Preview: Swans v Manchester United
Swansea City play their first home game of the new Premier League season when Manchester United come to the Liberty Stadium today (12.30pm).
The Swans will be looking to build on their opening-day goalless draw at Southampton, although Paul Clement has admitted the Swans’ performance levels will have to go up a notch if they are to upset United.
There could be Liberty debuts for summer signings Tammy Abraham and Roque Mesa, with Clement’s men hoping to build on the fine home form they produced in the second half of last season.
The Swans have lost only one of their last eight fixtures in SA1, and won their last three against Stoke, Everton and West Brom.
United, however, will feel confident about their chances of putting a dent in the Swans’ impressive recent record.
The Red Devils could only manage a draw against this weekend’s opponents when they last met, at Old Trafford in April, but they looked formidable last weekend as they kicked off the new campaign by thumping West Ham 4-0.
Big-money signings Romelu Lukaku – who scored twice – and Nemanja Matic both won plaudits on debut as part of a United side packed with pace and power.
TEAM NEWS
Fernando Llorente has returned to full training this week having broken in his arm in a close-season accident, but the big Spaniard is not fit enough to play a part this weekend.
Also on the injury list are Ki Sung-Yueng (knee) and Nathan Dyer (Achilles), who are both continuing rehab after long-term lay-offs.
Leon Britton, meantime, is battling to overcome a sore back.
Manchester United will be without long-term casualties Ashley Young, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo.
WHAT THEY SAID
Swans boss Paul Clement: “We have confidence because of what we did against Manchester United last season, while the record between these two clubs is quite interesting.
“Our record in the Premier League against Southampton, for example, is not very good, but against United it’s quite encouraging.”
Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic: “It’s always hard to win at (Swansea’s) stadium, they are a good team and we watched some videos of them.
“They have good players and also a good coach. I expect a hard game for us but we are Manchester and we know what we have to do.”
PAST MEETINGS
30.4.17 Manchester United 1 Swans 1
6.11.16 Swans 1 Manchester United 3
2.1.16 Manchester United 2 Swans 1
30.8.15 Swans 2 Manchester United 1
21.2.15 Swans 2 Manchester United 1
16.8.14 Manchester United 1 Swans 2
LAST SIX PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES
Swans: WDWWWD
Manchester United: DLLDWW
PRE-MATCH STATS
0 – The Swans have never kept a clean sheet against Manchester United in the Premier League, but that has not stopped them beating the Old Trafford giants three times and banking two draws in their 12 top-flight meetings since 2011.
6 – The Swans have not lost in six Premier League games. Should they avoid defeat this weekend, they will match their best ever unbeaten sequence at this level, which came in the 2012-13 campaign.
