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Chelsea logo
Premier League
Dec 26, 2013 at 3pm UK
 
Swansea logo

1-0

Hazard (29')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: Chelsea vs. Swansea City

Sports Mole previews the Boxing Day encounter between high-flying Chelsea and inconsistent Swansea at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea will look to keep the pressure on those above them when they host Swansea City at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day.

The Blues moved two points behind league leaders Liverpool with a goalless draw against Arsenal in a London derby on Monday, a result that also lifted them into the top four of the Premier League table.

Jose Mourinho's men haven't been in great form in recent weeks, however, scraping past Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the league while losing to Stoke City and being eliminating from the League Cup at the hands of the Black Cats.

However, the Portuguese manager has his side picking up regular points in the league as they continue to climb the table, and another victory on Thursday could see them rise to the top of the pile depending on results elsewhere.

Mourinho is still unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League over both of his spells in charge of the club, and this season he has seen Chelsea win seven of their eight games in front of their own fans.

However, he is expected to make changes for the match with one eye on Sunday's game against Liverpool, with Ashley Cole likely to return and Michael Essien in line for a start having missed the Arsenal game through suspension.

Swansea, meanwhile, have won just one of their last seven matches and two of their last 13 in all competitions going into Thursday's game.

Michael Laudrup's side have struggled for consistency this season and failure to beat Chelsea would make it five games without a win for the Welsh outfit.

They have won just one of their last eight away matches this season, although that victory did come on their last trip to West London courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Fulham.

The bad news for the visitors is that Michu has been ruled out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury, while Michel Vorm and Nathan Dyer are still some way from full fitness.

Recent form

Chelsea: WLWWLD

Swansea: LWDLDL

Possible starting lineups

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Mikel, Essien; Oscar, Mata, Hazard; Eto'o

Swansea: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Chico, Williams, Davies, Canas, De Guzman, Shelvey, Hernandez, Routledge; Bony

Sports Mole says: 2-0


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Swansea City's Danish manager Michael Laudrup takes his seat in the dugout prior to the English Premier League football match between Swansea City and Southampton on April 20, 2013
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1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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