England - Premier League
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2 vs 0
Played
May 6, 2012 4:00 PM BST
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee:‬ C. Foy‎
Attendance:‬ 75496‎
 
28′ Paul Scholes
 
41′ Ashley Young
 

Manchester United - Swansea City Preview: Must-win clash for champions after slipping behind City

Sir Alex Ferguson's men aim to bounce back from Monday's crucial derby defeat when they host Brendan Rodgers' impressive side in their final home game of the season

By Gill Clark

More On :  Man Utd., Swansea, Man Utd. vs Swansea
EPL, Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester City v Manchester United
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  PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED

De Gea
Jones, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evra
Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani
Rooney, Chicharito


SWANSEA CITY
 
Vorm
Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor
Britton, Allen
Dyer, Sigurdsson, Sinclair
Graham

Manchester United have injury problems, with Jonny Evans and Danny Welbeck both in the treatment room and joining Paul Pogba, Anderson, Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher on the sidelines.

Chicharito should start up front in place of Welbeck, whilst Antonio Valencia could also return to the starting XI after only featuring as a substitute against Manchester City.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard is also available after injury and should make the bench.

Swansea City also have their own injury worries and will be without Kemy Agustien, Ferrie Bodde and Andrea Orlandi for the trip to Old Trafford.

Defender Angel Rangel is a doubt with a hamstring problem, but is expected to be fit, and Brendan Rogers will be hoping Leon Britton can shrug off a knee problem, while Alan Tate has recovered from a calf injury.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester United’s defeat to neighbours City on Monday saw the champions fail to register a shot on target in a game for the first time in almost three years.
  • The champions’ 1-0 victory at Swansea back in November saw the Red Devils become the first visiting club to win at the Liberty Stadium in the Premier League this season.
  • Manchester United have won just once in their last four games (against Aston Villa), in a run that has seen them pick up just four points from a possible 12 available.
  • Wayne Rooney (pictured right) has scored as many Premier League goals this season (26) as the entire Swansea team have managed at home in the league.
  • Rooney will make his 250th Premier League appearance on Sunday; he has scored 198 career goals.
  • Swansea City have lost 10 games away from home this season. In the Premier League only QPR and Bolton have lost more.
  • The Swans have never won at Old Trafford. In eight attempts they have lost six and drawn twice.
  • Striker Danny Graham has scored more goals this season (13) than both Chicharito (12) and Danny Welbeck (12).
  • Brendan Rodgers’ side are on a poor run, having won just once in their last seven games (at home against struggling Blackburn).
  • Last time out they squandered a 3-0 lead to draw 4-4 with Wolves. Some consolation for the Swans came in the shape of Andrea Orlandi's goal which, after 22 seconds, became the quickest in the Premier League this season.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Man Utd. 8-0 Swansea
    17.66 %
  • Man Utd. 3-0 Swansea
    10.22 %
  • Man Utd. 4-0 Swansea
    7.07 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ May 12, 2013 Man Utd. 2 - Swansea 1
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 23, 2012 Swansea 1 - Man Utd. 1
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ May 6, 2012 Man Utd. 2 - Swansea 0
  • Player Ratings
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Nov 19, 2011 Swansea 0 - Man Utd. 1
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Last Five Matches
Man Utd.
May 19, 2013West Bromwich Albion 5 - Man Utd. 5EPL
May 12, 2013Man Utd. 2 - Swansea 1EPL
May 5, 2013Man Utd. 0 - Chelsea FC 1EPL
Apr 28, 2013Arsenal 1 - Man Utd. 1EPL
Apr 22, 2013Man Utd. 3 - Aston Villa 0EPL
Swansea
May 19, 2013Swansea 0 - Fulham 3EPL
May 12, 2013Man Utd. 2 - Swansea 1EPL
May 7, 2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Swansea 3EPL
May 4, 2013Swansea 0 - Manchester City FC 0EPL
Apr 28, 2013Chelsea FC 2 - Swansea 0EPL
Odds
Returns: Man Utd. £12.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £510.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Swansea City £710.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1David de GeaGoalkeeper
3Patrice EvraDefender
4Phil JonesDefender
5Rio FerdinandDefender
12Chris SmallingDefender
16Michael CarrickMidfielder
18Ashley YoungMidfielder
22Paul ScholesMidfielder
7Antonio ValenciaMidfielder
10Wayne RooneyStriker
14Javier 'Chicharito' HernandezStriker
40Ben AmosGoalkeeper
2RafaelDefender
11Ryan GiggsMidfielder
7Ji-Sung ParkMidfielder
17NaniMidfielder
23Tom CleverleyMidfielder
9Dimitar BerbatovStriker
1Michel VormGoalkeeper
6Ashley WilliamsDefender
3Neil TaylorDefender
45Steven CaulkerDefender
22Ángel RangelDefender
11Scott Sinclair Midfielder
12Nathan DyerMidfielder
24Joe AllenMidfielder
27Mark GowerMidfielder
22Gylfi SigurdssonMidfielder
10Danny GrahamStriker
25Gerhard TremmelGoalkeeper
5Alan TateDefender
16Garry MonkDefender
7Leon BrittonMidfielder
15Wayne RoutledgeMidfielder
51Josh McEachranMidfielder
19Luke MooreStriker
Players to Watch
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 14
Games Goals YC RC
22 10 1 0
Chicharito is expected to take the place of the injured Danny Welbeck and join Wayne Rooney in the United attack.

The Mexican has not enjoyed as spectacular a season as he did last time out, indeed he has not scored since March, when he grabbed a double in the 5-0 demolition of Wolves.

However, the forward bagged the winner the last time the two sides met and may relish taking on the Swans again, particularly on home turf.
Danny Graham
Danny Graham
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
13 0 0 0
Danny Graham has proven to be an astute signing by Swansea, having scored 13 goals already this season, helping the Welsh side to establish themselves in the Premier League when many had tipped them for a swift return to the Championship.

The former Watford man heads to Manchester United with last weekend's goal against Wolves, his first since February, and he will be hoping to continue where he left off.

Indeed, having scored 99 goals in 299 club appearances, another strike would give him a century, and what better place to score it than at Old Trafford?
Prediction
After losing to Manchester City on Monday, Sir Alex Ferguson will demand a reaction from his side and six points from their final two games are essential if they are to have any hope of retaining their title.

City take on Newcastle before this game kicks off and anything but a win for the visitors at the Sports Direct Arena will mean that United will have the chance to regain top spot with a home victory over the Swans.

Brendan Rodgers’ men have attracted many plaudits this season, and indeed have already beaten Arsenal and City.

However, those victories both came at the Liberty Stadium, and away from home it has been a different story, meaning that anything other than a comfortable home win will be considered a surprise.
Editor's Prediction
Man Utd. 3
Swansea City 0
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man Utd. 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0