Swansea v Crystal Palace Preview– Saturday 3pm
After the last round of fixtures, Swansea now lie in seventh position in the league after their good form was halted with a defeat at Manchester City, in spite of taking an early lead through their talismanic striker Wilfried Bony. Back on home turf this weekend, Swansea will be hoping for a repeat of the last time they played at the Liberty Stadium and saw off the challenge of Arsenal, and continue their ascent up the league.
Key to this will be in form striker Wilfried Bony, whose form is highlighted by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. The Ivory Coast international has bagged himself five goals already this season and also grabbed an assist for good measure. He is not slouch when it comes to defending either, having won 75% of his tackles, but Swansea will want him focusing on his attacking prominence on the weekend. He is 28/25 to score anytime with 888sport.com.
In the middle of the park, Gylfi Sigurdsson has been in sensational form and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals just how good he has been. Whilst having scored twice already this season, he has created seven goals for Swansea already during his second spell with the club, and he will be looking to provide danger man Bony with plenty of chances come Saturday.
Also most impressive in the middle for Swansea has been Ki Sung-Yeung. The South Korean international has grabbed himself a goal but it is his distribution that has caught the eye of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He has completed 91.9% of his passes, which is the best pass completion rate of any player in the Premier League this season. He will be looking to make things tick alongside Sigurdsson in the middle of the park for Swansea and dictate the play with his passing ability.
Crystal Palace will come into this fixture full of confidence after overturning a one-goal deficit to Liverpool, to win 3-1 at Selhurst Park last weekend. The win saw Palace jump out of the relegation zone and up into 15th place, but another win could see them climb as high as 11th.
Key to Palace getting their second win on the trot will be influential captain Mile Jedinak. The Australian skipper has been in sensational form as revealed by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, having won a mammoth 77.4% of his 62 tackles this season. He has also made 31 clearances and racked up 43 interceptions, and will certainly look to give Palace a stronghold in the match.
Up top, Dwight Gayle is the man in form having scored against Liverpool at home for the second year running, doubling his tally for the season. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows us that Gayle has actually scored with 50% of his shots so far this season, hitting the target with 75%. He will pose a threat to the Swans’ back line and is 33/10 to score anytime with 888sport.com.
Another man in form for Crystal Palace, is Yannick Bolasie, who struck the post with a wicked shot before Gayle tapped home. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Congo international has scored once this season and will certainly expect himself to add to that tally. It is, however, his four assists that he will be likely to add to and he will look to create further chances on Saturday for his teammates.
Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars with at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ or with FIFA Ultimate team.