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A mouthwatering fixture awaits as Swansea City entertain Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium. With both Michael Laudrup and Sir Alex Ferguson opting to stay away from media frenzy, providing the press just the team news, it poses to be an interesting fixture.
Manchester United
The Red Devils are high on confidence, winning their last five games. With most of the top of the table clashes ending in victory for United, they seem difficult to catch at the top of the table with 6 points ahead of rivals Manchester City. It has been a regular stat that the team in the lead at Christmas has gone on to win the League, but Ferguson has warned his side not to take their foot off the gas and not to be complacent after last season’s title race. 15 different players in United colours have found the back of the net, with a total of 43 goals scored in the Premier League this season, with 13 of them scored from set pieces alone.
With hamstring injuries clouding the United team, Anderson, Nani and Rafael da Silva are out of this fixture. Shinji Kagawa and the Keane twins too miss out on the fixture, with the former out for a while due to a serious knee injury. For the first time this season, instead of the defence taking a hit, it has been the wingers who have been out of action, forcing Ferguson to field the overrated diamond formation which has worked for and against United. Should anything happen before tomorrow’s fixture, United look to maintain the 4-4-2 formation and also the 6 point gap at the top.
Swansea City
With their hitman Michu scoring the bulk goals this season, Michael Laudrup’s Swans are sitting pretty at 10th position on the table. Out of the 26 goals scored by Swansea this season, Michu has netted 13 of them, which sees him in the pole and a serious contender for the golden boot this season. Sadly, he hasn’t had any support up front; only Nathan Dyer, Wayne Routledge and the under rated Jonathan De Guzman have shown signs of helping out the attacking midfielder. A serious ankle injury to starlet Neil Taylor will see the young Welshman out for a bulk of the season after Christmas. However, Ben Davies who has been deployed in his place, has been sensational and will give Taylor a huge competition to hold his place in the first team. Angel Rangel too seems doubtful for the fixture and looks set to be replaced by Dwight Tiendalli. Michel Vorm however will be the biggest return to the first team and looks set to replace Gerhad Tremmel between the sticks.
Head to head ( United 4- 1 Swansea)
Manchester United 2 (Scholes, Young)- Swansea 0, Premier League, May 6, 2012
Swansea 0- Manchester United 1 (Hernandez), Premier League, November 19, 2011
Manchester United 2 (Stapleton, Robson)- Swansea 1, Division One, May 7, 1983
Swansea 0- Manchester United 0,Division 1, December 18, 1982
Swansea 2 (Curtis, James)- Manchester United 0, Division 1, January 30, 1982
Current Form ( 2012-13 Season)
Swansea City (D,W,W,L,L)
Swansea 0-0 Liverpool
Swansea 3-1 West Brom
Arsenal 0-2 Swansea
Swansea 3-4 Norwich
Tottenham 1-0 Swansea
Manchester United (W,W,W,W,W)
United 3-1 QPR
United 1-0 West Ham
Reading 3-4 United
City 2-3 United
United 3-1 Sunderland
Predicted Line-ups
Swansea City starting XI
Manchester United XI
Key Battles
Michu vs Robin Van Persie
We have seen what can happen if we put two of the best teams in the Premier League up against each other. Now, we will have to wait and see what can happen if we put two of the top goal scores in the League to face off against each other. With these two on the grass, goals are guaranteed.
Ben Davies vs Antonio Valencia
This is going to be a battle of pace vs skill. Valencia possesses the pace and strength however, Ben Davies will probably be the the best full back he will face and it should be a tantalizing battle to watch.
The X-Factor
Javier Hernandez
The “Little Pea” may not start the match, but should Manchester United find themselves down in the break, he could be introduced and as always, he guarantees goals, and will perform another rescue job as he has done countless times in the past.
