The Swans attacker believes that his compatriot has been “unlucky” in his difficult first months at Anfield and would be happy to welcome him into the club’s Spanish contingent

Swansea City star Michu hopes to see Iago Aspas at the Liberty Stadium, with his fellow Spaniard enduring a tough start to his Liverpool career.

Aspas arrived at Anfield in the close-season from Celta Vigo,but has found first-team opportunities limited due to injuries and the form of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.

The striker has yet to score in his seven appearances for the Reds and Michu believes that a loan move to Swansea would be beneficial for both parties.

The 26-year-old netted 35 goals in the last two seasons in La Liga and the attacking midfielder expects his compatriot to show his quality in England if given the opportunity.

“[Swansea’s Spanish players] are hoping he can come here on loan,” Michu told reporters. “It would be a pleasure to play with him.

“Iago has had injuries but he has quality. He deserves to play in the Premier League.

“He has been unlucky. At Liverpool, they have Luis Suarez and Sturridge, who have scored a lot of goals. Suarez is, along with Diego Costa and others, one of the best strikers in Europe.”

Liverpool have made the first move towards tying down their in-form forward to a new deal worth more than €156,000 per week and the manager is calm about getting it done

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident that a contract extension for Luis Suarez “will take care of itself”.

Goal has learned that Reds managing director Ian Ayre has begun discussions with the in-form forward’s agent, Pere Guardiola, with a view to tying their star player down to a new deal worth more than £130,000 [€156,000] per week.

Though he insists that discussions are “private”, Rodgers is calm about the prospect of being able to “build a team around” the Uruguayan in the coming seasons.

Asked by reporters about the new deal, the Liverpool boss declared: “There’s nothing to report on that. Contractually, with any players, it is private so at the minute he is just focusing on his football. We’re just concentrating on the football, on performance levels and improving.

“I think it will all take care of itself. There’s no rush at this moment in time, he’s a player we want to keep here and build a team around in the next couple of years.”

Rodgers praised the attitude shown by Suarez, who had been pushing to leave Anfield before the start of this season, on and off the pitch this season.

“He is maturing, accepting the role and responsibility I’ve given him at the club,” the Northern Irishman said of the forward, who captained his side against Tottenham on Sunday. “He is one of the pillars of the group, for me.

“He’s in a good place and long may it continue. He is a humble man with a unique desire to win games.

“If you judge him on his football, he is up there with the world’s best.”

With Arsenal playing on Monday, Brendan Rodgers’ side have a chance to jump to the top of the league with victory and our tipster is backing first half action

Liverpool welcome Cardiff City to Anfield on Saturday with top spot very much at the forefront of their minds.

Victory against the Welsh club will see the Reds rise to the top of the Premier League once again this season, with Arsenal playing Chelsea on Monday night in another mouth-watering festive encounter.

Rodgers’ side come into this match on the back of a 5-0 victory against Tottenham last weekend which sees them on the run of three league wins. Paddy Power price them at just 2/9 (1.22) to take all three points.

Cardiff have had a turbulent week with problems continuing between the owners and Malky Mackay.

Despite issues behind the scenes, the Bluebirds have looked solid this season, currently sitting in 15th position racking up 17 points.

Last time out Cardiff came out on top against West Brom, winning 1-0 at home. Paddy Power price them at 11/1 (12.00) for an unlikely win. The same firm price the draw at 11/2 (6.50).

Liverpool’s man of the moment Luis Suarez has been in sensational form of late, netting an incredible eight goals in his last three matches. The Uruguayan tore Tottenham apart last weekend and is unsurprisingly 3/10 (1.30) to net anytime.

If you fancy him to net two or more goals, which has paid out in his last three matches, you can back that at 13/10 (2.30) .

A bet that does stand out which has paid out a number of times in Liverpool matches this season is over 1.5 goals in the first half.

Paddy Power price it at a generous 11/10 (2.10). Had you backed this in the Reds last 11 matches, it would have landed in nine of those games. With Suarez on fire, expect early goals at Anfield.

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