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Swansea logo
Premier League
Dec 5, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Leicester logo

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FT(HT: 0-2)
Mahrez (5', 22', 67')

Preview: Swansea City vs. Leicester City

Sports Mole previews the Premier League match between Swansea City and Leicester City at the Liberty Stadium.

Two sides in contrasting form go head to head at the Liberty Stadium this weekend as struggling Swansea City host in-form Leicester City.

Garry Monk's side will be hoping to stop Jamie Vardy's 11-match goalscoring run, which has propelled the Foxes to second in the table, level on points with the league leaders.


Swansea City

Swansea manager Garry Monk reacts during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and A.F.C. Bournemouth at Liberty Stadium on November 21, 2015© Getty Images

Garry Monk's side are without a win in their last four matches in the Premier League, which has left the Swans 15th in the table, just four points clear of the relegation zone.

Swansea slipped to their third defeat in four outings last weekend, with James Milner scoring from the penalty spot in their 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield.

A return to the Liberty Stadium will be a relief for the team, as two of their three wins in the Premier League so far this season have come on home soil, while four of their six defeats have been in away matches.

The manager's position had been called into question last month, with speculation that he was on the verge of being fired. Despite last week's loss, talk of Monk's dismissal has quietened over the last couple of weeks.

Swansea have averaged just a goal a game this season, with only three sides scoring fewer times in the top flight. They have failed to find the back of the net in five of their six losses, while only once claiming a point in a match that they have been unable to score in.

Defending has been mixed for this weekend's hosts, as the team have conceded two goals fewer than their opponents but have kept just two clean sheets, while their most recent two losses have both been by 1-0 scorelines.

Recent form: LWLLDL


Leicester City

Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester United at The King Power Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Leicester, England.© Getty Images

Leicester lost their grip on top spot in the Premier League after just a week as the league leaders, but their 1-1 draw with Manchester United last time out keeps the team level on points with Manchester City heading into this match.

Claudio Ranieri's side have been led by the goalscoring prowess of Jamie Vardy this season, with the striker scoring in a record 11th straight Premier League match last time out. Vardy has a total of 14 goals this season, leading the division.

Leicester have lost only once this season, and are unbeaten in their last seven outings, five of which have been victories for the Foxes.

The team has the second-best goalscoring record in the top flight with 29 goals, having scored just one goal fewer than Man City, and more than twice as many as their opponents.

Defending has been a problem at times, with Kasper Schmeichel keeping just two clean sheets in 14 matches while letting in 21 goals - only six of the seven bottom sides in the league have conceded more times.

Leicester are unbeaten away from home during the 2015-16 campaign, winning four of their seven games away from the King Power Stadium so far this season.

Recent form: DWWWWD
Recent form (all competitions): WLWWWD


Team News

Ritchie De Laet in action for Leicester on January 3, 2015© Getty Images

Vardy has been playing through injuries in recent weeks, struggling with a hip problem while also working around a broken wrist, but the striker has vowed to play on through his complaints.

Richie de Laet will miss the trip after picking up a knock in training, though, leaving him and Matty James as the only injured players for Leicester. Nathan Dyer will also miss out, as the on-loan midfielder is ineligible to face his parent club.

Meanwhile, the home side will be without Franck Tabanou after he picked up a thigh injury, ruling him out for the next few weeks, although the defender has not featured in the Premier League so far this season.

Garry Monk has an otherwise fully fit squad, but may consider changes in a bid to end his side's winless run, with striker Bafetimbi Gomis having not scored in his last 11 appearances for the club, dropping to the bench for the trip to Anfield last time out.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Fabianski, Naughton, Bartley, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Ki, Routledge, Sidurdsson, Ayew, Eder

Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Schlupp, Ulloa, Vardy


Head To Head

When the two sides met in the Premier League last season, both claimed 2-0 victories at home, with Wilfried Bony scoring a brace in their last fixture at the Liberty Stadium.

In seven previous meetings between the two sides, the home team has always come away with the win, with Leicester securing four victories to Swansea's three.

Fixtures between these two sides have typically been low scoring, with neither team having ever scored more than two goals in a match.


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We say: Swansea City 1-2 Leicester City

Leicester City have been unbeatable away from home this season, and have shown plenty of fight to come from behind for victory on several occasions. With Swansea struggling to score goals against a side that have one of the best attacks in the league, it is hard to see the hosts keeping up with their opponents.



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Garry Monk manager of Swansea City looks on ahead of the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on October 4, 2015 in Swansea, Wales.
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