This Premier League match sees two sides at opposite ends of the table come head-to-head as Manchester United host relegation-threatened Swansea City.
Manchester United managed to secure a dull draw against local rivals Manchester City on Thursday night, however, the fact they didn’t take all three points means they are still one point behind 4th spot and down in fifth. Having said that, it does also mean they have now gone ten matches without loss in all competitions with no Premier League loss since late October.
United’s major problem this season has been goals and now, without talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to find the haul them out of trouble, they will be even harder to come by. They have only scored three or more goals in seven out of 33 matches. Defensively though, they have been superb and they have the second-best Goals Against record with just 24 conceded. Furthermore, their clean sheet ratio of 45% is also the second-best in the league, helped by the fact they have not conceded in any of their last four league matches.
Old Trafford has been a fortress for United at home this campaign with just the one defeat in all competitions, coming all the way back in the League Cup in September. Unfortunately for United though, home draws have been a common theme in recent times with five in their last eight league games.
Swansea managed to end their dreadful record of just one point taken from a possible 18 when they emerged as victors from their match against Stoke City. Unfortunately for them though, their destiny is still out of their hands as they are currently down in 18th and two points behind Hull who sit above the drop-zone.
Paul Clement’s side have been struggling for goals of late and their recent two against Stoke City was their first in two matches and the first time they have scored two goals in a match since the beginning of March. Although they had been on a losing run, Swansea’s defence has actually been relatively solid and, apart from a 3-1 loss to title chasers Tottenham Hotspur in which they were 1-0 up until the final few minutes, they had not conceded more than one goal in a game in their last four.
Away form has been abysmal for the Swans in recent times and Clement’s first away win at Liverpool back in late January remains the only points he has taken on his travels as Swansea boss. The seven away matches since then have all been losses with just three goals scored in the process, failing to find the back of the net in their last three on the road.
Swansea do not possess much of a threat up front and so this solid United defence should be able to keep them out. ‘Manchester United to Win to Nil’, at 5/4, is the bet to go for.
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