Hello all! It's the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, with plenty of vital games at the top and the bottom of the table. Here though, we're focusing on
Swansea City's final home game of the season against
Southampton.
Neither team have anything to play for at this stage, but it goes without saying that both will be wanting to finish their final two fixtures on a high.
Garry Monk has managed to keep Swansea in the top flight following a number of lingering moments down the bottom. For Southampton, they have never been in any real danger of dropping down to the Championship, but they could surpass their best ever Premier League points total of 52, which they are currently on.
Before we look into the game itself, the team news has just filtered through from the Liberty Stadium. We'll start with the home side...
Swansea substitutes: Tremmel, Taylor, Bartley, Fulton, Dyer, Emnes, Vazquez
Monk has made one change to the side that secured a
4-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend. Dwight Tiendalli comes in for Angel Rangel, who misses out with a groin strain.
SOUTHAMPTON XI: Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Wanyama, Cork, Schneiderlin, Davis, Lallana; Gallagher
Southampton substitutes: Gazzaniga, Lambert, Ward-Prowse, Guly, Chambers, Hooiveld, Reed
It's the one change for Southampton too, as Pochettino has brought in Morgan Schneiderlin due to the absence of
Rickie Lambert, who has dropped down to the bench after picking up a knock this week.
We seem to have had a slight technical error as the Swansea first team has disappeared. It would probably help for you to know the starting side before the substitutes, so here it is (again)... SWANSEA XI: Vorm; Tiendalli, Amat, Williams, Davies; Britton, Shelvey, De Guzman; Hernandez, Routledge; Bony
There's no place for Chico Flores in the Swansea squad at all, despite the Spaniard returning from a two-match ban. Wilfried Bony, who netted twice against Villa last weekend, will lead the line for the Welsh side, who can mark their final home game of the season with a win.
Could it be
Garry Monk's final home game in charge of the team? The 35-year-old, who has been a Swansea player for the last 10 years, revealed this week that he has held talks with chairman Huw Jenkins, but there is no definite answer on whether he will be Michael Laudrup's permanent successor.
Monk, who replaced Laudrup in February, told reporters in Thursday's pre-match press conference: "We'll see. Of course I am hopeful.
"It is something I really enjoy doing, I've learnt a hell of a lot in a short space of time, and once you get a taste of it you don't want to let it go."
Managerial changes also seems to be the topic of discussion at many Southampton press conferences of late. Pochettino is yet to secure his long-term future to the club amid reports that Tottenham Hotspur may be interested in the Argentine. The 42-year-old stated again this week that he has not held talks with the Saints hierarchy yet as he has been focusing on pre-season.
If there were to be any coaching changes this summer, you would have to wonder what that would mean for a number of Southampton's star players. Luke Shaw and captain Adam Lallana are among those being touted as possible departures. Manchester United and Chelsea have been linked with Shaw, while Liverpool have emerged as potential suitors for Lallana. Will Southampton be able to keep hold of the England internationals? We'll see how the next few months pan out!
Talking of potential exits, Wilfried Bony has cast doubt over his Swansea future by admitting this week that he wants to play for a "bigger club" in the future.
He told Sky Sports News: "I want to be in a bigger club, like all young players dream. So, for me, it is very important to keep doing well what I am doing now and just try to get the chance, and if the chance comes to me then it is up to the club to decide."
Bony joined Swansea for a club-record fee of £12m from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem last summer, and if the club want to improve their status in the Premier League, then keeping hold of the striker is vital.
One man who will want to be looking to impress on the pitch this afternoon will be Jonjo Shelvey. The former Liverpool midfielder has grown into the team following his move last summer, and scored arguably one of the season's best goals last weekend against Villa. There have been reports that Newcastle United are tracking the midfielder, but Monk recently quashed any suggestions that Swansea will sell.
So, how do things stand for these two sides in the league table? Well, as I mentioned earlier, there's nothing for either team to play for. Southampton are currently eighth in the
table, while Swansea reside five places below in 13th. The Welsh outfit could move up a place with a victory, but Southampton will remain in eighth even if they grab maximum points as they are eight points adrift of Manchester United.
The fact that neither team have anything to play for could make this game go one of two ways - it could be a drab affair or both sides will play with freedom and we could have a potential goalfest. In this fixture last season, it ended in a goalless draw, so let's hope for some more action this time around!
Both sides head into this afternoon's fixture on the back of victories - Two own goals helped Southampton record a
2-0 victory over Champions League-chasing Everton last weekend, while, as mentioned earlier, Swansea hit four past Villa, who are in danger of facing the drop.
Southampton have come up with an interesting initiative to keep morale high - travelling fans have been given free masks of their favourite players to wear at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon. The club's official Twitter page have been retweeting a few of their fans donning new faces...
PREDICTION: So, how do you see this game going? The fact that Swansea are on home turf will give them a big advantage, and Southampton have struggled to get points at this ground. I'm going to agree with my colleague Joe Fish, who predicted a 2-1 victory for the Swans in his preview, which can be found
here.
The atmosphere is building at the Liberty as they await the arrival of the players from the tunnel. We've got just over five minutes until kickoff.
The fans lift placards in the air to unveil a mosaic of 'SWANSEA' in the ground to mark their final home match of the campaign. After the obligatory handshakes among the players, action will begin.
KICKOFF! Swansea get us underway, kicking from right to left.
It's a strange ball from Clyne as he receives it out wide on the right in the final third. He passes it around his marker, but it's to nobody in sight and the ball trickles behind the line for a goal kick.
CHANCE! A great opportunity for Swansea to open the scoring as Bony flicks the ball back in the penalty area. The ball eventually falls to De Guzman, but he's leaning back as he goes for the shot and it flies over the crossbar.
It's taken a while for both sides to settle in this game, but Swansea are beginning to look comfortable on the ball. A cross is whipped into the box to find Bony, but he runs just ahead of the ball and has to lean back to connect to it, but fails.
CHANCE! Shelvey launches a cross into the box and Bony leaps to latch onto the ball with a header towards goal, but it just drifts wide of the post.
At the other end, Davis chips the ball into the box after getting away from his marker, but Williams is able to head the ball away and clear the danger.
Southampton are enjoying some possession in Swansea's half as the home side drop and try to press the Saints' back, but Tiendalli gives away a free kick after bringing down Shaw.
It's taken short to Lallana, but there are enough white shirts in the box to latch onto the midfielder's pass before any of his teammates can set up a shot.
It looks as though Williams is trying to calm down his teammate Shelvey, who is having a few words with Schneiderlin. The Wales international using his experience there to make sure the midfielder doesn't get aggravated.
It's a poor effort from Schneiderlin as Shaw lofts the ball from the left side into the area. His Southampton teammate manages to connect with the ball, but his header in front of goal goes flying over the crossbar.
It appears that the war of words between Shelvey and Schneiderlin came from a little incident off the ball where the Southampton player pushed Shelvey in the back of the head. No action taken from the referee, though.
Southampton have had the majority of possession over the last five minutes or so. The fluidity that we're used to seeing at St Mary's isn't happening as yet here, but they've had more of the ball.
Swansea win back possession and Hernandez looks to go on the break, but as he surges forward, he loses the ball while looking for Bony up front.
Referee Anthony Taylor has a decision to make as Amat comes across and brings down Gallagher just outside of the penalty area. He's got the decision right as he awards Southampton with a free kick on the left side of the area.
Lovren lines up to take it, and it's not a bad effort as the ball flies over the wall, but it's moving too high and goes over the crossbar, failing to trouble Vorm.
Swansea's narrow shape isn't helping them at the moment. They are always looking to make the short pass and try to pass it through the middle, but Southampton are currently beating them in that area and their pressing when they're not on the ball is forcing the Swans to push back.
It's a lovely turn from Lallana after he picks the ball up from Shaw, who receives it back on the left side of the area. The 18-year-old crosses it back into the box, but Davis is unable to get to it at the near-post and it bounces behind the line for a goal kick.
Southampton, who have struggled with scoring goals of late, are having the majority of the possession at the moment, but are missing that clinical touch in the final third.
Lallana tussles with Davies on the edge of the box and eventually forces the first corner of the match from his Welsh opponent. It's played short by Southampton, but Swansea manage to close them down and the opportunity comes to nothing for the visiting side.
Once again, Southampton are knocking the ball around the middle of the park, but are struggling to create any chances. For Swansea, when they do have the ball, they haven't been able to find the right pass to launch a significant attack. All in all, it's a bit bland at the moment!
Davis launches the ball into the box from a long-range free kick, but Williams is there for Swansea to head the ball out of danger.
CHANCE! That should have been the opening goal for Southampton. Clyne manages to get past Davis down the right side of the final third. He whips in a cross for Gallagher, whose header flashes over the top of the bar.
CHANCE! Bony should have scored for Swansea within a minute of Southampton's chance. Hernandez heads the ball down for the forward, who drives into the box and takes a strike at goal, but his effort soars over the crossbar.
Just after I described the game as bland, it has suddenly come to life! Shelvey tries a long ball over the top, but Southampton's defensive line stand firm and Bony is rightfully flagged offside when he latches onto the ball.
Bony is flagged offside again, but just a touch. That should be a warning sign for Southampton, because if he had moved just a second later, the forward would have had plenty of space to create a shot on goal.
At the other end, Cork tries a long-range effort, but Williams knocks the ball out for a corner, which comes to nothing for Southampton.
Shaw storms down the left and sends a low cross into the box, but Lallana slips as the ball is delivered. Swansea make a hash of getting the ball away, but the eventually manage to do so. If Southampton had been more alert in the box, damage may have been done to Swansea.
Shaw, who has been afforded a lot of space in this first half, shows some electric pace down the flanks again. As he reaches the line, Tiendalli tackles the England international and gives away a corner, but once again, it comes to nothing.
Shelvey plays the ball out wide on the right to Hernandez, whose quality of cross into the box is poor as it flies over all of his teammates and back into Southampton's possession.
HALF-TIME: Swansea City 0-0 Southampton
Aside from two attempts on target, it hasn't been the most electric of 45 minutes at the Liberty Stadium. Sam Gallagher came close to opening the scoring for Southampton with a header, but it flew over the crossbar. Within a minute, Wilfried Bony should have also found the net at the other end, but his strike blazed over the top.
The visitors have been the more comfortable of the two sides so far, but have failed to find that clinical touch in the area, despite having the majority of possession. You'd have to say that they're missing the threat of Rickie Lambert, who was left out of the starting XI due to a knock, but is on the bench, so could feature at some stage in the second half.
For Swansea, Monk may have to change the shape of the team because it's not working out for them so far. The side is set up too narrow, which is allowing Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne plenty of space down the flanks.
It also looks as though the desire from Swansea is missing slightly. Jonjo Shelvey has been in good form of late, but he's so far failed to make a significant impact in this match. Bony has looked dangerous when he's had the ball, but his final touch let him down in the first half.
As of right now, it's difficult to see where the goals are going to come from. As I just mentioned, Bony looks the more likely, but he needs to have better service in the second half in order to pose a threat. Southampton are doing the right things in the middle of the pitch, but they need to find that clinical touch in front of goal. We'll find out soon enough when the game resumes.
The players are back on the pitch as we await the whistle to signal the second half.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Southampton get us going in the second half at the Liberty.
SAVE! It's the first real save that Vorm has had to make, but it's an easy one as Lallana drives the ball straight to the goalkeeper from a low shot.
Lallana plays the ball out wide to Cork, who has acres of space. He launches a cross into the box, but Tiendalli gets to it first and eventually manages to clear.
Lovren gives away a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the are after bringing down Bony. The ball is delivered across the goal, but the red shirts manage to clear.
Lovren gives away a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the are after bringing down Bony. The ball is delivered across the goal, but the red shirts manage to clear.
Swansea get a corner, which is delivered by Davies, who manages to find the head of the skipper, but Williams's flicks flies behind the line for a goal kick.
Swansea get a corner, which is delivered by Davies, who manages to find the head of the skipper, but Williams's flicks flies behind the line for a goal kick.
The home side have stuck with that narrow shape, which has allowed Southampton to continue controlling the game. It's the same old story though, as the Saints are yet to find that clinical edge.
A lovely move from Shaw as he drives into the box from the left. De Guzman makes a risky challenge, but the left-back stays on his feet and pulls the ball back for Lallana, but it misses him and Swansea are able to clear.
At the other end, Shaw brings down Routledge a few yards outside the area, but as Hernandez swings the ball into the box, none of his teammates attack it. A wasted opportunity from Swansea.
BOOKING! Jose Fonte is the first name in the book for bringing down Pablo Hernandez.
Shelvey hammers the ball in from the set piece, but his low attempt bobbles towards the near post and into Boruc's hands.
SUBSTITUTION: Southampton captain Adam Lallana is making away almost 20 minutes into the second half for Rickie Lambert, who has taken the skipper's armband.
Bony chases the ball after it dribbles past his feet, and he puts pressure on Fonte ahead of him, who gives away a corner, which is cleared by the visiting side.
De Guzman finds space in the middle and plays the ball out wide to Hernandez, who goes for a shot on the edge of the area, but it slams into a red shirt.
Davis finds himself in acres of space in midfield. He takes a touch and then launches a shot towards goal, but it flies into the stands.
SUBSTITUTION: Swansea make their first change of the game as De Guzman is replaced with Nathan Dyer.
With the arrival of Dyer, Swansea can look to play out wide as the game progresses because their narrow shape hasn't been working for them. Meanwhile, Schneiderlin swings his left foot at the ball with a low shot, but it bobbles into the arms of Vorm.
With the arrival of Dyer, Swansea can look to switch the play out wide more often. However, both teams need to keep control of possession because they've been giving the ball away cheaply. The pace of the game has filtered out at the moment.
A ball over the top searches for Hernandez, who battles with Clyne as both players drive down to the line, but a corner is given to Swansea. It flies into the box from the flag, but there's no danger for Boruc.
Well, this game definitely won't go down as one of the classics! That's unless something special happens within the next 15 minutes. Neither side have exuded much desire to get all three points at the Liberty, and it looks as though it may remain goalless.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Swansea make a double change as Hernandez makes way for Emnes, while Neil Taylor replaces Tiendalli. Southampton also make a change as James Ward-Prowse comes onto the field to replace Gallagher.
Emnes tries to make an early impact by putting pressure on Clyne in the area, but the Southampton player is able to switch the ball to his goalkeeper before Emnes can cause any trouble.
Ward-Prowse lifts the ball over the top searching for Lambert, who surges towards goal, but the ball is too far in front of him and any chance goes missing.
BOOKING! It's a late challenge from Emnes, who scrapes Fonte's knee on his follow-through. The Southampton player's having treatment on the field, but it looks as though he's going to be okay.
It looks as though it's going to be a lacklustre end to the match. Despite the low energy on the field, the fans are in full voice in the stands.
SUBSTITUTION: Southampton make their final change by bringing on Harrison Reed for Jack Cork.
Southampton have been knocking the ball across the middle of the park in the last couple of minutes. It looks as though both sides are just waiting for the clock to tick down.
Lambert charges down a free kick from Williams, but there are not Southampton players around to latch onto the loose ball, and Vorm comes off his line to collect with ease.
GOAL! Swansea City 0-1 Southampton (Lambert)
Oh dear, it's a comical goal that Swansea have conceded in the dying minutes of the game. Williams gets a poor touch on the ball in the box in an attempt to clear it, but it flies high up in the air and behind Vorm. The goalkeeper runs back to his goal alongside Lambert. The ball hits the crossbar and the Southampton striker just shoulders it into the back of the net.
FULL-TIME: Swansea City 0-1 Southampton
So, there we have it. Southampton sneak all three points with a comical goal by Rickie Lambert. The game failed to get the heart pumping, but the Saints have now surpassed their best total of 52 points with one game left to play. For Swansea, it's a disappointing result for their final home game of the season, but they will carry out their lap of honour knowing that they have secured their Premier League status. That's all from me, so until next time, goodbye!