Swansea v Norwich preview: Hosts to bring back big guns
Saturday 5 March 2016 15:04, UK
Swansea are likely to bring back several of the players rested in midweek when they take on Norwich on Saturday at the Liberty Stadium.
Angel Rangel, Federico Fernandez, Neil Taylor, Leon Britton, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alberto Paloschi all are available for the crunch relegation battle after being stood down for the shock 2-1 win at Arsenal in midweek.
The match represents a fantastic opportunity for the Swans to pull nine points clear of Norwich in 18th, with the Canaries' position looking more perilous as we approach the business end of the season.
Norwich were dealt a huge blow in the run up to this encounter, with Alex Tettey ruled out for what could be the rest of the season - making boss Alex Neil's task all the more difficult.
Despite boasting a good recent record against the Swans, confidence will not be high going into the encounter in south Wales, as they are without in a win in their last eight in all competitions.
Team news
Swansea head coach Francesco Guidolin will miss the game as he has been in hospital with a chest infection since Wednesday, and doctors have advised the Italian needs extra time to continue his recovery.
Numerous changes are expected, but it remains to be seen if the Swans stick with the players who dented the Gunners' title hopes in midweek.
Tettey will definitely be missing for the Canaries. Robbie Brady lost teeth in a clash of heads with Gary O'Neil, who was left with a deep gash, during the midweek home defeat by Chelsea, but both are expected to be available at the Liberty Stadium.
Forward Steven Naismith was rested against Chelsea because of fatigue, but should return to the squad, along with centre-half Sebastien Bassong and on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford, who was ineligible to face his parent club.
Defender Andre Wisdom, on loan from Liverpool, remains out with a knee problem.
Opta stats
Swansea City and Norwich City have met 52 times in all competitions with both sides winning 21 games.
The Swans have won just one of the seven Premier League meetings with the Canaries (W1 D2 L4).
There have been 15 goals scored across the three Premier League meetings between Norwich and Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea have won just two of their last 12 Premier League matches at the Liberty Stadium (W2 D5 L5).
The Canaries have kept the joint-fewest clean sheets in the Premier League this season (three, along with Sunderland).
A league-low 25.7 per cent of Swansea's passes have been in the final third of the pitch this season.
Only bottom club Aston Villa have conceded the first goal of a Premier League game on as many occasions as Norwich City (20 matches) this season.
Norwich have conceded more goals from crosses than any other Premier League team this season (15).
Swansea City have conceded a league-high 10 goals from corner situations in the Premier League this season.
After scoring in each of his first four Premier League appearances this season, Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis has scored just once in his last 21 games in the competition.
Merson's prediction
If you had asked me three days ago, I would have said that this is Swansea's cup final, but now if they win this game that is it, I think they are safe - all within a matter of a week. No one expected them to beat Arsenal - I don't think they did either given the team they sent out! But fair play to them.
I am going to go for 1-1 here. I think Norwich will have a go and one day they will put away all these chances they create.
Paul predicts: 1-1 (Sky Bet Odds 5/1)
Betting
Swansea caused one of the upsets of the season when 2-1 winners at Arsenal on Wednesday evening but are Sky Bet's odds-on (19/20) favourites to get the better of Norwich, who find themselves level on points with Sunderland but inside the relegation zone due to a less favourable goal difference. The Canaries are 2/5 for the drop and 3/1 to pick up all three points from their trip to the Liberty Stadium. It's 12/5 against the draw, with 1-1 the 5/1 favourite in the correct score market. Sky Sports experts Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson are both backing the Swans' Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew to score the opening goal of the game, with is also available at 5/1.
