Swansea vs Manchester United team news: Jose Mourinho may welcome back Chris Smalling and Anthony Martial for Premier League game
Bob Bradley may also be able to call upon Jefferson Montero and Kyle Naughton after their respective ailments
JOSE MOURINHO may be able to call upon key players Chris Smalling and Anthony Martial for Sunday’s clash with Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
Centre-back Smalling, 26, hasn’t played since United’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea, while Martial last turned out in the same game.
They both missed the frustrating 0-0 draw with Burnley at the weekend – but could provide a major lift for a United line-up bereft of confidence and inspiration.
Meanwhile, Old Trafford chief Mourinho may choose to shuffle the pack in his attacking ranks, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a horror run of form.
That would give Martial the chance to play down the middle, or even perhaps the benched Wayne Rooney or youngster Marcus Rashford.
Unfortunately for Saturday’s visitors, the are still missing long-term casualties Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia, James Wilson and Eric Bailly.
For Swansea, Bob Bradley should have a near-full squad to choose from, with Nathan Dyer the only long-term injury after a knock to the ankle.
That means Jefferson Montero and Kyle Naughton may be fit for Sunday’s game at the Liberty Stadium as they look to take advantage of the Red Devils’ shaky form.
However, the Swans themselves are on a shocking run of form, picking up just five points from their opening ten games, good for 19th in the league, already five points off 17th-placed West Ham.
Stats
- Swansea have won three of their last four Premier League meetings with Manchester United, losing the other.
- Man Utd have lost on their last two Premier League visits to face Swansea – they’ve only lost three in a row away to the same opponents on four occasions (Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool and Southampton).
- Six of the last eight meetings between these sides in all competitions has ended with a 2-1 scoreline (four wins for Swansea, two for Man Utd), including each of the last four in a row.
- Wayne Rooney has scored two goals and assisted two more in his last five Premier League games against Swansea.
- Manchester United have covered the lowest distance in the Premier League so far this season (1055.3km) and have outrun their opponents on a league-low one occasion.
- The Red Devils have scored with just one of their last 91 shots in the Premier League and have failed to score with any of their last 67 in the competition since Martial’s goal versus Stoke on October 2nd.
- After scoring with four of his first 15 shots in the Premier League, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has now failed to score with his last 42 in the competition.
- Swansea City have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last nine Premier League matches.
- This is Manchester United’s second worst points tally after 10 games of a Premier League season (15 points), behind only 2014-15 (13 points).
- This is Swansea’s worst start to a Premier League season after 10 games five points) – six points fewer than their previous worst (11 points in 2013-14).