Premier League preview: Swansea vs Chelsea

Chelsea should expect a tougher encounter at Swansea on Tuesday than their 4-1 win in the corresponding fixture would suggest.

Fourth-placed Chelsea were easily the better side at Stamford Bridge on September 25, with both Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba scoring in an easy victory.

But Swansea, who sit 13th on the English Premier League table, showed they can match it against the top clubs with their 3-2 win at home to Arsenal on January 15.

It was Swansea’s first win over a club in the top five this season, but they have since lost two games away from home.

Leading into their clash with Chelsea, Swansea were defeated 2-0 by Sunderland, before being knocked out of the FA Cup by Bolton on Saturday.

Premier League strugglers Bolton triumphed 2-1 over a second-string Swansea side last Saturday, with Chris Eagles scoring the winner.

Swans’ manager Brendan Rogers made 10 changes to the side that lost to Sunderland a week earlier, in a clear sign that the league is their priority.

Chelsea head into the match at the Liberty Stadium in better form than the home side.

The west London club have not lost in 2012, registering three wins, including a 1-0 FA Cup triumph over QPR on Saturday, and a draw away to Norwich in the league.

Chelsea moved into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a tight win in a spiteful London derby, which focused more on John Terry returning to the ground where he allegedly racially vilified Anton Ferdinand, rather than the action on the pitch.

But Chelsea may have to take on Swansea without Frank Lampard, the scorer of the winning goal in both of their Premier League wins this year.

Lampard missed the victory over QPR with a calf injury and is rated only a 50-50 chance to play in Wales.

Ramires is a definite out for Chelsea.

The Brazilian midfielder injured his medial ligament against QPR and is expected to be sidelined for a month.

Attacking pair Drogba and Salomon Kalou are on international duty with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Swansea’s only absentee is Josh McEachran; the on-loan midfielder is ineligible to play against parent club Chelsea.