Premier League: Swansea City v Manchester City match preview
A look ahead to the New Year's Day clash at the Liberty Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.It’s been a tale of two Cities this season: while Manchester City’s bravura attacking displays have left them just one point off the top, Swansea City have struggled to recapture last season’s excellent form, and find themselves in the bottom half of the table.
It was a case of eleven Swans a-slumping over the festive period, with no wins for the Welsh side from their last five matches. They suffered a particularly dispiriting draw against Aston Villa last time out, failing to find a winner despite monopolising possession against the struggling Villans, and have now recorded just one clean sheet in their last ten games.
Michael Laudrup will be hoping his side don’t suffer a hangover from the Christmas period, but Manuel Pellegrini’s visitors will provide a stern test for the hosts, who have struggled at the Liberty this season. Although their away form has been patchy, City have the attacking firepower to blow any team away. With Aguero, Negredo and Toure all in ominous form, New Year would be a fine time for Swansea’s wavering defence to find a bit of resolution.
KICK OFF: New Year's Day, 12.45pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
Manchester City 3 (Negredo, Nasri 2) Swansea City 0, Premier League, December 2013
Swansea City 0 Manchester City 0, Premier League, May 2013
Manchester City 1 (Tevez) Swansea City 0, Premier League, October 2012
STATS…
These sides have met 25 times, with Manchester City winning 15, including 5 of the last 7. They last won at Swansea in 1984, with a 0-2 victory in the Second Division.
Manchester City have kept 5 clean sheets in their last 6 league meetings with Swansea.
The Citizens need 2 more goals in this fixture to match the best haul recorded by a Premier League team after 20 games – a record they set in 2011-12 with 56.
Jesus Navas has made 3 assists and scored 1 goal in his last 4 league appearances.
Swansea took only 39 points from 37 Premier League games in 2013; in 2012, they notched up 55 points from 39 matches.
ODDS…
Swansea City to win: 5.8
Manchester City to win: 1.57
Draw: 3.9
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1, highlights on BBC1 at 10.50pm
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