Southampton look to solidify their standing in the top four of the Premier League, though injury and circumstance should make this match with Swansea a more even affair than expected.
After a hot start and a terrifying slide, Southampton have clawed their way back up to third place in the Premier League table. They're having another rough run of luck with injuries, though, and that could make this match against Swansea City a very long one indeed.
Of course, Swansea aren't much better off in terms of losses. Star striker Wilfriend Bony is gone, key midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung is still on his way home from the Asian Cup final, and Wayne Routledge is hurt. They've had a fairly mediocre campaign on their way to a ninth place standing in the EPL and are coming off a pair of painful losses to Chelsea and Blackburn, but they've proved occasionally capable of causing better sides trauma.
With both sides playing without a full hand of cards, this could be a weird, crazy, sloppy, bizarre, entertaining match. If you have the time, this is definitely one to watch today.
Key player - Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City)
With Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama hurt and Jack Cork now wearing a Swansea shirt, Southampton really don't have a defensive midfield at the moment. That means one thing: Gylfi Sigurdsson is going to have a field day. Without someone in their lineup who can reliably mark and contain the Iceland attacker, this match could get decidedly one-sided, because giving Sigurdsson the licence to pull the strings without taking proper care to keep him in check is just begging for trouble.
Key Matchup - James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) vs. Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City)
Southampton aren't the only ones with a depleted defensive midfield, with Ki Sueng-Yeng not returned yet from the Asian Cup and Cork likely not quite ready to start yet. With Leon Britton in question due to a nagging groin injury, Shelvey is almost certainly going to be forced in to a more two-way role. Considering his occasional struggles and lapses in sanity when defending, that's something Swansea will be wanting to exploit. Enter Ward-Prowse and his ability to cause issues with his passing and direct runs through central areas; he'll be looking to expose Shelvey's defensive frailties and see if he can't draw out a little chaos while he's at it.
Southampton injuries and suspensions
Out: Shane Long (rib fracture), Morgan Schneiderlin (groin), Victor Wanyama (hamstring), Toby Alderweireld (hamstring), Jay Rodriguez (knee), Emmanuel Mayuka (groin) In doubt: Sam Gallagher (knee), Sadio Mane (calf/AFCON return)
Swansea City injuries and suspensions
Out: Ki Sung-Yueng (Asian Cup), Wayne Routledge (calf) In doubt: Ashley Williams (shoulder), Leon Britton (groin)
Match Date/Time: Sunday, 4:00 P.M. local, 11:00 A.M. ET
Venue: St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton, England
TV: NBCSN (U.S. - English), Sportsnet World (Canada), Sky Sports 1/HD (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), Sky GO (U.K.)
Listings via LiveSoccerTV.
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