SWANSEA skipper Garry Monk will head to Liverpool this weekend – praying for a change of Anfield fortune.

The defender will lead out the first Swansea City side to feature at the home of the Reds since an 8-0 FA Cup defeat 21 years ago.

But Monk requires no history lesson from City coach Alan Curtis Š– one of the Swans involved Šthat day – to be told of what a humbling experience in front of the Kop feels like.

He was on the receiving end of a 7-0 hiding as a Southampton teenager in January 1999! A Robbie Fowler-inspired Liverpool thumped a Saints side which included 19-year-old Monk, who had just a handful of first team appearances to his name. Fowler and Michael Owen claimed hat-tricks and Jamie Carragher, the sole survivor in the current Liverpool squad, added the other against a Saints team which included Mark Hughes and Matt Le Tissier.

The heavy loss had no ill-effects on Monk’s career, but he insists his feeling of humiliation at the final whistle that day still lives with him.

“It was my worst experience in football,” Monk said. Š“It really was one to forget – Šbut I can’t.

“I was only a young lad at the time and had played a couple of games before.

“I’d played against Everton and then been in the side that beat Wimbledon at home at ŠThe Dell so I’d kept my Šplace.

“But the whole team was poor and everything they hit went in. I had a bad game and at 19 I needed support around, Šbut we were awful and it Šwasn’t there.

“It was embarrassing and it Šreally left a mark on me. It’s Šsomething I still think about to this day and before every game I have a little word with Šmyself and promise to never Šlet it happen again.”

Monk added: “It’s been Ša motivation since because no-one wants to go through that.

“There’s been plenty of occasions in my career when I’ve Šbeen down and disappointed, Šbut no-one wants to be embarrassed as I was that day.

“It’s been a motivation for Šme, but they are also memories I want to Šput right.”

Though still smarting from the hammering over a decade ago, Monks is in bullish mood ahead of the trip to Anfield saying the experience of facing Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal has prepared them for this weekend.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Liverpool. They are a fantastic Šteam, a fantastic club with a fantastic history – but we go Šthere looking to win,” said Monk.

“We’ve been to Man City, ŠArsenal and Chelsea so we Šknow what to expect.

“We’re growing and we want that next step Šwhich is a win away from Šhome and that’s what we’re Šlooking for at Liverpool.”