Swansea City vs Leicester City. Premier League.
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Sunday 12 February 2017 16:19, UK
Jordan Ayew could make his Swansea debut this weekend as they host Leicester in a vital relegation clash on Nissan Super Sunday.
The Ghana international joined the club on Deadline Day but is yet to make an appearance as he was playing for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they made the semi-finals.
Both teams are languishing just above the relegation zone by a point, with Swans boss Paul Clement - named Premier League manager of the month for January on Friday - urging his side to make their home advantage count.
"The two teams are level on points and we will not play each other again this season, so that adds an extra spice to the fixture," Clement told Swansea's official website. "We are at home, which is a clear advantage, so we need to make use of that."
Claudio Ranieri's side were in FA Cup replay action in midweek where they overcame local rivals Derby 3-1 to reach the fifth round, and the Italian wants his team to use the result as a springboard for a vital three league points.
"I am confident in my players. The win against Derby in the FA Cup will give us more confidence and we have to keep going. It is an important battle, a very tough match," Ranieri said.
Coverage on Nissan Super Sunday starts at 12.30pm live on Sky Sports 1 with presenter David Jones joined by Alan Smith and Wales manager Chris Coleman and you can also watch all the action in UHD via Sky Q.
Not able to watch the game? Sky Sports still has you covered, with minute-by-minute commentary across all digital platforms as well as in-game clips, half-time and full-time highlights available on the mobile app and in the Football Score Centre with a free Sky iD.
Ki Sung-yueng (knee) and Jefferson Montero (hamstring) are definitely ruled out for Swansea, while Leon Britton might also be missing with a recurrence of a calf problem.
Leicester boss Ranieri swapped 10 players for the FA Cup replay in midweek, and the likes of Kasper Schmeichel, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan, Danny Drinkwater, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy are all expected to return to the team.
Demarai Gray is pushing for a starting place after impressing on Wednesday night, while Islam Slimani (groin) is fit again and recent signing Molla Wague could be involved in the squad. However, Leonardo Ulloa (thigh) remains out.
None of the last 12 meetings in all competitions between these sides has ended as a draw, with Leicester winning nine and Swansea three.
Mahrez scored a hat-trick in this exact fixture last season, the first scored by a Leicester player in an away Premier League game.
Leicester are the only Premier League side yet to score a goal in 2017 and have gone five games without one. The last top-flight side to fail to score in their opening six games of a calendar year were Stoke City in 1985.
Swansea have already conceded 54 Premier League goals this season - the joint-most they have ever done in a Premier League season (also 54 in 2013-14).
The Foxes remain without an away win in the Premier League since a 2-0 victory at Sunderland last April - they are on a run of 14 games without a win (D5 L9). Only once before in the Premier League have they had a longer winless away run, going 16 games without a win between December 2001 and October 2003.
Last season, Vardy (10) and Mahrez (12) scored a combined 22 goals away from home in the Premier League - this season they have scored three (Vardy on one, Mahrez with two).
Seven of Gylfi Sigurdsson's last 11 home Premier League goals for Swansea City have been scored from set pieces (four from free-kicks, three penalties).
Sigurdsson has scored in his last three Premier League games - the only player to score in four consecutive PL matches for Swansea is Danny Graham in October 2011.
I said it a few weeks ago and I'll say it again, Leicester are going to get relegated. The biggest story in football history is going to turn into the biggest embarrassment in football history. If they go down, shockwaves will go around the world, it is unbelievable. But this is where they are, this is Leicester.
I might be wrong but I cannot see a way out for them. Swansea are a decent team, they have the best player in the bottom half of the league in Gylfi Sigurdsson and Paul Clement has bought well. On their day Leicester can beat teams, but those days aren't coming quick enough.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
Swansea are Sky Bet's 11/8 favourites for the victory with Leicester 2/1 for the win while the draw is priced at 23/10. Both sides are considered very much in the relegation mix, with the Swans 13/8 to go down while the champions follow in the betting as fifth favourites go down at 5/2. Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente lead a wide open the first goalscorer market at 5/1 apiece, while Islam Slimani and Jamie Vardy head the visitors' side of the betting at 6/1.
