Swansea 0-0 Manchester United LIVE: Jones and Ayew hit the crossbar, Pogba booked

HT: SWANSEA 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

HT: It came late but there’s little doubt that Manchester United deserve their lead. It’s not been particularly slick and free-flowing, but champions win games even when they’re lacklustre. There’s your cliche of the day…

Swansea v Manchester United: Express Sport brings you LIVE updates from the Liberty Stadium

45: SWANSEA 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED – BAILLY

Who got it? Paul Pogba’s claiming he scored, but I’m afraid it goes to Eric Bailly.

Bailly bundles home after Lukasz Fabianski parried Pogba’s header on to the bar.

Replays show that Bailly’s touch WAS crucial. Nice and alert play from the centre-back.

44: Paul Pogba shows his class with an inch-perfect ball to Romulu Lukaku, who looks certain to open the scoring until Mawson comes from nowhere to clear.

43: Jordan Ayew and Tammy Abraham DO look dangerous on the counter, but it’s not happening enough.

Chance! Fabianski flaps at a speculative looping cross and Mata is first to capitalise with a swivelling snapshot that goes wide.

41: Not sure about United’s defending from set-pieces. They look a bit vulnerable. A free-kick is sent in an Kyle Bartley gets another free header. Same result though, wide.

38: Wow, simply wow. Marcus Rashford capitalises one a terrible backpass from Alfie Mawson, but instead of planting it into the bottom corner – he decides to try and chip the goalkeeper.

Fabianski collects and Mawson apologises like he’s spilt tea on the Queen…

35: We’re starting to see some signs of life from Swansea. Abraham plays a neat one-two with Roque and Bailly clears for a corner, which Bartley glances wide.

Not quite sure what Bailly was doing there. Looked like he was trying to lift him up for a line-out…

33: Swansea fans are screaming “OFF, OFF, OFF” as Paul Pogba fouls Martin Olsson on the flank. He’s already on a booking but Moss decides to give him a final warning instead.

One more and he’s off folks.

30: Marcus Rashford goes for an ambitious distance drive but it rolls to Fabianski.

28: Jon Moss, who I imagine makes model trains for some reason, gives Marcus rashford a ticking off for a shoving match. Paul Pogba goes a step further and takes a booking for a cynical swipe at the heels of Tom Carroll.

26: Ooooh, nobody was expecting that. Martin Olsson has just attempted a overhead kick from the edge of the area. It was on target but DDG comfortably saved.

Still, that’ll go down as a shot on target.

23: Sky Sports microphones pick up one exuberant Swansea fan screaming “PUSH OOOUT!” at his side. It seems to have done the trick with the Welsh side seeing more possession.

20: The signs are ominous for Swansea. Jose Mourinho’s side are waltzing into their half whenever they please. It’s already a 10-men behind the ball jobby here at the Liberty.

17: Daley Blind collects Mkhitaryan’s pass and Romelu Lukaku heads over from a few yards out. In fairness, Fernandez did just enough to put him off.

14: We’ve just seen a replay of Phil Jones’ header. It turns out the centre-back was offside, but it would have counted.

13: Manchester United starting to flick through the gears now. Do you ‘flick’ through gears?! Anyway, Swansea are struggling to win the ball, and on the odd occasion they do – they lose it immediately.

10: It’s like a pinball machine in midfield right now. Both teams are pressing live beavers and it’s causing lots of mistakes.

Woodwork! Rashford draws the foul from Mawson on the right flank. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose named I can officially spell without Google’s assistance, sends it in and Jones heads it against the bar.

7: Marcus Rashford does some tricky on the edge of the box, but drags his effort wide of Fabianski’s right post.

4: Breathless first few minutes. Jordan Ayew breaks down the left, and goes for goal with the outside of his right boot. DDG is lost at sea, and watches the shot skim against the crossbar and roll away to safety.

Romelu Lukaku has a turn at breaking in typical fashion, but blasts his effort wide. That finish wasn’t typical Rom.

1: SWANSEA 0-0 MANCHESTER UNITED

We’re off! Great atmosphere inside the Liberty Stadium. Martin Olsson overruns it down the left flank and the ball slides out for a goalkick.

12:28: The players are conducting the usual formalities. You know the drill; handshakes, short passes and stretching. The players are wearing black armbands in support of those affected by the attack in Barcelona.

We’re almost ready for action folks. Incidentally, Paul Clement is playing a 3-5-2 for the first time since becoming Swansea manager.

Always fun to experiment against manchester United…

12:25: A quick reminder of those starting XI’s…

Swansea XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Fer, Bartley, Carroll, Mesa, Ayew, Abraham.

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

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

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

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Chyrag:Expect an easy, powerful away win today… more of the dominant performance of last week please.

Daryl:Big game for Roque Mesa today. Baptism of fire!

Carl: Hoping for big things for Tammy Abraham today – seems like a genuinely nice kid with big ambition.

12:15: Can someone explain the fume surrounding Antony Martial?

All I’m seeing is angry tweets that Marcus Rashford was selected ahead of the Frenchman, and I’m not quite sure why.

Rashford was excellent against West Ham on the opening weekend, while Martial’s late pace is torture for opposition defenders.

Put the angry emojis away!

12:10: I know, I know. Why haven’t I got Romelu Lukaku in my Fantasy Football team?

I have absolutely no idea if I’m honest.

I thought Gabriel Jesus would demolish Brighton on he opening day, and really didn’t expect West Ham to capitulate.

And because I’m a stubborn male, I obviously can’t change it to silence the Hyenas in the office… Let me know what you’ve got going on. Comment at the bottom of the page or via Twitter (@jamie_anderson3).

12:05: Don’t tell me Tabby Abraham doesn’t dream BIG…

The Chelsea loanee smashed it in the Championship at Bristol City last year, and hopes to take the step up with Swansea.

But what’s his ultimate dream? “I would love to win major trophies, and the FIFA Ballon d’Or,” Abraham said.

12:00: What does Alan Pardew think about Manchester United’s Nemanja Matic? It’s certainly the question on everyone’s lips…

Pardew, who’s weaselled his way into the Sky Sports punditry team, believes Matic is good enough to cope with the added pressure that comes with playing at Old Trafford compared to Chelsea.

“I’m not sure he’s the missing piece but I think if you speak to any Chelsea fan, they’ll tell you this guy has been doing this for Chelsea for ages,” Pardew said on Sky Sports.

“He was perhaps underrated to some degree but he won’t be underrated now, the spotlight on a player at United is always greater. 

“The media interest is always that much more. I think he’s good enough to cope with it and you have Michael Carrick sitting in the background who I had at West Ham, fabulous player.”

11:55: Wait, who the hell is Roque Mesa? Aside from having a f***** spectacular name fit for any legendary boxer, he’s Swansea’s new signing.

Mesa, 28, is a Spanish midfielder who arrived for £11million from Las Palmas.

Wikipedia informs me that he’s 5ft 7in, only Sevilla’s Steven N’Zonzi made more accurate passes last season and he’s been dubbed the ‘guardian of tiki-taka,’ whatever that means…

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Alex:Let’s get those 3 points! Would’ve preferred Anthony Martial in place of Marcus Rashford.

Macon:Fans want to change something that worked. Anthony Martial was very effective when he came off the bench. Full of energy vs tired legs.

Ash:Idk how Manchester United have two centre-backs in Smalling & Lindelof on the bench over a versatile full back in Darmian, only complaint tho.

11:45: I could talk about Swansea v Manchester United, like I’m paid to do. Or I could ask you why on earth Helen Chamberlain’s been dropped from Soccer AM?!

It’s like Lovejoy all over again…

11:40: Jose Mourinho names the same starting XI for the first time since August 2016.

He’s stuck with the reliable attacking quartet of Romelu Lukaku, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford.

Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic protect the back four.

There is a slight change, and that’s the presence of Victor Lindelof who has been named on the bench after missing out last week.

11:35: Let’s start with the home side. Paul Clement has made two changes to the team that defended an opening day onslaught from Southampton.

Leon Britton misses out because of a back problem. Wayne Routledge drops to the bench. 

Kyle Bartley and new signing Roque Mesa comes in for his competitive debut.

11:30: As promised, here’s today’s starting XI’s…

Swansea XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Fer, Bartley, Carroll, Mesa, Ayew, Abraham.

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

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

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

11:29: We’ll be finding out those starting XI’s any moment now. Is there any chance Jose Mourinho could drop Romelu Lukaku for the sake of my Fantasy Football team?

11:25: Gylfi Sigurdsson finally completed his protracted move to Everton on Wednesday night, but Paul Clement doesn’t sound as worried as he should.

The Iceland international created virtually everything for Swansea last season, but don’t worry, because Clement has “multiple targets…”

Former players Wilfried Bony and Joe Allen have both been linked with Swansea returns, while West Brom forward Nacer Chadli and Hull midfielder Sam Clucas are also understood to be on the club’s radar.

11:20: That pesky Jose Mourinho is being mischievous again folks.

This time he’s piled the pressure on his old friend Antonio Conte by announcing that Chelsea remain Premier League favourites.

Yes Jose, an opening day defeat at home to Burnley is a clear sign of quality…

Anyway, here’s what he’s said.

“For me the favourite is the champion – always,” the United boss said ahead of today’s trip to Swansea.

“Because for some reason was the champion.

“It doesn’t mean you are going to win it but I think it is the stamp that you have when you are champion, it is that the next season you are the favourite.”

11:15: Good morning folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of Swansea v Manchester United from the Liberty Stadium.

I think we can all agree Jose Mourinho’s side looked scarily good against West Ham last Sunday, but there’s a few question marks surrounding that performance.

Most notably, were West Ham a total shambles?

We’re going to get some answers today folks. Sit back, relax and watch the madness unfold.

PREVIEW

SWANSEA TEAM NEWS

Swansea captain Leon Britton is doubtful for today’s visit of Premier League leaders Manchester United.

Britton has been struggling with a back injury, and Jay Fulton and summer signing Roque Mesa are on standby to replace the veteran midfielder.

Fernando Llorente (arm), Nathan Dyer (Achilles) and Ki Sung-yueng (knee) remain absent as Swansea play for the first time since Gylfi Sigurdsson’s departure to Everton for a club-record fee.

MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS

United are without any new injury problems.

Long-term absentees Luke Shaw and Ashley Young are set to step up their rehabilitation by playing for United’s Under-23s against their Swansea counterparts on Monday.

Argentina defender Marcos Rojo is still several months from returning from serious knee ligament damage.

PROVISIONAL SQUADS

Swansea squad: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Britton, Carroll, Fer, Ayew, Routledge, Abraham, Nordfeldt, Mulder, Rangel, Kingsley, Van der Hoorn, Bartley, Mesa, Fulton, Grimes, Narsingh, McBurnie.

Manchester United squad: De Gea, Romero, J Pereira, Valencia, Darmian, Blind, Jones, Bailly, Smalling, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Matic, Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera, McTominay, Pogba, Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Mata, A Pereira, Martial, Rashford, Lukaku.

HISTORY

Last season: Man Utd 1 Swansea 1, Swansea 1 Man Utd 3

Last five league matches: Swansea D W W W D; Man Utd L L D W W