Chelsea
will look to maintain their strong recent form when struggling Swansea City
visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Chelsea have taken 13 points from a possible 15, their only slip up being a
1-1 draw with Liverpool on Saturday evening.
This surge in form has come after suffering back-to-back Premier League
defeats.
However, the Blues have already dropped more points from their six home
league games this season (8) than they did during the whole of last season
(6).
Swansea's 0-0 draw against Bournemouth ended a run of five straight defeats
in all competitions for Paul Clement's men but they remain in the relegation
zone.
Team news
Defender David Luiz is out with a knee injury.
Luiz lost his place to Andreas Christensen and was an unused substitute in
last Saturday's draw at Liverpool, with the full extent of his injury yet to
be known.
Right wing-back Victor Moses could start as Antonio Conte contemplates
rotating his options, while striker Michy Batshuayi (ankle), forward Charly
Musonda (knee) and the left-sided Kenedy (undisclosed) are out.
The Swans are without Tammy Abraham at Stamford Bridge as the on-loan
Chelsea striker cannot play against his parent club.
Federico Fernandez remains in his native Argentina following the death of
his father and Dutch defender Mike van der Hoorn will continue to deputise.
Kyle Bartley (knee ligaments) remains out with Swansea boss Paul Clement
short on defensive options.
Opta stats
Chelsea have lost only one of their 12 games against Swansea City in the
Premier League (W7 D4 L1) and are unbeaten at Stamford Bridge versus the
Welsh side (W5 D1 L0).
Swansea have conceded two or more goals in five of their six Premier League
visits to Stamford Bridge (16 in total, 2.7 per game).
The Swans have won just once in their last 16 away games versus Chelsea in
all competitions (W1 D4 L11) - winning 2-0 in the 2012-13 League Cup
semi-final first leg.
Chelsea have dropped eight points already at home this season in the Premier
League; winning 10 of a possible 18 at Stamford Bridge - in their
title-winning 2016-17 campaign, they dropped just six points (winning
51/57).
Swansea City have the same number of points (9) that they had in the Premier
League after 13 games of last season. However, they have only scored seven
goals this term - nine fewer than in 2016-17.
Only four clubs have scored fewer goals after 13 games of a Premier League
season than Swansea City (7) this season: Derby (5 in 2007-08), Everton (5
in 2005-06), Bradford (5 in 2000-01) and Man City (5 in 1995-96).
Álvaro Morata (8) has scored more goals on his own in the Premier League
this season than Swansea City as a team (7).
Paul Clement has managed more Premier League games without his side
receiving a red card than any other manager (32 games), while only Ray
Wilkins (67) managed more games without his side scoring a penalty.
No Welsh side has won an away league match against Chelsea at Stamford
Bridge since April 1981, when Cardiff City won 1-0 in the second tier.
Chelsea have won nine out of 10 home league meetings with Welsh sides since
(D1).
Merson's prediction
The banker of the week, this game. I thought Chelsea were fortunate against
Liverpool - they had a spell in the game where they were good and both teams
had their moments in the game at times but I am going to go 4-0 to Chelsea.
I can't see anything other than a Chelsea win. I know Swansea went to
Arsenal and could have gone 2-0 up and went to Tottenham and drew 0-0, but I
just do not see them stopping Chelsea, who have got some great fixtures
coming up.
PAUL PREDICTS: 4-0 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
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