Swansea v Manchester United
Sunday 30th August, 16:00
Swansea are one of six remaining unbeaten teams in the league so far this season, and will host another in the shape of Manchester United. Last season saw the Swans claim an opening day victory over United at Old Trafford and they will be hoping to derail them again this year with another early season win over the red half of Manchester.
The Red Devils come into this game in fourth place in the league having dropped their first points of the season last weekend in a goalless draw at home to Newcastle. United will be hoping to get straight back to winning ways this weekend to help them launch their early season attack on the summit of the table.
Swansea will be hoping that they can win the battle of the engine rooms where Gylfi Sigurdsson will square up against United new boy Morgan Schneiderlin. Sigurdsson has made a good start to the season, as demonstrated by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, winning 60% of his 10 tackles, making two clearances and one interception. Going forward, he has hit the target with 57.1% of his seven efforts, and will be hoping to find his first goal of the season this weekend.
Morgan Schneiderlin will be no easy opponent for him, as demonstrated by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. United’s new midfield man has won 70.6% of his 17 tackles, made 10 interceptions and a further four clearances. These statistics are a direct consequence of him covering 37.6km in his first three games in a United shirt, the most by any Premier League player, which has also enabled him to amass 177 passes completed, 90.3% of his overall attempts.
Up top, Swansea’s Bafetimbi Gomis has flown out of the blocks this season, and his opposite number Wayne Rooney will be United’s main threat going forward. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, Gomis has netted his three goals at an average of a goal every 81.6 minutes so far this season. His accuracy has brought him success, hitting the target with 85.7% of his seven attempts on goal. He is 11/5 to score anytime with 888sport.com.
United will be hoping that Wayne Rooney can grab himself his first goal of the season this weekend to help kick-start his campaign. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that he has won 50% of his two tackles and also hit the target with 50% of his four attempts on goal. Whilst he has made two interceptions and three blocks, the United faithful will be keen to see his best work going forward to ensure that United add to their tally of two goals in three games so far. He is 7/4 to score anytime with 888sport.com
Swansea v Manchester United Possible Lineups:
Swansea City: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Shelvey; Sigurdsson, Montero, Ayew; Gomis
Manchester United: Romero; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw; Carrick, Schneiderlin; Young, Mata, Depay; Rooney
Swansea v Manchester United Match Stats:
- Swansea City won both Premier League meetings last season. They were the only team to do the league double against United in 2014-15.
- Swansea have won three of the last four meetings with United in all competitions, all by a 2-1 scoreline.
- Manchester United have won only two of their 12 league matches at Swansea (D3, L7).
- Swansea haven’t won successive home Premier League games since November 2014.
- The Swans could remain unbeaten in their opening four matches of a top-flight season for the first time.
- Manchester United have failed to score in three of their last five Premier League away games.
- United have scored more than once in only one of their last nine Premier League matches, the 2-1 win at Palace on 9 May.
Stats via BBC
Swansea v Manchester United Prediction:
A 1-2 win for the travelling side.
Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars with at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ or with FIFA Ultimate team.