Chelsea Face Swansea In Table Toppers` Tussle

This week`s top of the table clash between high-scoring Chelsea and second placed Swansea City is marred by a number of injuries to key players picked up during the international break.

Both teams are looking to end the undefeated run of the other, though both face doing so without important names on their teamsheets. The home side see both Diego Costa and Eden Hazard face fitness tests whilst City could be forced to play without centre forward Wilfried Bony and captain Ashley Williams.

With two central figures out and without the squad depth that Chelsea enjoy, Swansea are best priced 12/1 (boylesports) to end Saturday on top of the Barclays Premier League. Favourites Chelsea can be backed at 4/13 with BetBright whilst the match is 19/4 (bet365, sportingbet) to end a draw.

Chelsea`s Costa faces a late examination on a hamstring injury he endured prior to Spain`s game with European minnows Macedonia. Despite the enforced change, the one-time world champions cruised to a 5-1 victory, with Costa`s replacement, international debutante Paco Alcacer, grabbing a goal just 17 minutes in.

Should the 25-year-old, who has just been announced as Player of the Month for his four goal tally, be spared, Jose Mourinho could look to £10.5 million summer signing Loic Remy to lead the line for the Blues.

Without Premier League game time as a Chelsea player, the Frenchman is best priced 15/4 (bet365) to break the deadlock and 11/10 (888sport) to find the back of the net at any time. Alternative replacement, veteran goalscorer Didier Drogba, can be backed at 4/1 (betfair, BetVictor, Boyle Sports and paddy Power) to grab the first goal whilst being 6/5 (BetBright) to finish the game as an any time goalscorer.

The participation of 23-year-old Hazard is also in doubt after declining to join up with the Belgium squad on Thursday ahead of the team`s friendly match with Australia. The attacking midfielder, who netted in Chelsea`s 2-0 win against new boys Leicester, was replaced with his younger brother Thorgan after withdrawing from the squad with a niggling Achilles injury.

Solid defensive outfit Swansea, who have conceded only one goal in their first three games, could potentially be without their influential captain Ashley Williams if he fails to train well after playing the full 90 minutes in Wales` 2-1 victory away to Andorra.

Anyone who fancies the Welsh side`s chances of continuing their impressive defensive record against Chelsea should head over to SkyBet who are offering 22/1 on a Swansea win to nil.

Manager of the Month Garry Monk also faces a decision down the other end of the pitch, having to weigh up the affect of Bony`s long journey back from Yaounde, Cameroon on the player. The Ivory Coast striker played a part in his team`s 4-1 defeat at the hands of their African rivals.

Whilst Monk will be hoping to field an unchanged side for the fourth successive Premier League clash, he can rely on either Bafetimbi Gomis or a back-to-fitness Marvin Emnes to fill the vacant position.

Both Bony and Gomis are valued at 14/1 (Bony: BetVictor, paddy Power, ladbrokes, Gomis: paddy power, Bwin) to be the game`s first goalscorer, whilst Emnes is 16/1 with boylesports.

Three players that are fighting fit for the Swans are over-looked English talents Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge and Jonjo Shelvey. England manager Roy Hodgson ignored calls to select the trio in a bid to liven up his below par squad. Speaking in a press conference, Player of the Month nominee Dyer outlined his intentions to concentrate on his domestic club.

`For me it`s just keep playing club football and keep performing and working hard and whatever happens, happens.`

He`s 9/1 (bet365, betfair, ladbrokes) to hit his fourth Premier league goal of the season against Mourinho`s men.

Go To bet365

#Ad

12/09/2014     © Frixo 2024