Preview: Man United v Swansea City
- adamhigginsuk
- Aug 15, 2014
- 3 min read
Off to a flyer: United won 4-1 in South Wales on the opening day of the season 12 months ago (Picture from Zimbio.com)
MANCHESTER United will be hoping to make a winning start to the new campaign when they host Swansea City on Saturday.
United have the honour of launching the 2014-15 Premier League season in the lunchtime kick-off at Old Trafford. All eyes will be firmly fixed on Louis van Gaal as the Dutchman takes charge of his first competitive game since replacing David Moyes, making his managerial debut in English football. Wayne Rooney will be in possession of the armband after being named the club's new captain by van Gaal on Tuesday. After a successful pre-season which included high-profile wins over Liverpool and Real Madrid, optimism and expectation is high as the Red Devils seek to repair the damage following a turbulent campaign.
A new formation could be in the offing, with van Gaal expected to field a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2 system after deploying such tactics during the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
Van Gaal, who guided Holland to third place at the World Cup finals in Brazil, has a 100% record with United so far - which could be extended in the first few weeks of the campaign with winnable fixtures against Sunderland, Burnley and QPR to follow.
Once again, Swansea are the opposition on a milestone occasion for the Red Devils after suffering a 2-1 defeat in Sir Alex Ferguson's final home game two years ago and a 4-1 loss on David Moyes's first league outing on the opening day last season.
The Swans will take inspiration from a 2-1 win over United in the FA Cup back in January but also lost 2-0 in their league meeting at Old Trafford in March.
Swansea crept towards the finishing line last term after Garry Monk replaced Michael Laudrup in the managerial hotseat.
Having receiving the job on a permanent basis, Monk will face an uphill struggle to maintain their Premier League status in his first full season after losing nine first-team players during the summer and recruiting only four in the transfer market.
Prolific Ivorian forward Wilfried Bony, who was the club's top scorer with 25 goals last term, will be relied upon to deliver the goods with the support of new signing Bafetimbi Gomis.
Swansea have never beaten United in the Premier League and Monk's new-look side will be up against it as they seek to overturn the odds which are heavily weighted in favour of the hosts.
TEAM NEWS:
Manchester United will be without defender Luke Shaw after he injured his hamstring in training earlier this week and is expected to be out for around four weeks.
Jonny Evans and Antonio Valencia could also be sidelined after missing Tuesday's 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Valencia through minor injuries.
Midfielder Michael Carrick will miss at least the first month of the campaign after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury sustained in training.
Rafael and Anderson will not feature while strikers Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck will receive late fitness tests but are likely to miss out.
Swansea welcome back wingers Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge after both missed last weekend's final pre-season game at home to Villarreal - Routledge had a foot injury while Dyer attended the birth of his son.
But knee-injury victims Leon Britton, Marvin Emnes and Jay Fulton will not play any part.
Last updated: 15 August 2014 16:02pm
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