Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Swansea City and Middlesbrough.

All the talk about today's Premier League action has revolved around the showdown between Arsenal and Manchester City later this afternoon, but there is an equally-important clash taking place in south Wales. Hull City's victory over West Ham United has really opened things up at the bottom and Swansea now find themselves under pressure to respond to being dragged back into the battle to remain in the top flight.

As for Middlesbrough, they will be aware that they cannot continue their winless run for too much longer, but they are also effectively in a position where they cannot afford to lose this game. Middlesbrough will be eight points adrift of safety should they suffer defeat at the Liberty Stadium and realistically, that would probably prove too much to turn around in a short amount of time. Steve Agnew has to get the balance right, which is a lot easier said than done!

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the team news. Swansea are missing one of their key men...

SWANSEA CITY XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Carroll, Fer, Cork, Narsingh, Sigurdsson, Ayew

SWANSEA CITY SUBSTITUTES: Nordfeldt, Kingsley, Van Der Hoorn, Montero, Ki, Borja, McBurnie

MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Valdes, Fabio, Bernardo, Gibson, Barragan, Clayton, Ramirez, De Roon, Traore, Downing, Negredo

MIDDLESBROUGH SUBSTITUTES: Guzan, Ayala, Forshaw, Guedioura, Leadbitter, Stuani, Gestede

The big news coming out of the Swansea changing room is that Fernando Llorente misses out with an ankle injury. Jordan Ayew is named as his replacement in attack, but he has big boots to fill in that position. Leon Britton and Wayne Routledge are also unavailable, with Kyle Naughton, Martin Olsson and Luciano Narsingh all being given starts.

The one alteration to the Middlesbrough side which lost out to Manchester United in their most recent game sees Adama Traore replace Grant Leadbitter. It's an extremely positive move from Steve Agnew and one which their supporters will probably back, but it has to be seen as a risk. Rudy Gestede remains on the bench, despite netting against United.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture represents just the 44th time in which these two sides have faced each other in a competitive fixture, with Swansea claiming 15 wins in comparison to the 19 victories for Middlesbrough. However, just six of those have come since the turn of the Millennium, with Swansea claiming three victories and Middlesbrough winning twice.

The most recent match between the two sides took place in December and it was arguably Middlesbrough best performance of the season. They ran out convincing 3-0 winners over a Swansea side who were then under the guidance of Bob Bradley. We would advise you - Middlesbrough fans, especially - to read our on-the-whistle report from that game.

During that fixture, Alvaro Negredo netted a double for Boro, but that contribution represents a third of his Premier League goals this season. He has offered a physical presence during his 25 league starts, but he will be disappointed with just the six goals in the top flight. He has scored just twice in 13 games since that match, so it comes as a surprise that he has retained his place in the team. His inclusion could potentially be down to the uncertainty over the fitness of Rudy Gestede but whatever the reason, he needs to replay Agnew's faith in him.

Adama Traore is another player who needs to have a greater influence on the pitch. He possesses all the pace in the world, but he hasn't scored in 25 appearances this season. There was talk of a lucrative move - for both player and club - to Chelsea during January and unless he can get on the scoresheet or provide a few assists over the next seven weeks, Boro may feel that they should have taken the money for the former Barcelona trainee.

With Llorente sidelined through injury, we should probably take a look at how Ayew has fared since signing for Swansea, but the truth is he has barely contributed anything. He has amassed just 151 minutes in a Swans shirt, with none of his five appearances lasting more than 56 minutes.

Another player who has had to bide his time is Luciano Narsingh, although despite playing just 41 minutes longer than Ayew, he has provided two assists. He was a regular creator during his time in the Netherlands and he could potentially flourishing in a game such as this one.

A stat which probably hasn't been lost on many people in the build-up to this game is that it's the worst defence versus the worst attack. Swansea have shipped 63 goals while Middlesbrough have scored just the 20 goals.

PREDICTION! Based on those stats, it is really difficult to pick a winner and given the absence of Llorente, we think it is wise to back the goalless draw. We are obliged to talk up goals in the majority of games we cover at Sports Mole, but we can't justify it in this case.

Here comes the two teams to warm applause from both sets of supporters. There are bound to be a few nerves in the stands today.

Swansea get us underway.

As you would expect, Swansea are in the ascendancy during the early stages but they are yet to create much in the final third. One cross from Narsingh when behind for a goal kick after he was put under pressure by a defender.

CHANCE! Middlesbrough won the first corner of the game but it did not take long for Swansea to create the first chance of the game at the other end. Olsson broke down the left before cutting into the penalty area, but his final shot went high over the crossbar.

SHOT! Swansea appear to be targeting the left flank as their best source of chances and it is paying off so far. Ayew moved forward before switching the ball onto his right foot, but his 20-yard strike was parried behind by Valdes.

We have highlighted Swansea's threat in the final third, but Middlesbrough are also having plenty of joy in the final third. Negredo and Downing have just had two goalbound shots in quick succession but Mawson and Naughton put in timely blocks.

BOOKING! Traore shows Swansea a glimpse of his pace and it results in Fer deliberately bringing down the winger. Easy decision for the referee.

Swansea have got back onto the front foot but they are desperately missing Llorente in the penalty area. Ayew obviously doesn't provide the same aerial threat as the Spaniard.

BOOKING! Fabio joins Fer in the book after a foul on Narsingh. It leads to a free kick in a threatening position but it comes to nothing.

I don't think either manager will be too unhappy with this start. Swansea are just about shading it, but this is as adventurous as Middlesbrough have been for some time. Agnew will know he has to give his side an attacking threat.

We have not seen a whole lot of Sigurdsson thus far. He has just seen a deflected shot easily dealt with by Valdes, but that's about it. Swansea need to get their playmaker more involved, rather than focusing on posing a threat down the flanks.

We have got an extended break in play due to an injury to Ramirez. It doesn't look anything serious, but it has caused a delay.

SHOT! Half the ground think this is in and I don't blame them. Carroll lets fly with a swerving half-volley from 25 yards out but it goes just wide, hitting the post holding up the goal. That's the closest we have come to a goal.

SUBSTITUTION! The injury to Ramirez appears to be far more serious than first thought. He is being replaced by Gestede, which again, is a very positive move from Agnew.

We are heading towards the end of the first half and it's no surprise that we remain goalless. There have been chances in this game but aside from a few flurries forward, we haven't been treated to much else.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

A clever throw-in towards Sigurdsson catches Middlesbrough out but despite his sharp touch and effort, it's partially blocked and the ball goes through to Valdes.

The half-time whistle goes at the Liberty Stadium and the two teams remain on level terms. It's not been the worst game I have witnessed this season but it's not far off. Swansea are going to have to change something if they want to gain three points from this match.

Middlesbrough get the second half underway. Let's hope for better after the restart...

SHOT! It's not a great effort from Sigurdsson but it counts as a shot all the same. His 25-yard effort was easily dealt with by Valdes.

It has been a quiet start to the second half for both sides but Middlesbrough have managed to win another corner. It came to nothing, however, with Fabianski being able to punch clear.

SHOT! Better from Middlesbrough as Traore bides his time before getting a shot away towards the far post, but it goes wide. Decent effort, though, and more encouraging from the visitors.

More encouragement, this time for Swansea. Olsson has had a good game this afternoon and his shot-come-cross almost finds a teammate at the back post. Both teams are already showing more ambition than in the first half.

CHANCE! Another chance for Middlesbrough after Clayton does well to retrieve the ball at the back post, but Fabianski came out well to deny Negredo.

BOOKING! During that move, Mawson committed a foul which has earned himself a booking. The referee played a good advantage.

SHOT! Sigurdsson has very nearly scored a worldie. A sublime piece of skill gave him the chance to shoot from 25 yards and Valdes had to dive to his left to parry the ball away from goal.

SUBSTITUTION! This is another blow for Middlesbrough. Fabio landed heavily after competing for a high ball, and after hitting his head, the medical team have decided he cant't continue. Adam Forshaw is the man to be introduced.

We are yet to see a change from Swansea. They have plenty of attacking players on the bench so I'm surprised to see Clement hold back for this long. Jefferson Montero and Borja Baston are possible introductions.

BOOKING! Negredo becomes the fourth player to go into the book for a foul committed in the build-up to another Swansea chance.

CHANCE! Mawson has already shown this season that he can get on the scoresheet and he almost does so again after meeting a cross. Unfortunately for the Swans, his header goes just off target.

CHANCE! It's on his weaker foot but Negredo should be doing better from here. He gets the right side of Mawson but under pressure, he slices the ball wide from around eight yards.

BOOKING! Gestede deservedly receives a yellow card for a wild lunge on the touchline. I'm not sure what he was doing there in the first place!

Swansea win a free kick on the right flank but it comes after Ayew dived over the boot of Downing. The Middlesbrough man is absolutely furious but the referee is waving him away. It was directly in front of the official too. Fortunately, nothing came from the set piece.

SHOT! Swansea win another free kick but this time, it is 20 yards from goal and perfect for Sigurdsson. However, his effort is deflected just wide of the post. The wall got a vital touch.

It appeared that the deflection came from the hand of Clayton. It could easily have been a penalty. Moments later, Gestede should have received a second yellow, but he escaped with a talking to from the referee.

It's all Swansea but they just can't get the ball in the net. A last-gasp tackle just prevented Fer from converting from close range.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

CHANCE! Middlesbrough should win it! What a chance. Negredo played a terrific ball into the box with the outside of his boot but Gestede headed wide from eight yards out!

The full-time whistle goes at the Liberty Stadium and as predicted, we have finished goalless. Middlesbrough will be thinking what might have been after that Gestede chance. Swansea will also feel it is two points dropped.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game but we hope that you can stick around for the match involving Arsenal and Manchester City. Goodbye for now.