maturing as a manager.

WHAT THEY NEED TO DO NEXT: Keep Bony away from any transfer predators. His goals mean so much to Swansea City, a powerful striker opponents fear.

You can red the rest of Phil McNulty's Premier League mid-season report here.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

SEASON SO FAR: Disappointing. From the high of almost winning their first title in 24 years last season to just scraping into the top half of the table so far this term. With Luis Suarez sold to Barcelona and Daniel Sturridge injured since August, they have looked a shadow of that thrilling team. Some signs, though, that a little form may be returning and Sturridge should be back in January.

HOW IS THE MANAGER DOING?: Tough times for LMA Manager of the Year Brendan Rodgers - although talk his job should be under discussion six months after almost winning the title is unfair. Has struggled to integrate new signings and has on occasion not seemed to know his best side, although he has had to juggle to find a formula.

WHAT THEY NEED TO DO NEXT: Decide whether Mario Balotelli is worth the bother (probably not), sign a new goalkeeper to replace the erratic Simon Mignolet and find the magical medical formula that actually keeps Daniel Sturridge fit.

You can red the rest of Phil McNulty's Premier League mid-season report here.

shaunyshaun:, external Brave decision to drop Gerrard but on form not surprising. Opportunity for the team to step up in captain's absence.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had been dropped "indefinitely" just a fortnight ago, after a series of poor performances.

But now, with deputy Brad Jones out with a thigh injury, the Reds' £9m Belgian will get another chance tonight. Perhaps one of his last with the January window about to open?

Image source, Getty Images

January is FA Cup month on the BBC, with daily content on TV, radio and online to cover one of the world's most famous club knockout competitions.

And to kick it all off you can watch a special special countdown of the FA Cup's 50 Greatest Moments on BBC Three on New Years Eve (21:00). Former England captain Rio Ferdinand and Helen Skelton present the programme with FA Cup heroes, singers and comedians looking back at the most celebrated, most shocking, most memorable moments from the greatest domestic cup competition in the world.

Why not get in the mod by reliving Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cup final win over Liverpool and the Reds donning those white suits before their 1996 final defeat to Manchester United.

Want to know what else there is to look forward to in January, you can find out here.

Also connected to the Palace managerial search, Frank de Boer will not leave Ajax this season according to his agent Guido Albers.

With speculation linking Alan Pardew to the vacant manager's role at Selhurst Park, there have been reports De Boer is in line to be the next Newcastle United boss.

"Frank will never leave in the middle of the season," Albers told BBC Sport. "But after the season is over? Anything is possible."

"Lots of clubs have approached Frank in the past but he has always insisted that he would not leave Ajax before the end of the season."

Steve Bower
BBC Match of the Day commentator at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

"When Brendan Rodgers' Swansea won promotion to the Premier League in May 2011 a certain Garry Monk captained the side. Who would have thought Rodgers and Monk would be in opposing dugouts at Anfield three years later with the former captain three points ahead of his old boss in the Premier League table?

"Liverpool have only won three games at Anfield this season, but have now got back-to-back home games and their next four league matches (Swansea, Leicester, Sunderland and Aston Villa) all look winnable. Rodgers is still talking about Liverpool getting into the top four this season - if they want to do that these are the games they need to win.

"Swansea meanwhile have bounced back from successive defeats with back-to-back wins and have one of 2014's most in-form strikers in Wilfried Bony."

BBC Radio 5 live

Geoff Thomas, a former Palace team-mate of Pardew, told BBC Radio 5 live: "Somebody like Alan coming in, who's got history with the club, I would imagine a majority of Palace fans would welcome him and that will give him a good start. January is a massive month and he's got the experience of working in the deadline scenario, so it's a great choice."

Andrew Tunnah:, external Big mistake to let Pardew go. Has done a great job under the circumstances and knows the club inside out!

Gregory Mandapat:, external Has any Newcastle manager since Kevin Keegan done well at St. James? The job is a poisoned chalice with the lofty expectations.

jerry elumeze:, external Pardew to Palace doesn't make sense. Can't see the motivation football wise or money wise.

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 live

"It will be interesting because of the constraints of the transfer policy at Newcastle. This is a club where you are not going to be paid x amount of money to go there. It will be bonus based. Because of the way (club owner) Mike Ashley operates there is concern. Pardew is not liked by a lot of supporters but they need to be careful what they wish for. They are in a decent position now. Someone I know who is highly-rated at St James' Park is Steve McClaren but would he leave a good club in Derby, who are in a good position, and the security that is there for Newcastle?"

Swansea manager Garry Monk, speaking to Sky Sports: "We were unlucky to lose here in the cup. We're full of confidence, we've had a good season so far and our performance levels have been good. If we can reach those same levels then we can put Liverpool under pressure and get a result.

"Liverpool are still a very powerful team and a big club but we'll look to impose ourselves on them."

Image source, Getty Images

Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been told to "wise up" by manager Garry Monk, who says he will not tolerate the 22-year-old's "laziness" any more.

The ex-Liverpool player was substituted after an hour of the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day following his seventh yellow card of the season.

Monk said: "Jonjo has to wise up because that yellow card came from laziness and he has to be better than that."

Shelvey left Liverpool for Swansea in a £5m move in 2013 and has been a first-team regular during his time at Liberty Stadium. He starts this evening.

Kevin Kilbane
BBC Radio 5 live

"You always know that in football anything can happen but this is not a real surprise. Alan Pardew has links at Palace and has been under pressure at Newcastle. Maybe it is just the right time for him to leave Newcastle and let them get on with their business."

You can listen to BBC Radio 5 live now by clicking on the Live coverage tab at the top of the page.