Premier League - Swansea City vs Chelsea

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Premier League Matchday 22 sees Chelsea take on in-form Swansea City in Wales, in a fixture they've been far from superb in in recent seasons...










Indeed, the Blues have struggled on their trips to the Liberty since its residents' promotion to the top flight in 2011. In 4 matches — 3 in the Premier League and 1 in the League Cup — the Londoners have won just once, with the 3 others ending in low-scoring and largely lifeless stalemates. That one victory did, however, come on the Blues' last visit to Wales, and José Mourinho will undoubtedly be looking to replicate that this time around, especially with a massive head-to-head clash against Manchester City looming the matchweek after.










The reverse fixture in the fourth matchweek of the current campaign back in mid-September was a high-scoring affair ultimately decided in the home side's favour. The Swans drew first blood after a spell of good pressure on the Chelsea goal when John Terry unwittingly guided a low cross into his own net 11 minutes in. The Blues responded pristinely, however, when a hattrick from Diego Costa inside 22 match minutes spanning the break put his side decisively in front. Loic Remy struck a late fourth for the hosts to complete the rout, before Jonjo Shelvey netted a consolation for his side at the other end 4 minutes from time to send the affair to 4-2 at the final whistle.










The corresponding fixture last term saw much the same result. The Blues, in spite of their aforementioned struggles at the Liberty in recent years, were well on top throughout the match against the 10-man hosts, with only all too characteristic poor finishing letting them down. That would meet its end, though, just over 20 minutes from time, when Demba Ba was played in behind in a move started off with a Chelsea throw-in deep in their own half to fire José Mourinho's men ahead at last, and eventually snatch a vital 3 points.










In more recent events, the sides obtained differing results the weekend previous in their Matchday 21 fixtures. Swansea negotiated a 1-all draw against soaring West Ham United when a superb goal from Andy Carroll was cancelled out in the second half by a Mark Noble own goal, while Chelsea laboured to a hard-fought 2-0 win over tumultuous Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge courtesy of goals from Oscar and Diego Costa.










Jonathon Moss, who last officiated for Swansea in their 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Southampton in September and for Chelsea in their 3-1 victory over Derby County in the Capital One Cup quarterfinals a month ago, has been appointed referee for Saturday's affair.





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Another tricky away game, I have to say I'm not very confident about it.
The quality of the PL has improved overally and it's much harder to win against low/midtable teams but if we want to win we must improve our away record.

Should José go for his usual line-up? Like I said this is a very important match but we played a lot in the last month and there's a semifinal against Liverpool around the corner.

We had a week to rest before Newcastle, a week to rest before this game, and though we do have Liverpool away 3 days after, we don't have another match until the second leg a week later. So I think without a doubt he'll go with a full-strength side. And rightly so, as this is a tough game and a must-win one at that.

Will be much harder now that Swansea have sacked that scrub coach they he last season

That sacking is the only thing giving us a chance at winning. Otherwise we could write those 3 points off here and now

No little shit Ki but you just know egg head Shelvey will score.

We have to play a full strength line up.

City play Arsenal so any points dropped there must be capitalised on by us.

Not overly surprising there.

Full pre-match press conference.
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Rebelles.REUS.rex wrote:No little shit Ki but you just know egg head Shelvey will score.

Suspended

getting pumped for this!

Unlike you to say something like that so close to a match. Any particular reason?

I've got 2 and a half hours.

Also, it's 11pm and I have nothing better to do

The game is on till 4am?

More or less.

I'm use to it now.

I suppose you would be, yea. Guess I just never thought about it much being like that for you lot.

Yeah, it sucks.

Chelsea FC @ChelseaFC · 13s 13 seconds ago
Team to play Swansea City: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Filipe Luis; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa. #CFC

Cahill

Very unsurprising lineup.

Subs v Swansea: Courtois, Zouma, Mikel, Ramires, Schurrle, Salah, Remy. #CFC

No drogba on the bench so looks like Remy is back to 2nd choice

Kick wrote:Very unsurprising lineup.

As usual