Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of today's Premier League encounter between Stoke City and Swansea City at the Britannia Stadium. There is plenty to play for at both ends of the table, and we should have team news through for you shortly.

SWANSEA: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Carroll, Ki, Sigurdsson; Dyer, Routledge, Bony

SWANSEA SUBS: Tremmel, Bartley, Shephard, Fulton, Montero, Emnes, Gomis

Following his side's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United last time out, Swansea boss Garry Monk has made two changes to his starting lineup. Angel Rangel returns to replace Jazz Richards in defence, while Tom Carroll comes in for the suspended Jonjo Shelvey.

STOKE: Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; Nzonzi, Adam, Diouf, Ireland, Moses; Crouch

STOKE SUBS: Sorensen, Muniesa, Walters, Cameron, Sidwell, Assaidi, Bojan

Stoke manager Mark Hughes has gone for three changes this afternoon after seeing his side suffer a 3-1 defeat to Sunderland before the international break. Erik Pieters, Mame Biram Diouf and Stephen Ireland are all given the nod, while Marc Muniesa, Marko Arnautovic and Glenn Whelan are the trio who make way.

Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "As the home team the onus is on us to take the game to them. They've got pace in wide areas and they will hurt you if you're not conscientious and don't get your numbers right defensively. But the onus is on us to get our noses in front and score the first goal.

"We are looking to be nice and solid and take the game to Swansea. They've got a good team and have had a great start to the season. We had two really good games against them last year and no one came out on top. It will be close again, but given our display in the game against Newcastle, that will help us and give us confidence to take the game away from them."

Swansea boss Garry Monk: "Stoke is never an easy place to go and we know we have never won there in the Premier League. However, we should have won the last time we played there in February, so hopefully we can repeat that performance and get the victory.

"They try and play football, but they still have that direct aspect of their game, which makes them dangerous. It's very hard to play against them, but we have to go up there with the belief that we have, take it into this game and try and impose ourselves on them."

UPDATE: Today's early kickoff in the Premier League has just ended an it was an absolute cracker at Loftus Road, with Liverpool winning 3-2. However, that only tells half of the story. Coutinho put the visitors 2-1 up in the 90th minute, only for Eduardo Vargas to make it 2-2 deep in stoppage time. With the game looking like it would end all square, Caulker then put through his own net to give Liverpool a remarkable victory.

Anyway, back to business. Swansea can move into the Champions League places this afternoon if they leave the Britannia Stadium with the three points. The Swans have been unconvincing in recent weeks, drawing their last two games, but their brand of attacking football is likely to cause Stoke a few problems today.

As for Stoke, the Potters will be eager to pick up some points following their indifferent start to the season. Mark Hughes's side currently sit in 15th place in the table, just one point above the relegation zone. However, victory today would lift them into the top half of the standings.

Got a spare couple of minutes before kickoff? Why not check out our video preview for this afternoon's encounter:

HEAD TO HEAD: Stoke have the better record when it comes to past meetings between these teams, winning 21 matches compared to Swansea's 16. There have also been 18 draws since their first encounter back in 1925.

One statistic that Swansea will be aware of is that they've never won at the Britannia Stadium during their time in the Premier League. Their first two visits ended in 2-0 defeats, while last season's match ended 1-1. Can the end their hoodoo today?

If you're looking to read about Liverpool's incredible win at QPR, then look no further. You can have a read of our match report, just as long as you come back.

Swansea defender Angel Rangel: "They have Moses, Arnautovic, and Assaidi, good players than can create problems, but Crouch is the one, he's the threat.

"Any ball in the box, even if it's not a good cross, then it becomes a good cross because he is so high. And he can score goals. He's got quality and I think he's a great striker in the Premier League and he's shown that for so many years."

Speaking of Crouch, the striker is bidding to become only the 25th player in Premier League history to hit the 100-goal mark. The 33-year-old, who has found the net twice this season, is currently on 90 goals.

Around 10 minutes until kickoff and the Britannia Stadium is filling up nicely. While it may do well to live up to the drama of today's early kickoff, this match is capable of providing plenty of entertainment. Stoke are in need of the points so you would think that they'll try to take the game to Swansea, but the visitors can be very dangerous on the counter-attack and will be looking to exploit their hosts this afternoon.

The players are starting to line up in the tunnel as we head closer to kickoff. Ryan Shawcross stands at the front for Stoke, while Ashley Williams is the man who will lead Swansea out onto the pitch.

KICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be Swansea to get us underway. Here we go!

It's been a decent start from the hosts, who are looking to out early pressure on their opponents. A dangerous moment comes when Adams whips a threatening cross in from the left, but Fabianski does well to gather the ball with Crouch lurking around the six-yard box.

CHANCE! Swansea really should be ahead! Routledge threads the ball through to Sigurdsson, who tries to take it round the goalkeeper instead of going for goal. He manages to flick it past Begovic, but the ball just gets away from him and goes out of play. The visitors have enjoyed a good spell of possession in the last couple of minutes.

SAVE! That would have been a great goal for Swansea, but Begovic keeps the scores level. A crisp, penetrative passing move ends with Ki being picked out in the box, only for his low drive to be kept out. Stoke create an opportunity at the other end moments later, but Adam shoots off target.

Stoke are going to have to be alert if they want to keep Swansea at bay this afternoon. The visitors are knocking the ball about impressively, picking each other out with pace and precision. Not only that, but they're having plenty of joy finding a way through Stoke's midfield and defence.

Mark Hughes said earlier in the week that Stoke would take the game to Swansea because they are the home side, but there's been very little of that so far from the Potters. Instead, it's the Swans who are currently looking more comfortable, something that will please Garry Monk.

The passing and creativity just isn't there for Stoke right now. They're finding it very hard to get the ball and get into a rhythm. Swansea are still seeing the majority of the ball and making their opponents do most of the work.

Swansea win a free kick on the right following a foul on Dyer, which Sigurdsson steps up to take. The midfielder whips a decent ball to the back post, but Fernandez can't get on the end of it. The visitors are still dominating, winning the ball high up the pitch and playing with intensity.

Swansea have been very pleasing on the eye so far. Credit to Garry Monk because he's got his team playing with real flair. Their passing has been superb today, making life very frustrating for Stoke. The Potters are doing their best to chase the ball down, but they're not having much luck.

Something of a half-chance for Swansea as Routledge's cross is flicked towards goal by the head of Carroll, only for Begovic to claim the ball with Bony trying to make something of it.

One or two moans and groans are starting to come from the Stoke fans as their team struggles to get hold of the ball. The Potters then have an opportunity when Crouch nods the ball down to Diouf. The striker seems to get the ball caught under his feet before Swansea hack it clear.

Swansea lead through Wilfried Bony's penalty, but it's a controversial one. The striker wins the spot kick himself after being held by Shawcross in the build-up to a corner, before calmly slotting the ball past Begovic. Shawcross, who can't believe the decision, is booked for his troubles.

YELLOW CARD! Stoke's misery is compounded as Diouf goes into the book for a high boot on Fernandez.

For the record, it looked to be a good decision from referee Michael Oliver for the penalty. You get that kind of grappling in the box all the time but with little done about it. However, the official took action on this occasion, and rightly so.

That goal has done little to change the momentum in this game because Swansea were already dominating before they went ahead. The visitors remain in control as Stoke chase hurriedly around for possession. The Potters have caused their opponents one or two problems in the final third this afternoon, though they'll have to improve a lot of they want to find an equaliser.

Stoke get themselves level with a penalty of their own, but this one is even more controversial that Swansea's! Michael Oliver points to the spot after Moses goes down very softly indeed under a challenge from Rangel, allowing Charlie Adam to sweep the ball home from 12 yards to make it 1-1. Game on.

There will be two minutes of added time...

YELLOW CARD! Stoke defender Phil Bardsley goes into the book for a late challenge as the seconds ticks down towards half time.

A curious opening 45 minutes of football comes to an end with the score level at 1-1. Swansea took the lead through a Wilfried Bony penalty before Stoke equalised with a spot kick of their own taken by Charlie Adam. Referee Michael Oliver has had an eventful first half, that's for sure.

The Stoke fans are singing "you're not fit to referee", but you'd have thought that they'd be thanking Michael Oliver for giving them a very soft penalty.

Stoke can count themselves very luck at the moment because they were second best throughout that first half. Swansea were dominant and really should be ahead. Still, there's another 45 minutes for Garry Monk's side to claim the points and get themselves into the Champions League places.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out for the second half and it'll be Stoke to get us back underway. No changes from either manager at the break.

It's been a confident start to the second half from Swansea, who are passing the ball about much in the same way as they did in the first. Meanwhile, Stoke are being limited to the occasional foray forward.

That's better from Stoke. Moses leads the home side forward before finding Adam out on the right. The Scot whips a promising ball into the heart of the Swansea defence, but Williams is there to hack it away. Crouch hasn't had too much to work with this afternoon, but he'll be wanting to see a bit more of that from Adam and his teammates.

CHANCES! Stoke come close to taking the lead with an inventive free kick from Adam, who deceives everyone by hitting the ball low into the six-yard box from out on the left. The ball eventually breaks for Pieters, but his powerful effort goes narrowly over the crossbar.

Stoke are enjoying a very good spell at the moment as they take the game to Swansea. Adam is in the thick of the action again, striking a crisp effort from all of 30 yards. However, his shot goes into the stand behind the goal. This is encouraging stuff from the Potters.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Stoke make a double change now as Jonathan Walters and Geoff Cameron replace Stephen Ireland and Mame Biram Diouf.

CHANCE! So close for Stoke! A corner from the left evades everyone before Crouch dives in with a header at the back post, but his effort goes over. It wasn't an easy opportunity for the striker, it has to be said.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Now it's the turn of Swansea to make two changes, with Bafetimbi Gomis and Jefferson Montero replacing Tom Carroll and Nathan Dyer.

CHANCE! Swansea almost regain the lead, only for Ki to squander two openings! The South Korean's first shot is blocked inside a crowded box before his second is an impotent dab towards goal that Begovic gratefully collects.

Stoke were enjoying 75% of possession not so long ago, but Swansea are now fighting back and threatening in the final third. The visitors win a corner out on the right that is whipped into the Stoke box, though the hosts do well to clear. Just over 20 minutes left to play.

SUBSTITUTION: A bit of a worry for Stoke now as Moses goes down holding the back of his leg. Indeed, that's the last of the winger's afternoon as he goes off for Oussama Assaidi.

It's hard to say which way this match is going to go as we head into the final 15 minutes. Stoke have equipped themselves very well in the second half, but Swansea are still looking potent on the break. Meanwhile, Bony goes into the book for a reckless challenge on Nzonzi.

The substitutes combine as Assaidi crosses for Walters to head Stoke in front! The ball from Assaidi is perfectly-weighted, coming in from the left side before Walters gets across his man to nod powerfully past Fabianski.

This match is incredibly open now, with both teams surging forward at every available opportunity. Swansea are looking to get themselves back in the game, while Stoke feel as if there is another goal waiting for them. We could be in store for an explosive final 10 minutes at the Britannia Stadium.

You get the feeling that Swansea will have one, possibly two, more chances. They've worked incredible hard all afternoon and are continuing to do so. Time is running out for them, but they're not panicking just yet.

SUBSTITUTION: One last change for Swansea, who bring on Marvin Emnes for Sigurdsson. The Icelandic international was highly effective for the visitors in the first half, only for his influence to wane after the break.

As you might expect, Stoke are just trying to hold onto the ball during these final few minutes, but it's becoming increasingly difficult as Swansea push more men forward. The visitors get themselves a half-chance as Gomis takes aim from the edge of the box, though his shot is blocked by Shawcross. There's suddenly plenty of tension among the home fans.

YELLOW CARD! Steven Nzonzi gets a caution now after taking out Bony with Swansea looking to break.

The fourth official indicates that there will be FOUR MINUTES of added time...

CHANCE! Swansea work themselves an opening through Bony, who gets the ball on the edge of the box. The Ivorian takes a swing with his weaker left foot, only to put his shot off target.

Referee Michael Oliver blows the full-time whistle, meaning that Stoke return to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Swansea. The visitors took the lead through Wilfried Bony's penalty before a controversial spot kick from Charlie Adam got the hosts level at the break. The Potters then secured the points 15 minutes from time thanks to a header from substitute Jonathan Walters.

That's all from our live text coverage of today's match, but you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from both sides right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!