BLOG: SWANSEA 0 - 4 UNITED

19 Aug, 2017

Thanks for following our live blog from the Premier League win at Swansea! Scroll down for reaction from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Paul Pogba, Daley Blind, and of course, Jose Mourinho. You can also check out our in-depth text commentary of the action, as well as the best photos from the Liberty Stadium.

Daley Blind was keen to emphasise United's clean sheet in his post-match interview with MUTV. "As defenders, as a group, you always want a clean sheet and two times in a row is a good start," Blind enthused. "But the defending starts with the attackers and we do that as a team very compact. It’s hard to create a lot of chances against us and we have to keep sharp on it and keep pushing.”

Jose Mourinho told reporters in his post-match press conference that he was pleased with his whole team's performance, right down to his substitutes: “We always looked like we were in control in the game," he said. "By having the ball and trying to score more goals. The players on the bench, great quality. It was easy for me to make decisions, easy for me to make changes."

Swansea manager Paul Clement was keen to pay homage to his counterpart Jose Mourinho in his post-match press conference. The Swans boss said: "Jose has shown in his career that once his teams go 1-0 up, they control the game so well. It's a different Man United this season."

Henrikh Mkhitaryan also spoke to Sky Sports after the match, and he highlighted the Reds' team spirit as an area of improvement. "The team spirit is where it needs to be," said Mkhitaryan. "It was last year as well, but we had relatively tough luck , whereas now we’re scoring the chances we’re creating. We've started very well we just need to keep doing the same."

Paul Pogba told Sky Sports that United are a more confident side than they were last year. "I think we’re more confident, we know each other more in the second year," he said. "In the first year with a new manager when he has to change the team it’s not easy, but we still won trophies. This year we are more confident and everybody knows each other well, and works for each other and I think that’s easier for us."

ManUtd.com's Adam Higgins at the Liberty Stadium: "Another game, another impressive 4-0 win for the Reds. United are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League and will want to stay there. It was another massive statement that Jose Mourinho's men, who were once again ruthless and clinical, with the goals shared around the team. From the evidence we have seen so far, the Reds are going to take some stopping."

The Reds take all three points from the Liberty thanks to six minutes of madness in the closing moments hand United a superb Premier League win. That's all from me for now - but check back shortly for reaction, pictures and much more.

MATCH ENDED

90: The fourth official indicates we will have three minutes of added time - can Mourinho's men grab a fifth?

88: Absolute chaos at the Liberty and now all you can hear is the ecstatic United faithful!

85: Micki goes off after providing two assists, and Herrera comes on to sure up the Reds midfield.

GOAL! Martial makes it four as he drives at the Swans defence after being played in by Pogba, and confidently slots home.

Pogba celebrates with Martial after his goal.

GOAL! Micki at the heart of it again as he plays in Pogba who chips Fabianski to put United three goals to the good.

Lukaku faces the fans after finding the net for the fourth time this season.

GOAL! Lukaku is found in acres of space by Micki, and the Belgian is able to coolly fire home to double United's lead.

78: There's a lot of noise from the travelling United fans now as they look to roar the Reds home to victory.

Pogba attempts to meet a corner.

74: Double change from Mourinho as Fellaini and Martial enter the fray in place of Rashford and Mata.

74: Pogba's effort from the free-kick flies inches wide of Fabianski's post.

73: Fer picks up a booking for a late challenge on Blind, whose powerful strike whistles past the post.

71:Carroll fires in a ball and two Swansea players mistime their efforts and again, the ball beats everyone.

70: Swansea corner is whipped in by Carroll, and Matic wins the header, and puts it out for another corner.

68: Rashford finds Micki, and space opens up for the Armenian, but his effort flies wide.

67: Bartley and Roque Mesa are replaced by Routledge and Narsingh for the Swans.

66: Ayew breaks away from Valencia and his low cross beats everyone and Blind is able to clear up.

62: Micki bursts away from his marker and tries one from distance, but his shot flashes past Fabianski's far post.

Bailly opened the scoring on the brink of half-time.

60: Bailly is again there to clear Roque Mesa's ball in, the hosts are starting to build a bit of pressure here. And just moments later Abraham is found by Olsson, but he cannot direct his header goalwards.

58: Bailly clears Ayew's cross, and the ball reaches Fer, whose shot flies high and wide.

56: Clement's back line is still standing firm under plenty of pressure from United, as Mawson cuts out Mata's ball looking for Rashford.

53: A scrappy opening to the second half here with both sides giving away needless fouls.

50: Mata whips in a cross to the near post, and Mawson clears out for a Reds corner, which Naughton clears.

48: Swansea build down the left, but Olsson's ball is overhit and it flies out for a goal kick.

One from earlier - Eric Bailly celebrates his first goal in red!

46: We are back under way at the Liberty! United get things started.

MATCH RESTARTS

Possession: Swansea 34% - United 66%
Shots : Swansea 3 - United 9
Corners: Swansea 1 - United 2
Fouls: Swansea 4 - United 6

A busy first 45 for this man!

ManUtd.com’s Adam Higgins at the Liberty Stadium: “The Reds can be satisfied with their efforts in the first half and scored an important goal at an important time, with Eric Bailly showing his predatory instincts to finish on the stroke of half-time after Paul Pogba’s header came back off the woodwork. United had struggled for long spells, with Swansea playing well, but have the breakthrough and will be looking to kick on in the second half.”

United lead at the break thanks to Bailly's late finish, after a tight, combative first 45 minutes of football.

GOAL! Pogba's bullet header is well saved by Fabianski onto the bar, but Bailly is there to poke home to score his first United goal!

43: Pogba looks for Lukaku with a neat dinked ball, but the former Everton man is beaten to the ball by Mawson, who heads clear.

42: Fabianski flaps at Micki's cross, and Mata finds the ball in space, however, his chipped shot goes just inches wide.

Pogba looks to hold off Carroll.

38: Roque Mesa's ball in is met by Bartley, who looked to me in an offisde position, but his header drifts wide anyway.

36: Rashford has a golden chance to open the scoring for the Reds as he runs through one-on-one with Fabianski, but his chipped effort is easily caught.

Bailly beats Abraham to the ball.

34: Ayew's ball in is met by Bartley who doesn't get enough on his headed effort, and the ball drifts harmlessly wide.

33: Swansea break dangerously through Ayew, and his low cross for Abraham is well cleared by Jones for a corner.

29: Just moments later the 19-year-old spins away from Fernandez, and runs at the Swansea goal, but he runs out of support and the attack breaks down.

28: Rashford tries his luck from distance, but his low shot is dealt with easily by Fabianski.

Captain Valencia looks to close down Swansea's Olsson.

26: Pogba goes in the book for a hard tackle on Carroll.

25: Matic and Mata are trying to find away through Swansea's back line, but Clements' men are standing firm at the moment.

23: Olsson does well to keep in Abraham's lofted ball, but his effort is easily saved by De Gea.

A quiet few minutes here, both sides starting to feel each other out. Here's one from ManUtd.com's Adam Higgins who says a fine atmosphere is building.

19: Blind's ball in is dealt with easily, and Fer looks to break away only to be met by Bailly, who hoovers up nicely.

17: United are building nicely now as Micki, Mata and Pogba all buzz around the Swans' penalty area; on this occasion, however, the attack breaks down to nothing.

15: It's fairly frantic at the Liberty at the moment, and Blind is able to get away down the left and his cross looks for Lukaku, but the Belgian is unable to direct his header goalwards.

12: Rashford is making himself a real handful, and he takes the ball past two Swans defenders, before running the ball out of play.

9: Mata drifts the ball in and Jones rises highest to meet it - and his effort cannons back off the crossbar! So close!

8: Rashford weaves his way through a few tackles and wins United a free-kick on the right side of the area. Micki and Mata stand over it...

6: The Reds are starting to find a foot-hold in the game now, and Mata tries to release Rashford, but his ball is overhit and it runs out for a Swansea goal kick.

3: The hosts go close as Ayew bursts away down the left flank, but his chipped effort floats across De Gea's goal. However, United immediately go up the other end, and after a fortuitous bounce, Lukaku finds himself in space, only to fire wide.

1: The Swans are the first side to attack, but Carroll is unable to reach Abraham's through pass and the ball goes out for a United goal kick.

Swansea get things started, kicking right to left. C'mon United!

MATCH STARTED

The players are in the tunnel, there's not long until things get under way at the Liberty... Who's excited?

ManUtd.com’s Adam Higgins at the Liberty Stadium: “The pitch at the Liberty Stadium is in pristine condition as both sides go through their usual pre-match warm-ups. Swansea fans around me are baffled that Paul Clement looks to be playing with a back five today and think the midfield may be ran ragged, with the absence of captain Leon Britton likely to be keenly felt. But the unchanged Reds will be looking to capitalise with another attack-minded display."

Ahead of the match Antonio Valencia gave an exclusive interview to MUTV in which he highlighted Paul Pogba's importance to the squad. "Paul Pogba had a very good season," he said. "Everybody knows how good he is – he controlled the tempo and everything in the first game. We expect a lot of Pogba."

With less than 30 minutes before kick-off Jose Mourinho's men have taken to the pitch to begin their warm-ups.

After his two goals last week against West Ham, Swansea are well aware of who they need to keep an eye on this afternoon, and they have named Romelu Lukaku as their dangerman...

ManUtd.com’s Adam Higgins at the Liberty Stadium: “In seasons gone by, this would have been the longest away trip for United fans in the Premier League. But with Bournemouth and now Brighton entering the top-flight, it’s now the third longest trip at 226.5 miles from Old Trafford. Of course, it’s currently the only journey which involves travelling over the border into another country, to face the Premier League’s only Welsh representatives. But it’s a good first away trip of

United games always attract thousands of supporters and millions of TV viewers. The world's media have descended on the Liberty Stadium to broadcast the match to Reds around the globe!

Swansea manager Paul Clement acknowledges the tough task facing his side this afternoon in his programme notes. "We are going into a difficult game today against a good side who started impressively against West Ham, but we know at home we are a good outfit."

Swansea: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Bartley, Mawson, Olsson, Roque Mesa, Fer, Carroll, Ayew, Abraham.

Subs: Nordfeldt, van der Hoorn, Fulton, Angel Rangel, McBurnie, Routledge, Narsingh.

United: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Blind, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku.

Subs: Romero, Lindelof, Smalling, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Martial.

While we wait for our team news, which we will give you around 11.30 BST, we've rounded up all the key facts and stats ahead of this afternoon's match in our handy match preview.

Ashley Young and Luke Shaw won't be involved at the Liberty this afternoon, but Mourinho confirmed that both would play a part in the Reserves match on Monday. Read the bosses comments in full.

Here's some trivia for you - Louis Saha, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial are the only players to have scored in both of their first two Premier League outings for United. Romelu Lukaku will join that exclusive club today if he nets, can he do it?

Jose Mourinho held a pre-match press conference at the Aon Training Complex on Friday ahead of today's game. Here's a recap of the manager said.

ManUtd.com's Adam Higgins at the Liberty Stadium: "Fans are starting to arrive in numbers, particularly Swans supporters who are keen to enjoy every moment of their club's first home match of the 2017/18 Premier League season. I spoke to a few Swans fans on my journey down, and they backed United to win comfortably this afternoon. Let's hope they're right."

After the 4-0 win over West Ham last weeekend, today, Manchester United will look to continue their flying start to the 2017/18 with a win away at Swansea. I'm Matt Bullin, and I'll be your guide this afternoon.

http://www.manutd.com