Premier League: Swansea vs Sunderland match preview
A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Liberty Stadium
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Swansea City manager Garry Monk will mark a year in charge of the Swans on Saturday against Sunderland at the Liberty Stadium.
Their former player has guided Swansea from two points off the relegation zone when Monk took charge last season and now he has guided the Welsh outfit to ninth in the Premier league.
The inconsistent Swans are trying to cope with life after goal-machine Wilfred Bony left for Manchester City but what they lack in consistency they make up for in symmetry with two wins, two losses and two draws in their last six games.
The hosts, who could give a debut to new midfield signing Jack Cork, haven’t lost back-to-back home games since January 2014 but 14th placed Sunderland have only beaten them once in their seven Premier League encounters.
Gus Poyet’s side have lost their last two away matches in the top flight after a run of five games unbeaten, four of them clean sheets.
Jermaine Defoe, 32, opened got off the mark for his new club against Burnley last weekend and the striker will hope he can contribute to a potential third straight win in eight days.
The Black Cats won’t be helped however by the key absentees of Connor Wickham, Lee Cattermole, Adam Johnson, Jack Rodwell and Emmanuele Giaccherini. The Swans themselves are without the suspended Gylfi Sigurdsson and the injured Marvin Emnes and Wayne Routledge.
KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
Sunderland 0 Swansea 0, Premier League, September 2014
Sunderland 1 (Borini) Swansea 3 (Dyer, Emnes, Bony), May 2014
Swansea 4 (OG Bardsley, De Guzman, Bony, OG Fletcher) Sunderland 0, October 2013
STATS…
Head-to-head league record: Swansea wins 7, draws 8, Sunderland wins 10
Sunderland have been dealt more cards than any other Premier League team (58 yellow, one red)
Nobody has scored more own goals than Sunderland this season (5).
For keepers who have made at least ten saves, only Costel Pantilimon (78 per cent) has a better saves to shots ratio in the Premier League this season than Lukasz Fabianksi (74 per cent).
From winning positions, Swansea have dropped more points than any other top flight team this season (16).
ODDS…
Swansea to win: 1.95
Sunderland to win: 4.6
Draw: 3.6
CLASSIC MATCH...
Sunderland 7-2 Swansea Town – (9/12/1961)
To date Sunderland’s biggest win over the Swans, one of their biggest ever, as the Black Cats stretched their unbeaten run, one loss in 13.
Two hat tricks were scored that day, Nigel Clough (no not that one!) and Ambrose Fogarty, with Harry Cooper completing the rout.
TV: Highlights on MOTD on BBC1 at 10.30pm
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments