Chelsea returns to Stamford Bridge, on Wednesday, to host Swansea City after salvaging a critical point at Liverpool on Saturday. Failure to win the match against the Swans could see Chelsea trail Manchester City by a massive fourteen points, thus denting the Blues' title defense ambition. Chelsea is currently third in the Premier League log and could put pressure on the second-placed, Manchester United with a victory over Swansea City. However, the Blues could drop to the fifth spot should they lose to their visitors.
Swansea City travels to the capital city after earning a point against Bournemouth at Liberty Stadium on Saturday with the game ending in a scoreless draw.
Before the weekend's stalemate, Swansea City had suffered four league defeats in a row. The Swans are currently placed in position 19 in the Premier League standings but could climb up to position sixteen with a surprise victory in London. However, Paul Clement's men could find themselves rock-bottom if they suffer a defeat against the champions.
Match facts
- The Blues have lost only once and have won six times in the last twelve Premier League matches pitting the two teams. Four matches have ended in draws, including the one that Swansea City hosted the last term.
- Chelsea has just managed a single league victory in the previous four encounters. The Blues have managed a paltry five points in those four meetings.
- Swansea has conceded at least two goals in five of their last six Premier League trips to Stamford Bridge. The last visit saw Chelsea beat Swansea City 3-1.
- The last time that the Swans prevailed over the Blues at Stamford Bridge was in 1925 when the Welsh club beat Chelsea 3-1. Swansea City in that period was known as Swansea Town.
- The last twenty-seven Premier League matches that the Blues have hosted on Wednesday have seen Chelsea win on sixteen occasions while just losing twice.
- The total number of Swansea City's goals this season is just seven. In fact, Alvaro Morata has scored a goal more than the Swans in the league this season.
- After thirteen rounds of Premier League matches in the previous season, Chelsea had thirty-one points. It means the Blues are five points less than they had last season at the same stage.
- Swansea City's striker Wilfried Bony has just managed a single goal in the last twenty-seven league visits. In fact, the Ivorian striker has failed to score in the last eight consecutive league outings.
Team news
The hosts will be without Charly Musonda, David Luiz, and Michy Batshuayi, who are all out with injuries while Victor Moses has recovered but may fail to feature because of his fitness status.
Antonio Conte could rotate his team to give players who didn't start at Liverpool a nod to start against Swansea City. The rotation could see Willian, Fabregas, Rudiger, and Pedro while either Hazard or Morata could get a night off.
The visitors will travel without the injured Kyle Bartley, while Federico Fernandez will be out on a compassionate leave, mourning the loss of his father.
Swansea City's top scorer, Tammy Abraham, will sit out the match as the loan term doesn't permit him to face his parent club. The Absence of Tammy Abraham could prompt Paul Clement to utilize Leroy Fer.
Predictions
The two teams, with apparently contrasting ambitions, meet in a match in which they both yearn for a victory albeit for different reasons.
Chelsea needs to win the match to revive their simmering title defense hope while Swansea City knows that a landmark success at Stamford Bridge will see them out of the relegation zone. With Swansea City leading scorer missing in the contest, the visitors will find it hard scoring against the defending champions. Chelsea is destined for glory in a match that could witness high-scoring.
Full-time prediction: Chelsea 4-1 Swansea City