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Sep 13, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
SL

4-2

Costa (45', 56', 67'), Remy (81')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Terry (11' og.), Shelvey (86')

Preview: Chelsea vs. Swansea City

:Headline: Preview: Chelsea vs. Swansea City: ID:176151: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Chelsea's clash with Swansea City on Saturday as the only two teams with 100% Premier League records this season meet at Stamford Bridge.

The only two sides with 100% Premier League records this season clash on Saturday afternoon when Chelsea entertain co-leaders Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

Both teams have picked up the maximum nine points from their opening three games and are already starting to see a return on their summer acquisitions.

Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored one goal and provided three assists since making a £10m switch back to Wales, but it is Chelsea who have done arguably the best business.

Cesc Fabregas has effortlessly reacquainted himself with English football, while Diego Costa's start to life with the Blues suggests that he could be the signing of the summer.

The striker has scored four goals in his first three games since his £32m arrival from Atletico Madrid, including two in the thrilling 6-3 victory over Everton before the international break.

He is a doubt for this weekend having picked up an injury while on Spain duty, and therefore Loic Remy, who scored against Costa's adopted country last week, could be handed a Chelsea debut.

The Frenchman and Didier Drogba are both on standby should Costa fail a late fitness test, and the versatile Remy could even play wide left if Eden Hazard does not recover from a muscle strain.

Chelsea are optimistic on the Belgian's fitness, but have plenty of alternative options in a squad so deep with quality that they have already been made the favourites to win the title this campaign.

Ramires, brought into solidify the midfield against the Toffees, could be sacrificed and replaced by Andre Schurrle in a switch that would see Fabregas drop back alongside Nemanja Matic.

Filipe Luis and Oscar, who was not even among the substitutes last time out, may have to be content with places on the bench, but the Brazilian duo, plus compatriot Ramires, will likely get their starting chance when Chelsea begin their Champions League campaign against Schalke on Wednesday.

The Swans had a taste of European football themselves last year and seem to be benefitting from the absence of early-season continental fixtures.

They have eight more points than at this stage last term, and Garry Monk has been able to name the same side for all of their Premier League outings.

Considering their 3-0 triumph over West Bromwich Albion a fortnight ago, there is no reason that the youngest manager in the division will change things dramatically for their trip to the capital.

Argentine international defender Federico Fernandez may be kept waiting for his Swansea bow because of Jordi Amat's assured displays next to Ashley Williams in defence.

Liberty Stadium new boys Tom Carroll and Jefferson Montero are also yet to start in the top flight, with the form of Ki Sung-yeung and Nathan Dyer, who has three goals already, limiting them to the bench thus far.

Monk, though, may opt for Bafetimbi Gomis in attack, with Wilfried Bony having flown to Africa and back this week to play for his country. Leon Britton, Marvin Emnes and Alan Tate are all ruled out.

Chelsea have kept clean sheets in eight of their last nine top-flight home games and have not lost in the league to Swansea since 1981.

Recent form

Chelsea: WWW

Swansea: WWWW

Possible starting lineups

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Hazard, Willian, Schurrle; Costa

Swansea: Fabianski; Rangel, Williams, Amat, Taylor; Shelvey, Ki; Dyer, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Gomis

Sports Mole says: 1-0


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