Manchester City vs Swansea preview: City hoping to claim top spot against out of sorts Swans

A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at the Etihad Stadium

(2015 Getty Images)

It’s a big game for…

Bafetimbi Gomis: Swansea City will be making the march up-to Manchester without Gary Monk for the first time in 77 matches. Struggling for goals and without a win in five league games, the French striker could be one of many reasons the Swans are dropping down the Premier League ladder. Scoring four-in-four at the beginning of the season, Gomis has now gone 13-games-straight without hitting the back of the net. He certainly has to start firing on all cylinders again, starting away at the Etihad.

Best stat…

13: Manchester City have the highest number of different goalscorers in the Premier League this season. Whilst Swansea have the joint fewest (4 – alongside Watford and Stoke).

Remember when…

Sergio Aguero made his debut for the Sky Blues back in August 2011. He scored two goals that night – one being an absolute cracker.

Player to watch…

Yaya Toure: The Ivorian powerhouse loves playing against Swansea. The Manchester City midfielder turns on the magic when he wants – he has scored four goals in his last three games against the Swans.

Past three-meetings…

Swansea 2 (Sigurdsson, Gomis) Manchester City 4 (Toure x2, Milner, Bony), Premier League, May 2015

Manchester City 2 (Jovetic, Toure) Swansea 1 (Bony), Premier League, November 2014

Swansea City 2 (Bony x2) Manchester City 3 (Fernandinho, Toure, Kolarov), Premier League, January 2014

Form guide…

Manchester City: LLWWLW – recently defeating Borussia Monchengladbach

Swansea: WLLDLL – recently losing 3-0 at home to Leicester City.

Vital information…

KICK-OFF: Saturday, December 12, 3pm

TV: Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC One, 10.30pm