| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
SWANSEA CITY  VormRangel, Williams, Caulker, Taylor Routledge, Britton, Allen, Sinclair Sigurdsson Graham | MANCHESTER CITY  HartRichards, Kolo Toure, Lescott, Clichy Nasri, Yaya Toure, Barry Aguero, Balotelli, Silva |
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers will be without the services of winger Nathan Dyer, who is serving the first game of a three-match ban after the 24-year-old saw red during the victory away to Wigan last Saturday.
Dyer’s absence from the starting line-up will allow former Newcastle midfielder Wayne Routledge to regain a spot in Rodgers' side, having missed out on the Swans' previous two fixtures against Wigan and Stoke City.
The only doubt for Rodgers is the fitness of Wales international Ashley Williams, who has
been suffering from a stomach bug but is expected to be fit enough to take his place at the heart of the Swansea defence.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will arrive in Wales minus skipper Vincent Kompany, who limped off early during the Citizens' Europa League defeat away to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night.
The Italian will also be hoping to welcome back defender Micah Richards to take over the right-back spot, after left-back Gael Clichy was forced to fill in during the defeat in Lisbon, when Richards and Pablo Zabaleta were both missing due to injury.
Maverick frontman Mario Balotelli will also be hoping for a first-team return after his excellent cameo performance in midweek for Mancini’s side, replacing Edin Dzeko, who had a night to forget during the defeat.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- This game will be played almost 29 years to the day since Swansea last claimed victory in this fixture, coming out 4-1 winners in 1983.
- The home side have only conceded 10 goals at the Liberty Stadium this season, with Roberto Mancini’s outfit being the only team who have a better defensive record at home.
- Danny Graham is the Welsh side’s top goalscorer so far this season, having claimed 10 league goals since his move from Watford in the summer.
- Swansea’s Dutch born goalkeeper Michel Vorm has achieved 10 clean sheets so far in his first season in the Premier League.
- Manchester City claimed a four-goal victory when the two sides met at the start of the season, with Sergio Aguero claiming a double on his debut and Edin Dzeko and David Silva also scoring.
- Goalkeeper Joe Hart (pictured right) has gone 390 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League, with Everton’s Darron Gibson being the last player to beat the England stopper.
- Argentine frontman Aguero is currently Manchester City’s top scorer in the Premier League, having scored 16 times in his 25 appearances for the club.
- Roberto Mancini’s side currently have an incredible 11-goal advantage to go along with their two-point lead over their local rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.
The Liberty Stadium has been one of the toughest venues for visiting sides to gain a result at this season, and with Manchester City suffering disappointment during their Europa League trip to Sporting Lisbon, they will be extra motivated to keep rivals Manchester United at arm’s length at the top of the league.
Without the services of inspirational captain Vincent Kompany, the trip to Swansea will be even harder for Roberto Mancini’s side, but their strength in depth should be able to see them sneak through and continue to lead the Premier League.
Without the services of inspirational captain Vincent Kompany, the trip to Swansea will be even harder for Roberto Mancini’s side, but their strength in depth should be able to see them sneak through and continue to lead the Premier League.
Editor's Prediction
Swansea City 1-2 Manchester City 
