Swansea City vs Crystal Palace: Preview & Prediction

Swansea City host Crystal Palace at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon knowing that three points could be a huge stride towards securing their status in the Premier League.

The Swans are unbeaten in three league matches since a humiliating FA Cup exit against League Two high-fliers Oxford United last month, hauling themselves five points clear of the relegation zone.

Their last outing produced a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion – Gylfi Sigurdsson’s fourth goal in five games was cancelled out in stoppage time by Salomon Rondon.

The Eagles, comparatively, have failed to build on a promising start to the campaign – having been fifth at Christmas, a seven-game winless run including five consecutive defeats has seen the South Londoners drop to 12th.

Palace have also won just once in their last nine encounters with this weekend’s opponents; the last three have been drawn, and it was against the Swans whom Alan Pardew’s men last picked up a point against.

Their last victory was also on the road – Lee Chung-Yong’s late winner against Stoke City on December 19th gave them a 2-1 triumph at the Britannia Stadium.

Team News:

Francesco Guidolin has a full squad to choose from for this clash, with the exception of Sung-Yeung Ki – he is ruled out with concussion.

Meanwhile, former Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ledley should be available to face his boyhood club’s bitter rivals – Yohan Cabaye is also expected to be fit, while Dwight Gayle has recovered from a lengthy setback.

Bakary Sako and Yannick Bolasie, however, are both still absent.

League Positions: Swansea City – 16th (26 pts); Crystal Palace – 12th (31 pts)
Previous Meeting: Crystal Palace 0-0 Swansea City – December 28, 2015
League Form: Swansea City – DLLWWD; Crystal Palace – DLLLLL
Key Players: Swansea City – Gylfi Sigurdsson; Crystal Palace – Yohan Cabaye
Shoot Says: Swansea City 1-0 Crystal Palace