The cream has risen to the top relatively early in the Premier League season. Unlike last season when just about all of the bluebloods got off to such an awful start, the three names at the top include the two Manchester teams and Chelsea. All three are without a single blemish this season, and the Blues will be favorites to keep their perfect mark intact on Sunday against Swansea City.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Liberty Stadium at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 11, 2016. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC Sports Network.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Swansea City +485
Chelsea -165
Draw +305
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
There is still a cautious optimism around Stamford Bridge right now, and for good reason. Chelsea is good for sure, but is the team really better on paper now than it was last year at this time when it was scrounging around for every point it could get?
The oddsmakers sure think so.
The Blues are lined at -165 on the moneyline and are laying a full goal on the Asian Handicap.
The total is fairly average at a flat 2.5.
Key Injuries
Part of what has made Chelsea stronger this season is the ability to stay relatively healthy. Kurt Zouma is really the only concern at the moment for one of the top dogs in England, and he's been out of the fold from tearing his ACL in February and won't be back for at least another month or so.
Borja Baston was arguably the biggest signing in Swansea's history this summer, but he's fighting a thigh injury right now and is 50/50 for the game this weekend. If he plays, he'll be the most lethal Swan on the pitch for sure, as he can score from all over the place and has demonstrated that at every level he's ever played at.
Recent Form
Swansea might end up kicking itself for its poor start to the season. The team has had to play against Burnley, Hull City and Leicester City, three teams that could end up fighting in the relegation zone this year, yet it only has three points to show for its work, a 1-0 win at Burnley to start the season in a match that the Swans didn't even look that great in. They were awful in a shocking 2-0 home loss to Hull City, and the 2-1 loss to Leicester City, though expected by most, wasn't a good showing no less.
For our money, Chelsea has been the best team in England this year. It's tough to split hairs between the Blues and the Manchester squads, all of which are 3-0-0, but Chelsea has been clinical on both sides of the pitch, outscoring West Ham, Watford and Burnley by an aggregate of 7-2. Of note is the fact that all three games cleared the total.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Chelsea has loaned out a ton of players this year, but we still trust what Antonio Conte is doing at this point. He's gotten the best out of his men, particularly at the back, and he's seemingly revived Thibaut Courtois and Diego Costa after both superstars had a bad season last year.
Swansea is bothersome to us. This team has top half potential, but if it isn't careful, everything could end up falling apart.
That said, Liberty Stadium is a nasty place for foes to come play at, and the Blues are going to find that out on Sunday. The Swans are strong enough to get something out of this match, and we wouldn't be shocked if they successfully go into their shell and effectively park the bus inside of their own net. If they can do it and hold form, they'll have a shot at a point. We'll take the goal and know that we've got the one-goal loss as a safety net for a return on investment.
English Premier League Odds: Swansea 0, Chelsea 0
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