The English premier league approaches the final stages of another captivating season this Saturday (May 6th),with only a handful of matches left to play, as league rivals Swansea AFC and Everton FC square off at the Liberty Stadium, with the kick-off commencing at (18:30 CET/17:30 GMT). The spoils of victory were shared between these two sides back in November, when the Toffee’s entertained the Swansea City AFC at Goodison Park, but at this pivotal stage in the season, both teams will be pushing for the three points, in what promises to be an intense showdown between these two league adversaries.
SWANSEA CITY AFC vs. EVERTON FC
3-Way: 1: Swansea City AFC +185; X: +250 Draw; Everton FC +170
Spread 0: Swansea City AFC +104 ; Everton FC -109
Total +2.5 : Over -105; Under +100
SWANSEA CITY AFC
The Swansea City AFC has endured a painstaking season, and due to their defensive frailties the club is currently staring relegation in the face, just seven points clear from being demoted at the end of this campaign. The Swansea City FC emerged victorious in their last match played on home soil, in what was a comprehensive win against the Potters (2:0). However, the struggling side has lost six of their last ten matches domestically, and has managed to claim victory in just two of their last four matches played at the Liberty Stadium. Only the bottom three teams in the league, possesses a worse home record than Swansea AFC this season.
Defensively, the club has the worst record in the league, and has conceded 69 goals this season, 33 of which have been leaked on home soil. That being said, the club has managed five clean sheets out of their seventeen league appearances at home this season, and the side will require a resilient, monumental effort to keep out the goal scoring machine that is Romelu Lukaku this Saturday.
The Spanish striker Fernando Llorente is the club’s current top goal scorer this season, the striker has netted twelve times, and has notched up four braces throughout this campaign, his last goal came against Stoke City in a (2:0) triumph at the Liberty Stadium, back on April 22nd. Following closely behind, is midfield general Gylfi Sigurdsson, who has found the net on nine occasions domestically, reaching ten in all competitions.
Swansea Coach Paul Clement will have to go into this contest without pacey winger Wayne Routledge, who is absent with a Hernia, and is not set to return to the side, until the end of May. The skilled Ecuadorian Jefferson Montero is still sidelined with a persistent Hamstring injury, and is a major doubt for the rest of this season. The defender Angel Rangel is recovering from a metatarsal fracture, and is not expected to return to the first team until early June, whilst midfielder Nathan Dyer completes the list of casualties for Saturday’s hotly anticipated showdown.
EVERTON FC
The Everton FC continues their relentless pursuit of Europa league qualification, when the side travels to the Liberty stadium, to take on the relegation fighting Swansea City AFC this Saturday. The Toffee’s are currently ranked 6th in the league, and the club has big aspirations of European football next season. In order to achieve this, the team must close a six point gap on Manchester United, who currently occupy fifth spot in the Premier League table. However, the Red Devils have two games in hand, so anything but a win, would be catastrophic for the visiting side this Saturday. To put it simply, Ronald Koeman’s side cannot afford to drop any more points, if they wish to achieve their goal of automatic Europa league qualification next season.
Away from home, the Everton FC has won only four of their seventeen matches played this season, and the club has lost seven games at the Goodison Park Stadium on home soil. Worse still, the Everton has failed to score on five separate occasions at home, and the club will be hoping that their attacking juggernaut Romelu Lukaku will rediscover his shooting boots, when the side locks horns with Swansea AFC this Saturday.
The ace striker Romelu Lukaku continues to lead the race for the Golden Boot this season, the forward has netted 24 times for his club, and is currently three ahead of the Spurs frontman Harry Kane, who has a tally of 21 goals this campaign. The talented midfielder Ross Barkley is the Everton FC’s second greatest goal threat this season, with a sum of five goals, but the side will be looking to utilize this young players creative capabilities this Saturday, the midfielder has provided eight assists this season.
The Irish International James Mccarthy is expected to miss Saturday’s match against Swansea City with a Hamstring issue, whilst the powerful forward Yannick Bolasie is still suffering from a Knee injury, and is also unlikely to feature. The French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin will not be available for the Swansea City match, but the clubs manager Ronald Koeman has assured fans that the influential midfielder will make a return to the side before the end of this season.
Swansea City AFC vs. Everton FC Match Prediction
The Everton FC will be devastated after their recent defeat on home soil, to the league leaders Chelsea, and prolific frontman Romelu Lukaku will be licking his lips, knowing that Saturday’s opposition has the worst defensive record in the league this season.
The Swansea City AFC will draw encouragement from their recent away performance, the visitors managed to salvage a point at the Old Trafford against the famous Red Devils. Prior to that draw, the Swans collected all three points at home, so it seems that they have caught on some momentum going into the clash on Saturday.
This one is set up to be an enthralling encounter, my money’s on Everton FC to bounce back from their recent devastating home loss, and claim victory on the road, to take all three points this Saturday. However, it will not be easy for the visitors, especially taking in consideration their form away from home throughout the season. I think that both teams should put up a fair battle and score at least 1 goals each.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (-130)
