Date: Saturday, January 11 Venue: Old Trafford Kick-Off: 17:30 Can Manchester United avenge their elimination from the 3rd Round of the FA Cup when they again take on Swansea in the Premier League on Saturday?
Team News
Manchester United have continued injury concerns over strikers Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, who have groin and thigh injuries, respectively. Jonny Evans is a doubt after picking up a knock in the defeat to Sunderland, but Phil Jones is nearing full-match fitness. Nani, Ashley Young, Rio Ferdinand and Marouane Fellaini all miss out. Swansea will be without wingers Pablo Hernandez and Roland Lamah with the duo struggling with hamstring and abductor injuries, and goalkeeper Michael Vorm (fitness). Michu is out for several weeks after undergoing ankle surgery. (ManUtd.com)
Key Stats
Manchester United won the reverse of this fixture 4-1 the last time the two sides met in the league, on the opening day of the season at the Liberty Stadium. Wayne Rooney has more assists nine than any other player in the Barclays Premier League so far this season. Swansea inflicted upon United only their second elimination from the 3rd Round of the FA Cup in 30 years the last time the two sides met, on January 5th. That win was the Swans' first ever at Old Trafford having picked up just two draws from their previous 10 encounters in Manchester, most recently in 1934.
It's groundhog day this weekend as we see a repeat of this season's opening round of Premier League fixtures with Manchester United taking on Swansea City. United's 4-1 win over the Swans back in August proved to be a false dawn for David Moyes's reign because the champions have won only nine times since in the league. And Michael Laudrup's men heaped further misery on the Red Devils last weekend when Wilfried Bony popped up with a last-gasp header (above) to send Moyes's side hurtling out of the FA Cup. There will be revenge on the home side's minds here following that latest set-back and this might not be the best time for Swansea to play the wounded animal that is United. But their win in the FA Cup earlier this month was their first ever at Old Trafford and they will be travelling to Manchester with confidence after breaking the hoodoo. Prediction: 2-1
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
