Manchester United will look to make it four consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League this season on Sunday when they travel to the Liberty Stadium to take on Swansea in Louis van Gaal’s 50th game in charge of the club.
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The Reds were beaten home and away last season by Gary Monk’s side, losing 2-1 on both occasions. van Gaal has this season made the side much tougher to beat, although it seems to have come at the expense of exciting forward play.
United will now be looking to get their revenge on a Swansea side that has started the season well, drawing with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Sunderland and beating Newcastle United.
Sergio Romero looks set to continue in goal as the transfer window edges closer to an end. Louis van Gaal has revealed his happiness at the Argentine’s form but admits he’s yet to be really tested because of the way the team has defended, although it means that he isn’t sure if he is good enough for the Premier League yet.
The defence is also set to remain unchanged. Matteo Darmian and Luke Shaw have made the full-back positions their own this season and have formed a fantastic back four with Chris Smalling and Daley Blind sandwiched in between then. Between them they’re yet to concede a goal from an opposition player, with the solitary mark against them being Michael Carrick’s own goal against Club Brugge from a deflected free-kick.
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A large part of that record is also down to the midfield protection they’ve had. Morgan Schneiderlin has been a big part of that and is expected to start after being rested in midweek. Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger have been vying for that second central midfield spot throughout the season so far, with the vice-captain coming out on top. However with Schweinsteiger beginning to reach full fitness and showing his attributes after coming on as a second half substitute against Brugge in midweek, grabbing the assist for Herrera’s goal with a sublime through ball, I expect the German to get the nod this time.
Juan Mata and Memphis’ positions on the flanks are almost certainly guaranteed at this point, with both players consistently playing well while Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick has seen the critics back off and he’s bought himself much more time in that lone striker role.
The No.10 position is where a change must be made, with Adnan Januzaj out injured. The Belgian picked up a calf problem against Brugge and was substituted at half-time. This saw Ander Herrera move into the No.10 position and show the kind of performance we’ve all come to expect from him, with a goal and an assist in the 4-0 win before he was withdrawn early.
It was his first start of the season and he showed why fans have been clamouring for him to get into the side for this very reason. van Gaal admitted he was happy with his second half performance but after a week of also admitting that Marouane Fellaini will play in the No.10 or No.9 roles this season, Herrera’s position isn’t secure yet. The tall Belgian attacker is available once again for selection after serving his three game ban and will be considered. although Herrera’s minutes on Wednesday will be to his advantage with van Gaal’s beliefs on ‘match rhythm’.
Another option is a recall for Ashley Young. The England man could be recalled and put onto the right hand side to help Darmian with in-form, jet-heeled winger Jefferson Montero which could see Juan Mata move into his favoured No.10 role, although that is the more unlikely scenario of the three.
