Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash between Swansea City and Crystal Palace at the Liberty Stadium! November may be a little bit early to declare a six-pointer, but this is certainly approaching it for the league's two most out of form teams. Both are in desperate need of a victory, and today's result could well shape the rest of their respective campaigns. Before we get into all that, though, let's have a look at the team news...

SWANSEA STARTING XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Amat, Taylor; Fulton, Cork, Fer; Barrow, Sigurdsson, Routledge

SWANSEA SUBS: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Van der Hoorn, Dyer, Montero, McBurnie, Llorente

CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Tomkins, Kelly; Cabaye, McArthur, Puncheon, Zaha; Benteke, Wickham

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Speroni, Delaney, Fryers, Ledley, Townsend, Sako, Campbell

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, starting with the hosts it looks as though Bob Bradley has finally found his preferred side after plenty of experimenting during his first few games as manager. He names an unchanged starting XI to the one that drew 1-1 with Everton at Goodison Park last weekend, despite both Britton and Montero being back available after injuries. Britton does not make it into the squad at all, while Montero makes the bench this afternoon.

An unchanged starting XI for the hosts means that Gylfi Sigurdsson will once again act as the central striker, and you can certainly see why Bradley has tried him in the somewhat unfamiliar position. The Icelandic playmaker has been Swansea's most important player for some time now, directly contributing to 37 Premier League goals since he joined the club in August 2014. That includes 21 goals of his own, including 16 assists, meaning that he has had a hand in 23 more goals than any other Swansea player during that timeframe. This season alone he has been directly involved in more than half of Swansea's Premier League goals, scoring three and creating three more.

Flanking Sigurdsson in the 4-3-3 formation will be Barrow and Routledge, who should offer plenty of pace on either wing. Ward and Kelly aren't the fastest full-backs for Palace, so that could be an area of joy for Swansea, although the presence of Sigurdsson in the middle does mean that crosses into the box are likely to have a limited effect against the aerial prowess of Palace's defence. In midfield, Fer provides a much-needed goal threat, while Fulton and Cork also keep their places.

There are no changes at the back either, with Fernandez and Amat partnering each other once again at the heart of the defence while Mike van der Hoorn has to make do with a place on the bench and Mawson misses out altogether. Naughton and Taylor once again get the nod on either flank to complete that back four, while Fabianski, as ever, gets the gloves.

The headline news for the Palace camp is that Connor Wickham starts having come off the bench to score in his last two league appearances, almost earning his side a much-needed point against Manchester City last time out. His presence could see a slight change in formation from the Eagles, with their teamsheet suggesting a 4-4-2 system, although it is perhaps more likely that Wickham will play just in behind Christian Benteke.

Benteke has a decent record against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium, scoring two goals and creating another in his three Premier League appearances at the stadium, and he can be confident of getting chances to add to that tally today as well. That is because Jason Puncheon has already created 13 goalscoring chances for the Belgian this season, which is more than any one player has made for another player in the Premier League this term. Not the double-act you would perhaps expect to be one of the most dangerous, but they have formed a decent partnership.

Another player who has contributed plenty for Palace this season is Wilfried Zaha, with the winger having provided an assist in each of his last four Premier League appearances. Indeed, only Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne has provided more assists in the Premier League than Zaha's five this season, while the former Manchester United man has also beaten an opponent with a league high 54 dribbles so far this term. He is certainly a tricky customer!

Wickham in for Townsend, who has had a hand in three goals in his last three league games against Swansea, is the only change made by Alan Pardew this afternoon as he remains unchanged at the back. Hennessey once again starts due to the continued absence of Mandanda, while Delaney has to settle for a place on the bench as Dann and Tomkins keep their place at the heart of the defence. Cabaye and McArthur, meanwhile, continue to patrol the middle of the park.

There are players capable of making a difference of both of these sides, then, but the simple fact of the matter is that they haven't done so on enough occasions so far this season. Palace will be desperate to end their dreadful run of form, but Swansea are in even greater need of a victory this afternoon. Sunderland's recent revival with back-to-back victories has left Swansea stranded at the bottom of the table, and they are already five points adrift of safety after just 12 games of the season.

If Swansea aren't careful then they could be cut too far adrift before the turn of the year, and today marks the start of an absolutely crucial period of them in and around Christmas. They will face four of the five teams currently directly above them in the table over the course of their next six matches, and if they continue with their current form throughout that run then it may well be too far back for them. A win this afternoon would make things look a lot more promising, but right now they are looking fairly bleak for the Swans.

Swansea's winless run in the Premier League now stretches back 11 matches to the opening day of the season, which is their worst ever run in the top flight of English football. A 1-0 win away to Burnley got their campaign off to a decent start, but since then they have picked up a measly three points from a possible 33, which is relegation form in any division. The one positive for them heading into today's game is that Palace are the only team to have fared worse than them over the last six games.

That run of form saw Swansea dispense of Francesco Guidolin despite the Italian doing a good job at the tail end of last season, but the switch has now paid off so far. There was plenty of focus on Bob Bradley coming in as the first American coach in Premier League history, and it is fair to say that things have not gone to plan so far. He has picked up just two points from his five games at the helm and now holds the unenviable record of the worst start to a top-flight reign in the club's history.

Things have been particularly disappointing here at the Liberty Stadium, where Swansea are yet to win in seven matches across all competitions this season. In fairness, they have faced Chelsea, Manchester City twice, Liverpool and Manchester United in five of their last six home games, but compared to their record at the end of last season, when they won four and drew one of their last five home games, it is something that needs to be drastically improved sooner rather than later.

Indeed, the Swans have the worst home record in the Premier League this season with only two points from six games, and they are the only side in the division yet to win in front of their own fans. In all competitions they have already lost as many games this season as they did in the entirety of the 2015-16 campaign, suffering five defeats in seven this term compared to five defeats in 20 last term. No team in the Premier League has scored fewer home goals than Swansea this season either, while only Sunderland have conceded more.

Goals have been an issue home and away in truth, with only Middlesbrough and Hull scoring fewer than the Swans and only Hull and West Ham conceding more. Swansea have conceded three goals in four of their last seven Premier League games which, when you are struggling to score at the other end, is very much a losing formula. Their record in November will not fill them with much confidence heading into today's game either. They have failed to win any of their last seven November league outings and have only won four of 20 overall.

A perfect time to face them then, right? Well, perhaps for any team other than Crystal Palace. As I mentioned earlier, the Eagles are the only side in worse form than Swansea in the Premier League over their last six games, picking up just one point from the last 18 available. Even that flatters their more recent form a little, though, with Palace coming into this match on the back of five consecutive Premier League defeats, and another loss today would make it six in a row for the first time since November 2013.

Even more worryingly for Alan Pardew, though, is the fact that their dreadful form goes a lot further back than just their last five games. Indeed, Palace have earned just 22 points from their 31 games so far this calendar year, averaging just 0.71 points per game. Not only is that the worst record in the Premier League, it is the worst record in the top four tiers of English football. They have lost 19 of those 31 outings, and their tally of five wins is also the lowest in the Premier League and Football League throughout 2016.

It is worth remembering that Palace did reach the FA Cup final last season, but aside from that it really has been a year to forget for the Eagles. They relied on a very strong first half of the season to steer clear of danger last term - there was even talk of a European push before Christmas - but they haven't had that this time around and will need to improve their form beyond recognition if they are to drag themselves away from a relegation battle this season. Pardew does not believe that his side are in one yet, but with only one point separating them from the bottom three, they most certainly will be if things don't improve soon.

Pardew said in the build-up to this match that the next three games with will "crucial" to shaping their season, and it is easy to see why too. Today's match with Swansea is huge if they are to stop the rot of five straight defeats, while also taking points off a fellow struggler. Mid-table Southampton follow after that before another relegation showdown with Hull City. A tally of, say, seven points from those three games will make things look a lot better for Palace, particularly considering they have matches against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal over the festive period.

It is quite clear to see where their problems lie this season, Pardew just hasn't been able to rectify it yet. Palace have no problems in front of goal, scoring 17 times in their 12 Premier League games this term - a tally only the top five in the division can better and level with Manchester United. However, at the other end of the field only three teams - Hull, West Ham and today's opponents Swansea - have conceded more.

Interestingly, with such a strong aerial presence at the back, Palace have had a particular problem defending set pieces this season. They conceded twice via that route against Manchester City last time out, which saw their wait for a Premier League clean sheet extend to a league-worst 17 matches since a goalless draw with Everton in April. Indeed, they are the only team in the Premier League without a clean sheet this season, conceding 12 goals in their last four games alone.

Palace's away form this season can't exactly be called good, but they have picked up more points on the road than they have in front of their own fans so far. They have lost their last two away games and are winless in three, but if only away form counted they would be mid-table courtesy of their seven points. They have also scored in each of their last five league games on the road, while only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have found the back of the net more often away from home. Incidentally, almost half of Palace's goals have come from headers this season, with the Eagles scoring a league-high eight times with their head.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Liberty Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction! Both these sides desperately need a victory, but they are in such poor form that it is hard to see either doing enough to get one. In fairness, their performances last time out against Everton and Man City respectively were better, but I think that their wait for three points will continue beyond this week. I'm going for a 1-1 draw!

Draws have been the most common result in recent meetings between these two sides, with four of their six Premier League clashes ended all square. Both sides have won one apiece in that time, although Swansea are now winless in their last five league games against the Eagles. Palace, however, have won just one of the last 10 meetings - a 1-0 win in May 2015 - so there is very little to separate the two teams from recent history too.

Palace have only scored four goals in their last 10 league matches against Swansea, and never more than once in that time, although they have been more prolific so far this season than in many recent campaigns. The Eagles are winless at the Liberty Stadium in the Premier League, though, with all three of their visits ending in 1-1 draws. Swansea's unbeaten home league run against Palace stretches back five games.

It will not be a surprise to hear, then, that both meeting between these two sides last season ended as draws. The most recent clash came in February, and both of the goalscorers that day once again start this afternoon. Sigurdsson opened the scoring for the Swans here at the Liberty after 13 minutes, only for Scott Dann to level things up early in the second half. The reverse fixture at Selhurst Park, meanwhile, ended goalless in December.

Right, the players are out and we're just about ready to go here! There is plenty of noise inside the Liberty to greet the players, although the home fans have not taken long to turn on the board in recent games.

KICKOFF! Here we go then! Palace get us underway for this huge bottom-of-the-table clash at the Liberty Stadium!

Tentative start from both sides here as they knock the ball around and look to settle into the game. Everything being played in the middle third so far.

The first hint of a chance for Palace as Cabaye finds a bit of space just inside the area. Zaha finds him with the pass and Cabaye spins to face goal, but his attempted cross/shot is deflected behind for a corner.

CHANCE! Big chance for Palace from the resulting corner! The initial delivery is nodded down by Dann and poked on by Tomkins before ricocheting into the path of Benteke. The angle is against the striker, but he should still do a lot better than blazing it well over the bar.

At the other end Barrow goes down under a challenge by Kelly, giving Swansea a free kick in a good crossing position...

Palace have been poor defending set pieces this season, but they deal with this one comfortably as Swansea's good attacking platform goes begging.

Not much to report so far aside from that Benteke chance. Both sides need a win today, but it will be interesting to see whether winning or simply not losing is more important today.

Swansea certainly don't seem to be making too much of an effort to get forward. When Palace have the ball Swansea are more than happy to just sit back with everyone behind it and keep their shape.

CHANCE! Swansea do break forward this time, and it leads to their first chance of the match. Barrow's pace beats Kelly down the right flank as the winger reaches the byline before pulling the ball back for Sigurdsson. However, the midfielder can't connect with his shot properly and it is easy for the keeper in the end.

Swansea again come forward down the right flank, but with only Routledge in the area Barrow is forced to wait before he puts the ball into the box. More white shirts arrive, but none of them are particularly good in the air and the eventual deliver floats straight into the arms of Hennessey.

It's been better from Swansea in the last five minutes or so. They are beginning to see more of the ball and offer more of an attacking threat, especially down that right. Their lack of height in the box is already looking like a bit of a problem, though.

Just as Swansea were enjoying their best spell, Crystal Palace take the lead! It is some poor defending from the hosts, but take nothing away from Zaha either. Benteke flicks the ball on to the winger, who shows good strength to shrug off Taylor inside the box before turning away from two white shirts and drilling a low strike past Fabianski. Big, big goal for the Eagles, who have an all too rare opening goal!

The pressure is really on Swansea now. They must now come out and play a bit more in order to get back into this game, which could open them up to the counter-attacking talents of Zaha and co.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the day is shown to Routledge, but it is a harsh one following a sliding challenge on Cabaye.

Zaha is certainly adding that end product to his game!

SAVE! Hennessey has a save to make as Fer goes for goal from range, but his shot took a nick off Dann on the way through which makes it easier for the Palace keeper to gather.

Good pressure from Swansea as Taylor whips a very dangerous ball into the middle, but without a genuine striker in the middle there is no-one looking to attack it and Kelly is able to nod it behind at the back post.

YELLOW CARD! Cork becomes the second player in the book this afternoon following a sliding challenge on Zaha.

CHANCE! Almost a second goal for Palace as Kelly puts the ball into the box for Wickham. The Palace striker has to generate all of the power on his header himself, but does well to steer it towards the bottom corner and Fabianski needs to get down to make the save.

We've had half an hour at the Liberty now, and there is work to do for the home side. Palace have the lead and have had the better of things for the most part, and if things carry on like this it may not be too long into the second half before we see Llorente.

UPDATE: Only one other Premier League 3pm kickoff has seen goals so far, and it is one of interest to both of these two teams as Leicester and Middlesbrough are drawing 1-1. Negredo gave Boro the lead at the King Power, but Riyad Mahrez has just equalised from the penalty spot.

Good pressure from Swansea as they win a couple of corners in quick succession before Puncheon concedes a harsh free kick right on the edge of the area. Sigurdsson is lining this one up...

It's taking a while to take as Swansea want the wall further back, but Palace aren't budging.

It was worth the wait! Sigurdsson finally takes the free kick and nestles it right into the corner with a superb effort. It looked like it may be too close, but Sigurdsson whips it into the goalkeeper's side, with Fulton ducking in the wall to create the space.

OFF THE BAR! Palace are inches away from regaining the lead straight away! Cabaye gets to a through-ball before the keeper but is forced out wide and in the end has to look for a cross instead of shooting. He stands the ball up to the back post where Zaha climbs highest to plant his header against the crossbar. Arguably the better chance comes on the rebound, but Wickham and Benteke get in each other's way when a clear shot would have surely resulted in a goal!

That Swansea equaliser has really given the crowd a boost and both teams are full of energy right now. We may not have seen the last of the goals this afternoon!

SHOT! Swansea win another free kick in a decent position, this time on the right flank, and Sigurdsson delivery goes all the way through to Routledge at the back post. The winger controls the ball before firing a half-volley towards goal, but it flies over the crossbar.

YELLOW CARD! It's not even half time, but we have a yellow card for time wasting as Hennessey goes into the book.

CHANCE! Another chance for the hosts as Barrow's initial cross is only cleared as far as Fer. He combines with Cork to feed it back to Barrow inside the area, but the winger slices his half-volley wide of the near post under pressure from McArthur.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this eventful first half.

The first half comes to an end at the Liberty, then, and we're all square at the halfway stage following an action-packed opening 45 minutes. Both teams have enjoyed spells in the ascendancy and it is still anyone's game here. Many may have expected a cagey affair given the dreadful form of both of these sides, but it has been anything but so far.

It was Palace who got the opening goal of the game after just 19 minutes despite Swansea having just started to settle into the match themselves. Benteke flicked the ball on to Zaha, who did well to hold off the challenges of Taylor and Fernandez while turning in the box before drilling his low finish past Fabianski to continue his recent good form.

Swansea levelled things up with a little less than 10 minutes remaining of the first half, though, and it was Sigurdsson who got the goal in some style. Puncheon was rather harshly punished on the edge of the area, but Sigurdsson still had a lot to do and he proceeded to nestle a brilliant free kick right into the corner on the goalkeeper's side.

There has been plenty of goalmouth action aside from the goals too, with Palace hitting the crossbar and seeing a glorious follow-up chance go begging seconds later when Benteke and Wickham got in each other's way. Benteke also blazed a good early chance over the bar from close range, while Wickham has been denied by Fabianski. At the other end, Barrow, Fer and Sigurdsson have all had sights of goal themselves, and it would be a surprise if we had seen the last of the goals this afternoon.

KICKOFF: Swansea get us back underway for the second half at the Liberty Stadium as they go in search of a first win under Bob Bradley.

Brilliant play from Sigurdsson as he twists and turns past Wickham, sending the striker out for pies on his way past. His cross into the box is a good one too, but it is well cleared at the back post. Wickham injured himself when trying to block the fake cross too, and it looks like a bad one.

This does not look good at all for Wickham. He is being given oxygen and there is clearly a lot of concern amongst the physios. It could well be ligament damage, and I'd expect the forward to face a long spell on the sidelines now.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: Wickham is stretchered off and on comes Andros Townsend in his place.

YELLOW CARD! It hasn't taken him long to go into the book! Townsend is shown the yellow card for a blatant and cynical pull on Routledge on the left side of the box.

SAVE! The angle is against Sigurdsson, but he whips a cross/shot into the middle that Hennessey is able to collect comfortably.

Swansea have made the brighter start to this second half, with Palace being forced into a reshuffle following that injury to Wickham. The scores remain all square, though.

Swansea are certainly not looking like a team who has failed to win since the opening day of the season, but it is all about results for them at the moment and they need to start turning these improved performances into points.

Palace are struggling to get themselves on the ball at the moment, and their eagerness to win possession back has resulted in a number of niggly fouls recently which have broken the rhythm of the game up a little.

SHOT! Poor from Dann as he gifts possession straight to Routledge, who takes Ward on down the outside on his way into the box. However, the angle is against him and he fires an effort wide of the near post.

Brilliant defending from Tomkins as he dives in for a last-ditch challenge on Barrow, getting his foot to the ball just as the Swansea winger was about to pull the trigger.

SWANSEA SUB: The hosts make their first change of the afternoon as Fernando Llorente replaces Routledge.

Seconds after coming on, Llorente has a huge impact as Swansea take the lead! It is a very messy goal, with Llorente getting his head to a corner and steering it towards the far corner. Cabaye is on the line and manages to block it, although the ball then bounces off the post, back against Cabaye and Fer reacts brilliantly to tuck it away. There were a number of things for the ref to look at - a handball against Cabaye and whether the ball snuck over the line - but Fer made sure and the goal will go down as his.

YELLOW CARD! Kelly goes into the book for a trip on Barrow after being beaten all ends up by a good piece of skill from the winger.

Two goals in two minutes for Fer as Swansea take control of this game. It is a set piece which undoes Palace again as Sigurdsson swings a free kick into the box which Amat flicks on at the near post. The ball goes all the way through to the back post, and Fer is there to tap it home from close range once again!

I mentioned in the build-up that Palace have not had a good record of defending set pieces so far this season, and all three of their goals conceded today have come via that route. It is an area Pardew seriously needs to look at!

SHOT! Sigurdsson, who has been the chief tormentor from set pieces, lines up another free kick here, but this time he curls one well over the top.

YELLOW CARD! Naughton is the latest player in the book for a foul on Zaha.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: Another change for the visitors as Zeki Fryers replaces Kelly.

Benteke has the chance to race in behind the defence after latching on to a flick forward, but it isn't where he is strongest and a poor touch allows Amat to get back and get a foot in.

This one is not over yet! Palace pull a goal back, and this time it is their turn to net a scrappy set-piece goal. Dann gets his head to a corner and plants his header into a dangerous area. McArthur manages to do enough to prevent both Fabianski and Fulton from being able to clear it and the ball bounces to Dann, who just nudges it over the line from close range.

How are your nerves Swansea fans? Just under 15 minutes separate the hosts from their first league win since the opening day of the season, but that Tomkins goal makes things very interesting.

Shooting chance for Palace as the ball is teed up to Cabaye on the edge of the box, but he is leaning back and fires his effort well over the top.

SWANSEA SUB: Unsurprisingly a defensive change from the hosts as Angel Rangel replaces Barrow.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUB: The visitors make a change of their own too as Bakary Sako replaces McArthur.

Oh my word, when your luck is out, it really is out! Swansea see their two-goal lead wiped out as Palace level things up, and it is a hugely fortunate goal. Zaha was looking to whip a cross into the box and, when trying to cut it out, Cork only succeeds in lifting a header over the keeper and into his own net. It is almost a freak goal for the visitors!

Incredible scenes at the Liberty! Palace storm back from 3-1 down to 4-3 up as Benteke scores yet another messy set piece goal! Again it is Dann who nods the ball down into a dangerous area from a corner, and this time Benteke hooks his finish in off the post from close range. What a remarkable match this has been.

SWANSEA SUB: Now Swansea have to make the attacking changes as Jefferson Montero replaces Naughton.

Just two minutes remain of normal time in this match, but we should have plenty of stoppage time here and, the way this game has gone I wouldn't rule out another late twist!

This could well be the most unlikely game of the season ever! Swansea make it 4-4 through Llorente as he gets the final touch to Sigurdsson's effort, diverting it into the roof of the net. Llorente had been denied by a fine save from the keeper seconds before, but reacted well to get a crucial touch.

This one is not over yet either, folks. There will be SEVEN minutes of stoppage time!

I can't quite believe what I am seeing here! Swansea have turned this around once again and now lead 5-4 in stoppage time! Again it comes from a set piece as Fernandez steals in at the back post to latch on to Sigurdsson's lofted ball forward before turning it back in to Llorente, who sweeps it home. Incredible.

Palace are now pushing for yet another equaliser here, and I would not bet against them getting it!

My word, what a match that was. I can fairly confidently claim that you will not see a better one this season, certainly in terms of drama. Those expecting a cagey affair between two sides in dire form could not have been more wrong as Swansea overcome Palace in a nine-goal thriller that saw seven of those goals fly in during the final final 35 minutes. Gylfi Sigurdsson had earlier cancelled out Zaha's opener to send the two sides into the break all square, before a quickfire brace from Leroy Fer looked like sending Swansea to their first win under Bradley. However, Palace then scored three times in less than 10 minutes as Tomkins and Benteke found the back of the net from close range either side of a Cork own goal to make it 4-3 to the Eagles. More drama was to come, though, and Fernando Llorente scored twice in stoppage time to complete a quite unbelievable game.

That is all we have time for this afternoon following a breathless match in South Wales. Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for this classic encounter as Swansea pick up their first win since the opening day of the season with a 5-4 triumph over Palace. I will leave you with a must-read match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!