Swansea City v Palace

Liberty Stadium, Sunday 4.30pm

Story so far

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at fantasy.premierleague.com or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.

Crystal Palace could not capitalise on a Manchester Utd side low on confidence as they fell to a 0-2 defeat at Selhurst Park last time out. Tony Pulis will be looking for an immediate reaction from his players this weekend though as they remain perched just above the relegation zone.

Marouane Chamakh was at fault for last weekend’s penalty but he has still had a solid season since arriving at Selhurst Park. So far he’s worked the ‘keeper with 60% of his 15 attempts on goal, a respectable total. Chamakh is 19/5 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.

Mile Jedinak has been perhaps the standout player of Palace’s first season back in the Premier League, the Australian midfielder clearly not struggling to compete amongst league’s elite. As if to underline his huge importance to Palace, he currently leads the Palace squad in attacking contributions with 429, and is second only to Damien Delaney for defensive contributions with 272 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

Winger Yannick Bolasie has retained his willingness to take the game to the opposition this season. He ranks second behind only Jason Puncheon the Palace squad for total dribbles with 30 according to the EA SPORTS Player performance Index.

Puncheon himself has been a smart acquisition for Palace, providing extra impetus to their attacks this term. He is joint first amongst his teammates for crosses with 17, as well leading the Palace squad for assists with two.

What looked like a potential rout eventually turned into a great fightback from Swansea as they pushed Liverpool all the way an Anfield but eventually went down 4-3 to the Reds thanks to Daniel Sturridges’ 74th minute goal.

Wilfried Bony has been a crucial addition to the Swansea squad this term, his power and technique up front causing problems for defences all season. He’s had an attempt on goal on average once every 25.5 minutes he’s been on the pitch this season. Bony is an industry best 16/11 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.

Midfielder Leon Britton was a crucial part of the Swans’ plan of attack in the middle of the park against Liverpool, making a number of crucial interventions. He completed the highest number of passes in the opponent’s half of any Swansea player with 22 according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

Although he has won the highest number of challenges of any Swansea player this season (63), Chico Flores will no doubt be looking to limit how often he is drawing himself to the attention of the officials for the remainder of the season. He has racked up more fouls than any other Swans player this term with 30.

No Swansea player has been as physically committed to the cause as Ashley Williams this term, the Welsh defender throwing himself into challenges with abandon. He’s compiled a squad-high 27 blocks this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

Team news

Fit-again Crystal Palace forward Glenn Murray is set for a second successive start again after playing 66 minutes in last weekend's 2-0 reverse by Manchester United. Winger Jerome Thomas faces a fitness test on a back strain that's been troubling him for a while.

Swansea defender Ben Davies has recovered from a calf injury after appearing in Thursday's 3-1 Europa League defeat by Napoli.

Winger Nathan Dyer is doubtful of playing due to a heel injury in that game, however Leon Britton might come back after he was rested in midweek.

Palace: (from) Speroni, Hennessey, Gabbidon, Moxey, Mariappa, Delaney, Dann, McCarthy, Ward, Parr, Murray, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Ledley, O'Keefe, Bannan, Thomas, Bolasie, Ince, Puncheon, Gayle, Jerome, Chamakh, Wilbraham.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"Swansea have a continuity and identity that they have kept for a long time. They have some very good players and we are expecting a very tough game.

"Playing away games in Europe followed by an away game in the league is difficult and you would rather have a home game.

"I don’t think it will make too much difference though, because they have a good squad and they made five changes last night.

"It will be a tough game for us, but we need to get a run together. It is going to be tough, like it is for everyone [down the bottom of the table], but it is exciting.

"We brought Glenn in last week because we felt it was a good game for him to play in, with the champions in town and with the crowd and the atmosphere. We desperately need a fit Glenn Murray to be playing. We think that he will score the goals to help keep us in the Premier League."

Tom Ince

"Swansea play nice football and did ever so well against Napoli - but will they be able to handle the threat we give them with Glenn Murray, Marouane Chamakh, Cameron Jerome, Yannick Bolasie, Jason Puncheon and myself?

"They will want to play their fluid type of football and be expansive - but look at the number of times we counter-attacked West Brom. It's different when you play Manchester United because they keep the ball so well.

"Swansea play similar (football) but are probably not as effective - they haven’t got the Wayne Rooneys and Robin van Persies who, when you do give them the space, will kill you off.

"We have to nullify what Swansea do and then play our own game. I'm sure Swansea won't be able to handle what we do. We've got some games we feel we can pick up some points. It probably will go down to the wire.

"But we're confident that on our patch we can cause other teams problems. Against Manchester United you take it on the chin. Swansea will be a totally different kettle of fish this weekend."

---

Swansea City - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
12th	27	7	7	13	28

Full league table

---

Swansea City - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
8	2	1	5	12	15

Full form table

---

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
22/09/2013	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	Swansea City
15/01/2011	League	Swansea City	3 - 0	Crystal Palace
30/10/2010	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 3	Swansea City
09/02/2010	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 1	Swansea City
28/12/2009	League	Swansea City	0 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

---

Last meeting

Palace 0-2 Swansea City

Sunday September 22 2013

Palace: Speroni, Mariappa, Gabbidon, Moxey, Delaney (Campana, 45), Jedinak, Guedioura, Bannan (Thomas, 67), Puncheon, Chamakh, Jerome (Gayle, 67)

Subs not used: Phillips, Kebe, O'Keefe, Alexander

Bookings: Chamakh, Moxey

Swansea City: Vorm, Chico, Williams, Rangel, Davies, Shelvey, Michu, Dyer (Pozuelo, 71), Routledge, Canas (Britton, 78), Alvaro (De Guzmán, 61)

Subs not used: Amat, Tiendalli, Bony, Tremmel

Goals: Michu (2), Dyer (48)

Bookings: Chico, Rangel

Prediction league

0 members have predicted for this game so far.

Make your prediction on this game

Away travel info

Click here