This Fixture Last Season: Swansea 1 (Michu, 29') - Manchester United 1 (Evra, 16') Patrice Evra scored a header before Michu equalised with a tap-in in last season's corresponding fixture on Christmas Eve-Eve 2012. Here are some of the potentially key battles which could go some way to deciding the result:
5. Ashley Williams vs Robin van Persie
It is likely, of course, that the whole Swansea defence will be desperate to nullify last season's top scorer in the league, who scored a brace in the Community Shield last Sunday (though the second should probably be recorded as an own goal). As club captain and their best defender, Williams has extra onus to lead from the back, so to speak. This encounter is also of particular interest because of an incident last season where he booted a ball at van Persie's head from point-blank range, prompting
a livid Sir Alex Ferguson to call for the centre-half to be banned. In addition, if the papers are to be believed, then Arsenal may be watching Williams with a view to
making a bid for him; if he can minimise van Persie's impact on Saturday, that might just encourage Arsene Wenger to pick up the phone.