Swansea v Chelsea preview: Chelsea play first match since Antonio Conte confirmation

Chelsea are set to play Swansea for the first time since Antonio Conte was confirmed as manager.

Swansea have never beaten the Blues in the Premier League, and Guus Hiddink remains unbeaten in the league since taking over on an interim basis.

However, Swansea will be looking to make sure of their top-flight safety and earn an elusive three points over their opponents.

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Andre Ayew has shaken off an ankle problem and is available for Saturday,

Ayew, Swansea's top goalscorer with eight, has missed the last three games but midfielder Leon Britton and defender Jordi Amat are both struggling with back problems and could miss out.

Full-back Neil Taylor and striker Alberto Paloschi, whose equaliser after coming on as a substitute at Stoke last weekend earned a 2-2 draw, are in contention to return to the starting line-up.

Chelsea will be without John Terry, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Nemanja Matic when they play at Swansea in the Premier League on Saturday.

Costa completes his three-match suspension and fellow striker Remy has a groin problem, so Alexandre Pato could make his first start or Radamel Falcao could make his first appearance since October following a thigh problem.

Terry (Achilles) and Hazard (hip/groin) remain out, along with midfielder Matic (bruised leg), while defender Gary Cahill (hip) faces a fitness test.

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Swansea City have never beaten Chelsea in a league match during their time in the Premier League (D3 L6).

The Blues won 5-0 in this exact fixture last season, their biggest away win over Swansea in any competition.

Chelsea are looking to keep a fourth consecutive clean sheet at the Liberty Stadium (in all competitions).

Diego Costa has scored more goals against Swansea City than any other Premier League side (5).

Swans' playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson (10) is the first Icelandic player to score 10+ goals in a Premier League season since Eidur Gudjohnsen in 2004/05 (12).

Chelsea are enjoying the longest unbeaten run of any team in the Premier League this season, going 15 games without a loss (W7 D8).

Swansea's last five home league games have produced a total of just six goals, with no side scoring more than once in any of those fixtures.

The Swans have shipped a league-high four own-goals this season.

Chelsea are unbeaten on their five trips to Wales in the Premier League, winning the last three (two wins, two draws v Swansea and one win v Cardiff).

Merson's predictions

Swansea are pretty much safe for me. They had a good result last week coming back from 2-0 down to draw with Stoke. 

But Chelsea haven't been beaten for a while now in the league, and I can see them continuing that at the Liberty Stadium this weekend.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (Sky Bet odds 16/1)

Betting

Chelsea are Sky Bet's 21/20 favourites for the victory on Saturday afternoon, with Swansea 13/5 outsiders while the draw is priced at 12/5. The Blues are 100/1 for a top-four finish despite their unbeaten run under Hiddink, while Swansea are 66/1 to finish in the top-half after staving off the threat of relegation. Bertrand Traore heads the first goalscorer betting in Costa's absence while Bafetimbi Gomis is considered the hosts' main threat at 7/1. Phil Thompson is backing Pedro to score first in his Sky Bet tips, which Sky Bet have enhanced from 6/1 to 7/1.