Swansea City vs Everton. Premier League.
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Saturday 6 May 2017 16:38, UK
Fernando Llorente will be available for Swansea as they look to make a final push for Premier League survival when they host Everton on Saturday.
The Spanish striker had been suffering with a stomach bug earlier in the week, but has rejoined his team-mates in training and will be fit for the weekend's clash.
Paul Clement's side are currently two points away from safety with three games of the season to play and there could be a unprecedented '39th game' which would happen if Hull and Swansea finished in joint-18th place, level on points, goal difference and goals scored.
In contrast, Everton are still involved in a race for European football at the other end of the table, with two points separating themselves and Arsenal, as well as sitting seven points behind Manchester United in fifth.
But Ronald Koeman's men have failed to win their last two Premier League games without scoring, and will be looking to get back among the goals on Saturday evening.
Wayne Routledge (hernia) and Angel Rangel (foot) remain out for Swansea, and Jefferson Montero is unlikely to play again this season after damaging a hamstring in the 1-1 draw at Manchester United last weekend.
Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin will not be fit for the trip to Swansea as he continues to struggle with a thigh injury sustained in training but Koeman expects him to be ready for the visit of Watford next Friday.
James McCarthy (hamstring) is edging closer to a return but Saturday is too early and Muhamed Besic (knee) may yet feature before the end of the season while winger Aaron Lennon is absent with a stress-related illness.
Swansea City have won only one of their previous 11 Premier League fixtures against Everton (D5 L5), but are unbeaten in their last five.
Everton have never lost a Premier League match at Liberty Stadium, conceding just twice in five previous visits there (W3 D2).
Three of Swansea's last four goals against Everton in the Premier League have been from the penalty spot, two of which were converted by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Sigurdsson has scored two free kicks this season, including one in the last match against Manchester United - since his Premier League debut in January 2012, he has scored more free kicks than any other player (7).
The Toffees haven't lost an away Premier League game against a side occupying the relegation zone since November 2012, a 2-1 defeat at Reading.
Everton haven't lost an away league game in Wales since a 1-0 defeat to Cardiff at Ninian Park in December 1956 - they are unbeaten in their last 10 games there (W5 D5).
Enner Valencia has scored three goals and assisted once in his last seven Premier League substitute appearances for Everton - however, he hasn't scored or assisted in any of his last 10 league starts (four for Everton, six for West Ham).
The Swans have conceded a penalty in each of their last two Premier League games - the last team to concede in three consecutively were Southampton in September 2016.
This will be a very interesting game. Swansea will have to take into consideration Hull, who face Sunderland at 3pm on Saturday, and the fact they will probably win. It means Swansea will have to respond with a win of their own and that brings its own pressure.
They face a difficult task against Everton, who are difficult to beat on the road. They may have got rolled by Chelsea but in recent weeks they've not played well and still come away with 0-0 draws against Middlesbrough and West Ham. Even when they play badly in these types of games they are difficult to beat.
However, I'm just going to side with Swansea, who will keep the battle for survival going. And if they can win this game they will be the team I fancy to stay up.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
Everton are Sky Bet's marginal favourites at 6/4 with Swansea given a 17/10 chance of boosting their survival chances with a win, while the draw is priced at 5/2. Paul Clement's men headed into the weekend odds-on to face relegation despite their credible point against Manchester United last time out.
Romelu Lukaku heads the first goalscorer betting at 4/1 and is enhanced from 7/1 to 8/1 to score a header in Sky Bet's Price Boosts, while Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente are inseparable on the Swans' side of the market at 11/2 apiece.
