Good afternoon all and thanks for joining us as we bring you live coverage of this crunch relegation clash between Swansea City and West Ham United in the Premier League. Both sides lost last time out in the top flight, but a victory for the Swans today would lift them away from the bottom three and move them level on points with the Hammers, who currently sit in 13th place on 30 points. That's a measure of just how close this relegation scrap is becoming!

SWANSEA CITY STARTING XI: Fabianski; Naughton, van der Hoorn, Fernandez, Mawson; Olsson, Ki, King, Clucas; J. Ayew, A. Ayew

SWANSEA CITY SUBSTITUTES: Britton, Abraham, Narsingh, Dyer, Nordfeldt, Carroll, Bartley

WEST HAM UNITED STARTING XI: Adrian; Reid, Rice, Cresswell; Zabaleta, Evra, Noble, Kouyate; Lanzini, Arnautovic; Hernandez

WEST HAM UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Hugill, Joao Mario, Byram, Hart, Antonio, Cullen, Browne

So the major team news for Swansea is that Andre Ayew makes his first start during his second spell at the club, following the frontman's big-money return from West Ham during the January window. The forward will partner his in-form brother, Jordan Ayew, in attack today.

Elsewhere for the Swans, Carlos Carvalhal has handed a start to Andy King following his recent transfer from Leicester City. Kyle Naughton, Alfie Mawson, Lukasz Fabianski and Martin Olsson have all also returned after all being given varying degrees of rest during the club's midweek FA Cup fixture.

As for the Hammers, it appears as though David Moyes might opt to go with a three at the back, with Winston Reid, Declan Rice and Aaron Cresswell starting in defence, leaving Pablo Zabaleta and Patrice Evra featuring as wing-backs.

The visitors have led with Javier Hernandez up top, who will be supported creatively by Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini from a little deeper. Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate will be aiming to occupy the defensive midfield positions for the Hammers.

Swansea come into the clash having booked a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a victory against Sheffield Wednesday in the week, which has capped off an outstanding upturn in fortunes under new coach Carvalhal.

The manager has been able to lift this side from relegation obscurity into a team that is now threatening to beat the drop, which had looked like a dead cert over Christmas. Swansea suffered their first defeat in six top-flight games against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

Swansea did indeed go to pieces in that 4-1 defeat to Chris Hughton's men, but prior to that the club picked up outstanding victories against Liverpool, Arsenal and Burnley to give themselves hope at this crucial stage in the season.

Carvalhal's side have won three successive home games in the Premier League after a strong run at the Liberty. They last won four league games in a row in May 2016 and will be hoping to match that milestone again today.

This afternoon Swansea could in fact produce seven victories in a row at the Liberty Stadium in all competitions, which they have not done since November 2004. Such has been the measure of Carvalhal's impact, the Swans have not lost at home since the manager's first home game in charge.

Carvalhal has certainly worked a few wonders since arriving in Wales. This side have lost just two of their 14 Premier League and cup matches since the Portuguese manager took over, having won seven and drawn five. Prior to his arrival, Swansea had won just five of their last 23 games.

The manager has also brought a new lease of life to the club going forward. Swansea have scored 10 goals in eight Premier League games under Carvalhal. That figure is just one fewer than what the club were able to achieve in the 20 league matches before his appointment.

Such was the club's attacking ineptitude under previous boss Paul Clement, Swansea do still hold the lowest goals-for collection in the league. Andre Ayew will certainly be looking to help out his brother going forward following his January arrival.

For all of the fantastic statistics, one reality does remain: the recent loss to Brighton means that they are now back in the bottom three on goal difference.

Having said that, given the close nature of this developing scrap, a home win today would lift the Swans level on points with 13th-placed West Ham who have amassed 30 so far. This season is shaping up to present one of the most enticing relegation battles in Premier League history. We have rarely seen a season when a supposedly mid-table position could leave you so open to the drop.

Things have been both up and down during Moyes' tenure, but fortunes have been greatly improved since Slaven Bilic's reign. West Ham have earned 20 points in their last 13 league games - twice as many as they did in their first 15 games of the season.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the Hammers have only won once in five league games. That has left them in serious danger of suffering three straight away defeats which would plunge them back into a relegation dogfight in the coming weeks.

West Ham have improved going forward under Moyes. His side have now scored in 11 continuous Premier League games. West Ham have only enjoyed one longer run in the league, which came via an 18-game scoring streak during February and September 2016.

Moyes appears to now be getting the best out of Marko Arnautovic too, who endured a testing period during his early days at the club. The playmaker has now directly contributed to 10 Premier League goals since Moyes took over last November. His contribution of seven goals and three assists is more than any other Hammers player during that period.

Defence has been a real cause for concern for Moyes, though. The club has shipped 50 goals this term. Only 19th-placed Stoke City have conceded more in the league with 54.

Added to that plight, the Hammers have just picked up two away wins all season. There have also been over 2.5 goals scored in seven of West Ham's last eight away games.

During their last trip to the Liberty Stadium, however, West Ham ran out 4-1 winners against Swansea. The Swans have lost the last three meetings between the teams across all competitions.

Swansea have never suffered four straight league defeats against West Ham, but could do so with a loss today.

PREDICTION! Swansea will likely be smarting following that poor defeat to Brighton, while West Ham were thoroughly undone by Liverpool too. Carvalhal has managed to instil this Swansea side with growing confidence and that could be crucial today. The added impact of both King and Ayew could be vital too. The Swans' home form has been outstanding of late and I'm backing them to secure three memorable points to strengthen their survival hopes. West Ham have been poor away from home and I'm backing the Welsh side for a slender 2-1 win.

In the run-up to this clash, Carvalhal has spoken of his side's confidence as being crucial to survival. Here's what he had to say to reporters recently:

"The advantage we can take is that we have come from the bottom and we are progressing. The opposite is more harder if you are a team that was in eighth or 10th place in November or December and starts losing games to be in the battle to stay up. Teams down the bottom lose more games than they win, but we are doing exactly the opposite. This means we are strong."

As for Moyes, the West Ham boss has called on fans to come together as the team heads into a vital stage in their season, despite some sections of their supporters making their disdain for the club's executives known in recent weeks:

"We need the supporters with us. I don't know all their grievances but since I've been here I've really enjoyed the effort they have put in both away from home and at home, and I'm going to need them until the end of the season. We have a lot of work to do to make sure we are still a Premier League team and the more they get behind us the better."

Much of today's focus will likely be on the return of Andre for Swansea, but West Ham will be careful not to forget about Jordan, who is now the Swans' leading scorer with five in the league.

We're set for a chilly afternoon in Swansea, with some sections of Wales feeling the full brunt of Storm Emma, which has caused all sorts of chaos across the UK this week.

Just a couple of minutes to go now until we're underway at the Liberty. Here's a reminder of the teams this afternoon:

SWANSEA CITY STARTING XI: Fabianski; Naughton, van der Hoorn, Fernandez, Mawson; Olsson, Ki, King, Clucas; J. Ayew, A. Ayew

WEST HAM UNITED STARTING XI: Adrian; Reid, Rice, Cresswell; Zabaleta, Evra, Noble, Kouyate; Lanzini, Arnautovic, Hernandez

KICKOFF! We are now moving in Wales. The Hammers get us going...

A fast start at the Liberty as West Ham seek to push forward with energy. Swansea have pressed with industry in the opening minutes and both sides have looked a tad hurried in possession.

Jordan and Andre seek to combine for the first time as the former switches the ball into the box for his brother, but the frontman can't quite bring possession down on his chest and West Ham clear.

Clucas aims to break from deep now in order to receive a long ball from Ki in the middle, but the pass has just a little too much weight on it and West Ham are able to settle for a goal kick. Some decent early pressure from the Swans here.

Arnautovic offers an option for the first time this afternoon and he is able to win a corner off Noble's forward ball. The corner, however, comes to nothing when the linesman raises his flag for an offside once the ball had been returned back into the box after an initial clearance.

What a start for the hosts! Olsson comes in off the left flank and finds Andre Ayew with his back to goal. The frontman then lays a simple pass off for Ki Sung-yueng, who drills an effort from range through a number of bodies and into the far corner past Adrian. The keeper might have done better, but his view was impacted by players from both sides on the edge of the box.

West Ham's disastrous away record looks set to continue, but they do have plenty of time to get back into this. Swansea have the early goal they craved though and can now do damage on the counter when West Ham push for the leveller.

The Hammers have responded well to going behind as they aim to mount something going forward. Swansea are equal to everything at the moment, though, pressing all over the pitch in numbers. The hosts' shape has been a joy to watch early on.

Ki shows wonderful feet to nip past Noble and win a cheap free kick around 35 yards out from goal...

The South Korean sends a brilliantly curling ball towards the back post, where Mawson peels off and sends a cross back across the box, leaving Adrian to clear for a corner.

CLOSE! The corner leads to a ping-pong melee in the box where it finally lands at the feet of van der Hoorn. The defender is somehow thwarted by Adrian on the line, before Rice comes to the rescue again when he clears with Fernandez trying to tap home.

During that moment of chaos in the box, Reid has done some serious damage to himself and the officials have called for a stretcher. He appears to have twisted his body and it's not quite clear whether this is a hip, leg or back injury, it looks nasty though.

Moyes and Pearce are readying Sam Byram at the moment as the whole of the Liberty looks on in anxiety at this situation. Reid is still down on the deck.

Passions are running hight at the moment and it appears as though the Ayew brothers and Noble seem to be having a few words. It's broken up quickly though. Reid is now loaded onto a stretcher.

We're still waiting for Reid to leave the field of play here as the medical staff continue to prepare for the defender's departure off the pitch.

Swansea were looking good up until this rather long stoppage in play and it will be interesting to see if they can find that same rhythm again once we get moving.

Huge applause rings around the ground from all sets of fans as Reid is stretchered off. Swansea have a corner...

West Ham break well from the corner and possession is moved to Hernandez. The forward tries to feed Arnautovic in behind, but the Austrian is soon flagged for offside. It was a poor run at a crucial moment, to be honest.

Things have been slightly scrappy since the break, as you might expect. Jordan Ayew does brilliantly when he drops deep to win a free kick on the edge of the West Ham half. It's Noble who brings him down and things are hotting up again between the pair.

SAVE! Wonderful work from Andre Ayew now as he cuts in off the right channel and tries to bend an effort into the far corner with his left foot. it's a powerful shot too, but Adrian does well to get up and put two strong hands on it.

A huge, huge goal in the contest of Swansea's season. From the resulting corner, the ball is whipped into the middle by Ki Sung-yueng and Rice falls asleep at the back post, allowing centre-back van der Hoorn to get in front of his marker and head easily beyond Adrian. It's a very soft goal for the Hammers to concede, but a massive one for the hosts as they give themselves a cushion now.

Fabianski has had a smooth afternoon so far and is yet to be bothered by West Ham. The visitors have barely laid a glove on the home side in the first half an hour or so. Swansea are cruising and they haven't really had to get out of second gear.

Jordan Ayew has been busy in the final third and this time he drops off to win back possession before trying to slip his brother beyond the last man. Thankfully for the Hammers, Rice watches the ball and is able to intercept.

Swansea have done really well to break up whatever the Hammers try to develop. Byram finds himself in possession on the right and he is soon clattered by Jordan Ayew, who gives away a free kick but again is able to disrupt any semblance of a rhythm for the visitors.

The hosts are scrapping for their lives at the moment, this time Andre lunges in to bring down Lanzini on the left channel and the Hammers just can't seem to get something going in attack.

You really have to give Carvalhal credit for the structure of this Swansea side, who have benefited from looking superbly drilled here. They break quickly but are so compact when having to defend.

YELLOW CARD! First one of the afternoon as Noble goes in late on King. The Hammers man does win the ball, though, and the decision does seem a tad unfair on the midfielder.

West Ham are persisting with long balls forward at the moment and they are being easily cut out before reaching either Hernandez or Arnautovic. Moyes will want so much more from his charges in the second half.

We are now hearing that Reid has gone to hospital for some precautionary scans following that injury earlier this afternoon.

10 MINUTES OF ADDED TIME! As expected, the officials add 10 minutes of stoppage time in the first half following that troublesome injury to Reid. Swansea remain in firm control here in an encounter that has been nothing short of brutal.

West Ham have had so much of the ball but have been unable to do anything with it. Swansea have been brilliant at winning possession and breaking. It happens again with King and the ball is fed into Ki, whose strike from the edge of the area goes sailing over the bar without troubling Adrian.

Arnautovic has been starved of the ball and he takes his frustration out on Olsson over on the left wing. He escapes a booking but will need to be careful going forward in this contest.

The Austrian does well this time on Olsson as he retreats to thwart the winger. The Ayew brothers soon combine again on the edge of the area, but Byram does well to marshal Andre and toe poke the ball away.

West Ham enjoy a strong period down on the right and Naughton has to do well to study Evra and eventually step in to clear for a corner. The hosts then defend brilliantly at the set piece to head away at the near post.

So Martin Atkinson brings an end to a first half totally dominated by the Swans. The hosts have been brilliant here with their endeavour and energy, while also coming up with the required quality at the vital moments.

Without attempting to sound too dramatic, the Hammers have been anonymous here in Wales. The visitors have of course been hit by that troubling injury to Reid, but they just haven't shown any industry or desire in the first half. The away side are deservedly behind at the break.

Moyes will be deeply frustrated at having such a high share of possession too. The Swans have been happy to sit off and times before looking to pinch and counter when it matters most. The defending for the second goal was almost comical too, although Carvalhal won't mind as his side are currently headed for a crucial win.

SECOND HALF! We are back moving again. West Ham have made a change as Evra is replaced by Michail Antonio.

Moyes has clearly had words with his side and they are now buzzing around the pitch with energy, throwing themselves into every challenge early on here.

Surely that is game over now for the Hammers? A true sucker-punch too. A simple corner is swung into the middle and won by Ayew, who sees his header blocked by both Adrian and one of the defenders. The rebound falls quickly down into the danger zone, where King reacts quickest to poke into an empty net.

West Ham respond well to the goal with a strong period of possession, but they still cannot find a way through this compact Swansea side.

The problem for the Hammers is that if they do go in search of the unthinkable, it would leave them seriously short at the back just as Ki shows when he gambles on the counter only to be stopped by Rice.

Moyes's words have clearly stuck with his men despite the goal, as West Ham continue to show some fight in this encounter. Swansea are happy to sit off at the moment and wait for the break.

CLOSE! A crucial chance now for Arnautovic as he breaks past the last man. He opts to cut back and avoid the challenge of a retreating Fernandez, but the Austrian then sends his effort on the turn straight into the arms of a grateful Fabianksi. What a chance to find a route back into this for the Hammers...

Swansea's game management has to be applauded here, they are showing great control with this lead as they aim to wear West Ham down and exploit the counter attack.

Andre Ayew is quickest to a loose ball in the area, leaving Kouyate to make a clueless tackle and bring the forward down inside the area. His brother Jordan steps up and tucks low into the corner to outwit an unmoved Adrian. This is shaping up to be the Swans' biggest win of the season now.

Kouyate's defending their has just about summed up West Ham today, too little effort too late. The idea was their but his execution of the tackle was simply lazy.

The scoreline leaves the Hammers in an odd position. Swansea are swarming like insects at the moment and look likely to score another. Do West Ham hold out or go in search of at least registering against the hosts?

Goal difference could prove crucial in this end-of-season battle at the bottom. Swansea seem aware of that too and are still looking to press forward when necessary. They are not taking any chances at the back though as Carvalhal continues to bark instructions from the touchline.

Jordan Ayew has run his socks off this afternoon and he continues to fly into challenges, this time with a rather poor one on Kouyate. Swansea have been nothing short of wonderful here in Wales.

Again the frontman shows great industry to chase down a back pass from Rice, leaving Adrian to have to shift his feet well and make a good clearance on the volley. Swansea are not giving West Ham an inch.

More crunching tackles now as Antonio hits the deck and will need some lengthy treatment.

Antonio is being fouled all over the shop by this rampant Swansea side. The substitute wins another free kick just the Swansea half.

From the resulting free kick, Cresswell sends a ball into the box and Swansea are undone in the air for the first time today, allowing for the ball to fall to the feet of Antonio, who completes a simple finish beyond Fabianski.

So West Ham might leave the Liberty with a slither of respect, but that goal has come far too late to avoid an embarrassment here.

SUBSTITUTION: Carvalhal attempts to close up the game with another substitution, this time as Tom Carroll takes the place of Andy King in midfield.

Moyes looks clearly agitated on the touchline. His side failed to show the required fight from minute one in this contest. This was a huge game in the contest of their season and they have completely fluffed their lines away from home.

This contest has sort of rolled into a stroll at the moment as Swansea aim to break up the play and steer themselves towards a very healthy victory.

SUBSTITUTION: Swansea make another change here as Carvalhal brings on Tammy Abraham to replace Clucas.

We are going to have three minutes of additional time here...

West Ham have run out of ideas now as they attempt to lump things forward, Swansea aren't moving an inch at the back though.

Well that was largely a foregone conclusion pretty much from the restart here. Swansea were fantastic today and were fully deserving of their three points. It's a huge win for the Welsh club who now stand a real chance of beating the drop. West Ham were poor and they will need to pick themselves up quickly ahead of their next game with Burnley. Another defeat could leave Moyes and his men in real danger of relegation. That's going to be all from me today, thanks for joining us!