Premier League preview: Swansea v Stoke

17 January 2013 09:39

Stoke City will look to end their English Premier League losing streak when they travel to Swansea City on Saturday.

Stoke are 10th on the table following heavy losses to European champions Chelsea and Premier League winners Manchester City in their past two league outings.

But the Staffordshire club returned to winning ways against Championship side Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on Tuesday and have set their sights on securing three points at the Liberty Stadium.

"Going to Swansea is never easy because they keep hold of the ball well, and they have some top players in their team," said Stoke forward Jon Walters, who conceded two own goals and missed a penalty against Chelsea before returning to form with a brace against Palace.

"This win has given us confidence though, so we will get ourselves ready for that game and hopefully do enough to get the three points on Saturday."

Ninth-placed Swansea are seven points adrift of an unlikely European berth, but could climb as high as seventh in the standings with their eighth win of the season.

Swansea were beaten 1-0 at Arsenal in the FA Cup on Wednesday, but remain buoyed by an unbeaten run of seven matches in all competitions before their trip to the Emirates Stadium.

Michael Laudrup made six changes to the Swansea side that drew with Everton in the Premier League against Arsenal and is expected to make a similar amount of alternations on Saturday.

"We try to use the squad as much as possible," he said.

"We have played some big sides recently, but most importantly we have always been competitive.

In an intriguing side note, Stoke may be tempted to start Kenwyne Jones against the side that had a bid for the forward rejected at the weekend.

Jones has been largely unused for Stoke this season but scored the opening goal in the win against Palace.