Blues aim to clip wings of high-flying Swans

[Jase 43,479]

Chelsea will face an intriguing top of the table clash when Swansea visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with the game set to kick off at 3pm UK time. The match sees the only two remaining sides left in the top flight to still have a 100% record after the opening three Premier League matches.

Chelsea have started the season like they mean business after dispatching new boys Burnley and Leicester City before overpowering Everton in a 6-3 victory thriller at Goodison Park a fortnight ago. Similarly, the Swans are flying high as they began the campaign with a stunning 2-1 win at Old Trafford before following that up with further triumphs over Burnley and West Brom.

With both sides running high on confidence, do not expect either side to hold back the minute referee Kevin Friend kick things off in west London.

About the opposition

Garry Monk's Swansea isn't much different from the side under their former managers. The Englishman has maintained the ethos and positive style of play in the 4-2-3-1 that has made them pleasing to watch ever since he replaced Michael Laudrup back in February. If anything, Monk has instilled some much needed steel, combative nature, tactical cohesion into the team that was rarely seen under Laudrup and even Brendan Rodgers.

The opening three league games have certainly demonstrated their versatility and discipline in the squad. The Welsh side set up to play intelligently on the break against Manchester United, utilizing the pace of Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge before taking a more front foot approach against Burnley and West Brom.

And one of the notable features of the side is without the ball, they retreat back to a compact 4-4-1-1 formation with two banks of four protecting the back line. What's more is that they have been effective with their interceptions and clearances in the defensive third of the pitch - Swansea have made 15.7 interceptions per game in the league, third highest at the moment. Rather than just punting the ball upfield, they look to clear the ball to the flanks and exploit the pace of their wingers on the break. However, the pivot duo of Ki Sung-Yeung and Jonjo Shelvey aren't defensive midfielders and can be caught out if one or even both fails to stay in position.

Monk also shown his prowess in the summer transfer window, making some intelligent business by bringing in Gylfi Sigurdsson, Bafetimbi Gomis and Federico Fernandez. The Icelandic international, in particular, fits into the squad like a glove to hand and has been one of the best players of the season thus far, helping the side to initiate and keep the attacks going with his movement and final passes. And he has also shown good understanding with Ki and Shelvey as all three are good passers of the ball. Pressurizing and forcing them into mistakes would be key in not allowing them to get into their passing rhythm.

Team news

Chelsea - Diego Costa will face a late fitness test on his hamstring injury before Jose Mourinho finalises his team selection for the game. Should the Spaniard miss the clash, then Loic Remy will be brought in and make his debut for the club. Eden Hazard, however, is expected to shake off a minor achilles problem and be in the starting XI.

Swansea - Monk will assess the fitness of Wilfried Bony, who just played an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Wednesday with Ivory Coast. Marvin Emnes could make the squad for the first time this season after recovering from a hamstring problem but Leon Britton is out for four weeks due to a knee injury.

Stats and Facts

1. Chelsea have won all 3 Premier League home meetings with Swansea and are unbeaten in six in all competitions - W4 D2.

2. The Swans did win 2-0 in the League Cup in January 2013.

3. This is only the second time in Premier League history that the top two sides faced off as early as this in matchweek 4. Then-leaders Chelsea beat second place Tottenham in August 2005.

4. Chelsea have scored 11 goals in the first three league games this season. It took them until their eight game last season to score their 11th goal.

5. Swansea have conceded only one goal in their four games in all competitions this season.

6. Eden Hazard (7) and Fernando Torres (5) got more league assists that anyone else for Chelsea last season. Cesc Fabregas already has 4 this season - a figure that can only be matched by Gylfi Sigurdsson.

7. Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored one and assisted four of Swansea’s six league goals this season. He has assisted as many goals in three appearances this term as he did in 58 for Tottenham overall in the Premier League.

8. If Diego Costa scores against Swansea, he will be the first Chelsea player to score in the first four Premier League matches.

9. All 6 of Chelsea's league defeats last season came before a Champions League tie.

Match Odds (from Sky Bet):

Chelsea win - 2/7

Draw - 9/2

Swansea win - 9/1

Match Coverage:

Depending on where you are from, you can watch the match in the following channels:

United Kingdom: BBC Radio 5 Live

United States: NBC Sports Live Extra

Middle East: beIN Sports

Belgium: Sporting 1

India: Star Sports 4 Asia, Star Sports HD 2 Asia

For additional regions, you can check out the TV schedule for the match here.

There should be many match streams that can be found online if your local sports channels are not broadcasting the game or if you happen to be busy and cannot catch the game live, follow TalkChelsea on Twitter as it would provide live match commentary on the action.

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[iseah100 5,612]

WHOOOO!!!!!

[The Skipper 20,609]

It took us 8 games to score 11 goals last season? Incredible.

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Can I say firstly the title should be: "Blues aim to clip wings of high-flying Swans"

And second how a brilliant summary of a article it was!

I never knew the record against Swansea!

Hopefully we can continue that good tradition

KUTGW!

[Jase 43,479]

It took us 8 games to score 11 goals last season? Incredible.

It's the 4th longest time we took to score 11 goals in Premier League history. And our 11 goals in 3 games this season is the second quickest. Below are the league seasons and the number of games we needed to reach at least 11 goals.

1992/93 - 8

1993/94 - 14

1994/95 - 5

1995/96 - 10

1996/97 - 8

1997/98 - 4

1998/99 - 7

1999/00 - 8

2000/01 - 8

2001/02 - 7

2002/03 - 6

2003/04 - 5

2004/05 - 10

2005/06 - 6

2006/07 - 6

2007/08 - 11

2008/09 - 6

2009/10 - 5

2010/11 - 2

2011/12 - 6

2012/13 - 6

2013/14 - 8

2014/15 - 3

[Jase 43,479]

Can I say firstly the title should be: "Blues aim to clip wings of high-flying Swans"

And second how a brilliant summary of a article it was!

I never knew the record against Swansea!

Hopefully we can continue that good tradition

KUTGW!

Swans do not fly high enough for me.

True. Didn't think straight yesterday as I was feeling rather tired when I did the preview

[Jase 43,479]

We won!