The 3 key battles as Premier League leaders Chelsea host Swansea City

Tom Carroll vs N’Golo Kante

The battle of midfield supremacy is absolutely crucial in Premier League football, and it’s something that N’Golo Kante has got down to a tee.

The French international has continued at Chelsea where he left off at champions Leicester last season with several impressive displays in the middle for the Blues, starting all but one of their 25 league matches this term.

The 25-year-old continues to intercept almost everything and reads and anticipates the game incredibly well, with his partnership with Nemanja Matic in the Chelsea midfield arguably the best in the division.

And it will be up to Swansea’s Tom Carroll to try and minimise Kante’s influence in the middle of the park on Saturday.

The 24-year-old left Tottenham in January after not appearing at all for the club in the league this season, yet he has already started all four of Swansea’s league matches since his arrival.

And no wonder, given that his displays have been impressive, and he even chipped in with an assist in the win at Liverpool last month.

It’s going to be a tough ask for Carroll, but keeping the ball moving and keeping Kante out of the action will be key if Swansea are to get anything from Stamford Bridge on Saturday.