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Premier League
Apr 9, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
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FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Swansea City vs. Chelsea

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Premier League match between Swansea City and Chelsea at the Liberty Stadium.

Chelsea are aiming to end their season on a high under Guus Hiddink before new manager Antonio Conte arrives at Stamford Bridge in the summer.

The Blues can stretch their unbeaten Premier League run to 16 games with a win over Swansea City, who are 10 points above the relegation zone heading into Saturday afternoon's match at the Liberty Stadium.


Swansea City

Francesco Guidolin watches from the stands during the game between Swansea and Watford on January 18, 2016© Getty Images

For the large majority of this season, the Swans have been trying to stave off relegation, but they have slowly been climbing away from the danger zone under head coach Francesco Guidolin.

The 60-year-old Italian was brought in at the Liberty Stadium in January to work alongside interim manager Alan Curtis, who replaced sacked Garry Monk following a poor first half of the campaign.

With Guidolin's contract due to expire in the summer, he is expected to leave having fulfilled his objective of helping keep Swansea in the top flight, but there are still six games left on the schedule and they are yet to reach that all-important 40-point mark.

Of course, if they manage to cause an upset and inflict defeat on a Chelsea team who have not lost in the league since December, then they will achieve their target as they are currently on 37 points and 15th in the standings.

February was a difficult month for Swansea as they failed to win any of their four games, picking up 1-1 draws against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, and losing to Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur.

In March, though, things started to pick up and they managed to see off Norwich City and Arsenal, who were a goal up through Joel Campbell after 15 minutes, but Wayne Routledge and Ashley Williams managed to earn the Swans a 2-1 victory.

The Welsh outfit displayed that never-give-up attitude against Stoke City last weekend as they were two goals down after 53 minutes, but Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alberto Paloschi scored to earn a point.

Swansea have only won nine of their 32 league games this season, but they have a much better record at home as they have won six of those at the Liberty Stadium.

They are also stronger defensively at home as they have conceded 18 compared to the 24 that have been shipped past them on the road.

Recent form: LWWLWD


Chelsea

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink on December 23, 2015© Getty Images

In this fixture at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the season, it was the beginning of the end for former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

On the pitch, it was tough for the Portuguese coach as his side were restricted to a 2-2 draw, but off it, things would prove to be worse as his angry reaction to club doctor Eva Carneiro treating Eden Hazard late into the game resulted in the medic's departure.

The doctor went on to file a suit against the club and Mourinho, who was sacked by the Premier League champions in December after his team dropped dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Fast-forward four months and Chelsea are in a much healthier state under Hiddink. They may not end the season with silverware, but with seven games left to play, they are in 10th place, nine points behind fifth-placed Manchester United.

The Champions League did not go to plan as they were once again outdone by Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 stage, but they have not lost a league game under Hiddink - a run that currently sits at 15.

Despite the positive influence of Hiddink, the Dutchman will not be in the Stamford Bridge hotseat next season as Antonio Conte has agreed a three-year deal to take over the Blues.

The former Juventus manager will begin his reign when his contract as Italy head coach expires at the end of the European Championships this summer.

Conte will be taking charge of a team who have won seven and drawn eight of their last 15 games in the Premier League, and the West London outfit are currently the second most in-form club in the division, behind league leaders Leicester City.

Chelsea particularly impressed last weekend when they punished lowly Aston Villa in a 4-0 rout, which included goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, loan signing Alexandre Pato and a double from Pedro.

Hiddink's men will feel confident heading to Swansea this weekend as they have won five and drawn one of their six away games since the turn of the year.

Recent form: WWWDDW
Recent form (all competitions): WDLLDW


Team News

Swansea player Andre Ayew in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Newcastle United at the Liberty stadium on August 15, 2015© Getty Images

Managers dread the days when they have a pile-up of players on the treatment table, but Guidolin should be smiling as he has no fresh injury concerns to deal with.

In fact, he has quite the selection dilemma as Andre Ayew is expected to be fit to play having missed his side's last three games with an ankle injury.

The Italian coach will have to decide whether or not to throw Ayew straight into the lineup, but that could mean leaving out Jefferson Montero or Wayne Routledge, both of whom impressed against Stoke.

Modou Barrow is also likely to be fit for the welcome of Chelsea as he was rested for the previous game due to a long journey from Africa during the international break.

As for Chelsea, there is doubt over the fitness of captain John Terry, who suffered an Achilles injury against Villa, while Gary Cahill also missed out after picking up a knock on international duty.

There will be no Diego Costa in the lineup as he serves a suspension after being handed an additional ban following his red card against Everton in the FA Cup, while Eden Hazard is still nursing a hip injury.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Naughton; Cork, Britton; Ayew, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Gomis

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Rahman, Cahill, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Mikel; Willian, Oscar, Kenedy; Pedro


Head To Head

Swansea have never beaten Chelsea in the Premier League having lost six and drawn three, but they may have some luck given that Costa, who has scored more goals against the Swans than any other top-flight side (5), is suspended for the game.

The Blues have done well at the Liberty Stadium given that they have kept three clean sheets in a row at the Welsh ground in the league, and their last result was a 5-0 hammering in Wales.

The reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge last season ended in an entertaining 4-2 win for Chelsea.

In the 2013-14 campaign, the West London outfit came away with 1-0 wins in both league games.


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We say: Swansea City 1-3 Chelsea

Chelsea are on a roll following their impressive win over Aston Villa last weekend, and considering that Swansea have never before beaten the Blues in the top flight, it is unlikely that they will end their opponents' 15-game unbeaten streak on Saturday. Pedro is in goalscoring form given that he netted twice last weekend, but Swansea have close to a full-strength side available and could score in front of their fans to unsettle the Blues. Chelsea should, though, come away with all three points.



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Francesco Guidolin watches from the stands during the game between Swansea and Watford on January 18, 2016
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