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5 Key Matchups For Swansea City vs. Manchester United In EPL Week 26

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5 Key Matchups For Swansea City vs. Manchester United In EPL Week 26

Louis van Gaal and Garry Monk
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Manchester United will call this season a success if the club can finish in a top four position, but the team's performances continue to be a team in such a position. Swansea City are the next opponents for Louis van Gaal and his men, and the Swans have really struggled since the turn of the year. United will hope to capitalize on that and pull out another precious win, but the Red Devils will need to win these five key battles to do so.

5. Angel Di Maria vs. Ki Sung-yeung

Angel Di Maria playing for Manchester United
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5. Angel Di Maria vs. Ki Sung-yeung

Angel Di Maria playing for Manchester United
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Angel Di Maria has looked nothing like the amazing player who performed at Real Madrid last season in his debut season at United. The sight of Di Maria running with the ball and drifting past players with ease is unfortunately not a sight that has lit up Old Trafford as often as was initially hoped. Ki Sung-yeung is capable of running box-to-box too, and the South Korean will need to to keep tabs on the underwhelming, but always capable Di Maria.

4. Jefferson Montero vs. Antonio Valencia

Swansea winger Jefferson Montero
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4. Jefferson Montero vs. Antonio Valencia

Swansea winger Jefferson Montero
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Antonio Valencia seems to have settled in as United's right-back for this season at least, and the Ecuadorian will now come up against his fellow countryman when United take on Swansea. Jefferson Montero is an unpredictable winger with electric pace, and Valencia should be in for a tough day's work. Both men know each other well though, and who knows who best could be an important aspect of the battle.

3. Robin van Persie vs. Ashley Williams

Robin van Persie scoring a penalty for Manchester United
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3. Robin van Persie vs. Ashley Williams

Robin van Persie scoring a penalty for Manchester United
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The partnership with Radamel Falcao is not really clicking for Robin van Persie, but it's fair to say the Dutchman is performing slightly better between the two subpar performers. Ashley Williams will have intentions of ensuring that run of form continues for van Persie, but the Swans' captain will still need to be at his peak against a striker who is capable of scoring at any given time regardless of form.

2. Gylfi Sigurdsson vs. Daley Blind

Swansea playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson
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2. Gylfi Sigurdsson vs. Daley Blind

Swansea playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson
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Swansea will welcome back their chief creator for the game against United, with the return of Gylfi Sigurdsson after serving a domestic suspension. The Swans have missed the playmaker's control and creativity in the center of the midfield and his return will be a welcomed one. Daley Blind will need to make sure Sigurdsson doesn't feel too welcome though, and avoid Icelander's return, being a winning one for Garry Monk's men.

1. Wayne Rooney vs. Neil Taylor

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney - Copy
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1. Wayne Rooney vs. Neil Taylor

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney
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Is Wayne Rooney best as striker? Or is the Englishman best as a midfielder? That is the ongoing debate right now, but Rooney's immediate future seems destined to be in the midfield regardless. Playing on the right of a midfield diamond has seen Rooney operate in wider areas than usual, and because of that, Neil Taylor will have a heavy workload in this game. Rooney should come out on top, but the debate regarding his position will rage on.

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