With the English Premier League back to us, the teams return for the second game-week, as they look to improve and continue the good performances that they put in the first round and correct their mistakes to get positive results. We have prepared the preview for the match between Swansea City and Manchester United for our readers, so read on to get the prediction for the exciting match along with betting picks!
SWANSEA CITY vs. MANCHESTER UNITED
Three-way: 1: Swansea city +1100; X: +430 Draw; 2: Manchester United -238
Spread +1.5: Swansea City -115; Manchester United +112
Total +2.5: Over -103; Under +100
SWANSEA CITY
The Swans enter their first full season under new manager Paul Clement, who was successful in stabilizing a sinking ship last year, as the Welsh club made a horrible start to the season, are were almost certain to get relegated, as all their players weren’t up to their levels, barring the likes of a few. However, the now looked better equipped to fight for their place in the top flight after spending time with Paul Clement during the pre-season, giving him time to place his ideas on the squad.
Their most recent transfer news will surely be a sad one for the fans. Star midfielder Sigurdsson, who was so influential in his time at the club, has agreed to move to Everton on a deal worth 45 million. Although his departure will be a bitter pill to swallow, the fans will be hoping that these funds are utilized to bring in an able replacement. So far, they have made three signings in this window. Keeper Erwin Mulder has joined on a free transfer from Heerenveen, while Spanish midfielder Roque Mesa has joined from Las Palmas in a deal worth 12.5 million Euros. Their new attacking addition is teenage prodigy Tammy Abraham, who has signed on a season long loan deal and has looked like a striker who will be able to bag crucial goals.
The Swans had a leaky defense last year, which looks to have improved considerably, looking at their preseason games so far, where they have managed to keep three clean sheets in six games. In the same duration, they scored a total of 8 goals, while conceding 4. In the first round of the league, they managed to hold a clean sheet against a talented Southampton side as they drew 0:0, which shows their defensive resilience has improved under Clement.
The Swans are struggling with injuries right now, as many of their key players are out in the treatment room. Wingers Nathan Dyer and Jefferson Montero are both out with muscular injuries suffered earlier this year and are still not close to making a complete recovery. Reliable midfielder Sung Yong Ki is also out with a knee injury, which is to keep him in the medical room for at least mid-September. Their last absentee will be Spanish striker Fernando Llorente, who injured himself in the preseason with a fractured arm, and won’t be ready in time to make the squad for this match, in all likelihood.
MANCHESTER UNITED
United fans have quite a few reasons to be positive this season. First, star midfielder Paul Pogba is no longer the most expensive player in the world after Neymar’s mega-money to PSG, which will take some pressure off his shoulder. Second, they have made some quality signings that will improve the quality of the squad, which lacked some incisiveness last year. However, the most important factor will be the manager, as he enters his second year with the Red Devils. The Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho has an enviable record of winning a league title for the second year in all of the clubs he has worked so far in his managerial career, which virtually guarantees the club of improving their sixth place finish of last season.
They have managed to bag highly sought-after striker Lukaku, right under the nose of his previous employers Chelsea, as the club took advantage of the Blues’ reluctance to meet Everton’s demands. The Belgian, who has joined on 84 million Euro deal, has already made a positive start to the campaign, as he looks to replace the ever-effective Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Joining him in midfield is another former Chelsea player, who has signed for the Manchester Based club on a controversial 44 million deal, as he aims to provide steel and defensive backup to help Pogba express himself. Their third signing is young Swedish Centre-back Victor Lindelof, who has been approved by Zlatan himself, in a deal that, has long been coming. The former Benfica man has joined the club for 35 million, as the fans hope to see him adding grace to Bailly’s no-nonsense defending.
The Manchester based made an absolutely terrifying start to the formal league season, as they dismantled West Ham at home by 4:0. New signing Romelu Lukaku bagged two brilliant goals, as he tries to make himself a fan favorite, while Nemanja Matic delivered a midfield masterclass where he dominated the middle of the park and grabbed home the man of the match award, something which will appease the Old Trafford faithful. This result looks to heal the injuries of the fans who were sad to see their team lose the Super cup to Real Madrid in a match where Lukaku made some very silly mistakes, where they could have otherwise won the match.
There will be three absentees for the match, as Mourinho will be without Argentine defender Marcos Rojo, who is out with a knee injury suffered in April and is still not back in training. Joining him is fellow defender Luke Shaw, who was unfortunately injured just as he was coming back into the first team, and had to go through a foot surgery in July. The third absentee will be midfielder Ashley Young, who is out with a Muscular Problem.
SWANSEA CITY vs. MANCHESTER UNITED – Match Prediction:
United has shown signs of being title contenders, even though it is still early to decide on anything. However, matches like these were the ones that frustrated Mourinho’s men last year, where he failed to kill matches and had to go home with a draw. Swansea is set to sit back, and hit on the counter, as the onus will be on United to attack, considering their squad. However, irrespective of their results last year, I feel this match has a Manchester United win written all over it. Therefore, my prediction will be an away win for United in a high scoring encounter.
MY PICK: Over 2.5 goals (-103)
