Manchester United plundered three goals in four minutes to produce another emphatic win for Jose Mourinho's Premier League leaders, writes David McDonnell.
Eric Bailly's first goal in 67 games for United came on the stroke of half-time, with Mourinho's side looking like they were going to see out the narrow win.
But then a glut of goals came late on from United, first from £75million summer signing Romelu Lukaku in the 80 minute, then £89m midfielder Paul Pogba in the 82 minute, folowed by £38m sub Anthony Martial two minutes later to complete the rout.
It was United's second successive 4-0 win after last weekend's emphatic dismantling of West Ham at Old Trafford, with the Reds setting the standard in this season's title race.
Ahead of the game, United boss Mourinho played down the hype surrounding his team following their emphatic 4-0 opening day win over West Ham, claiming they were no “dream team”.
And for much of the game Mourinho's players did their best to endorse their manager's view, with a performance that was workmanlike and effective rather than one characterised by flair and dynamism – until their late goal rush.
Swansea went close to scoring early on when Jordan Ayew clipped the bar following an angled effort with the outside of his right foot.
United defender Phil Jones thudded a header against the bar at the other end, before Bailly's decisive moment came just as first-half added time approached.
Swansea forward Tammy Abraham, on loan from Chelsea, should have done better with a free header with 25 minutes left, but sent the ball over the bar.
Then Lukaku, Pogba and Martial scored in quick succession, showcasing United's devastating pace and clinical ability on the counter attack, to cement their place at the top of the Premier League.
Paul Clement on his defeat
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “In the end you always get what you deserve but the scoreline is harsh. One to 79 minutes was one goal. I made some changes to put offensive players on but we got in a mess defensively and at 2-0 we were vulnerable. You have to have belief you are still in the game but we gave the ball away and played to their strengths. They are dangerous on the counter and we were punished.
“I will make sure the players do not let this affect confidence too much against a team competing for the title this year. We have to brush ourselves down and prepare for the League Cup next week.
“There was a good atmosphere around the stadium and we started brightly. Generally, our shape was sound but the way it unfolded was disappointing. Move on quickly from this.
“We want to do business in the transfer window andit is clear to see we need quality in.”
Mourinho on the win
“During almost 90 minutes, I don’t say 90 because there was a moment when they had a chance and we lost a little bit the confidence,” he told the BBC. “They were waiting with class, calm and consistency for the moment to kill the game.
“Swansea played with five in the back and they had a moment when they felt they had to change and when they did we had more space and killed the game.
“I felt in control, if you had a chance to look at me and my body language I think you could see that. Football is football and when you make a mistake you can concede so I never felt totally relaxed. I had players on the bench who could help me.”
On Martial, he added: “Anthony Martial is working hard. He is confident. The French language connection is there to help him a lot and get to the level we know he can be because the potential is huge.”
Mkhitaryan on the win
“It was a tough game, especially in the first half,” he told Sky Sports. “We had passion, we did what we had to do. The second half became much easier because they played with more defenders and that left space.
“Team spirit. We also have a little luck with the chances we are creating.”
Pogba on the win
“We’ve had a very good result, 4-0 again with a clean sheet, We want to carry on on this road,” Pogba told Sky Sports.
“We are more confident [than last season]. We know each other more. We work for each other and I think that is easier for us.”
A few stats from our friends at Opta
- Manchester United have scored 4+ goals in their opening two league games of a season for the first time in 110 years (1907/08).
- This is just the second time a team has won their opening two top-flight games of a season by 4+ goals to nil (also Chelsea in 2010/11).
- The Swans have managed just one shot on target in 180 minutes of Premier League action this season.
- This is the third successive Premier League season that Man Utd have won their opening two matches of the campaign – however, they finished both 2016-17 and 2015-16 outside the top-four.
- Eric Bailly is just the third African player to score for Manchester United in the Premier League (also Quinton Fortune and Mame Biram Diouf).
- Romelu Lukaku is the fifth player to net in his first two Premier League appearances for Manchester United (after Ibrahimovic, Martial, Macheda, Saha).
- Paul Pogba has scored in three consecutive league appearances for only the second time in his career (also in January 2015 for Juventus).
- There were just 3 minutes and 41 seconds between Manchester United’s final three goals of the game.
- Anthony Martial has been directly involved in three goals in his last two Premier League appearances (two goals, one assist), as many as in his previous 11 in the competition – both of his appearances this season have been from the bench.
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan assisted just one Premier League goal in 24 appearances last season for Manchester United. He’s assisted four times in his opening two PL apps of 2017-18.
Five talking points from the game
Gylfi’s successor required
Swansea have £45million in the bank and they’ll need to spend it.
You get the feeling had the Icelandic played today a lot more chances would have been taken.
The hosts were missing that finishing touch, final ball and lethal finish to their attacks. Better service to Tammy Abraham could have caused David De Gea a few issues.
Read the other talking points here...
Winners and losers from United's 4-0 win
Manchester United began their Premier League campaign last week with masterful performance and a 4-0 win — and they repeated that feat when they took on Swansea today.
Paul Clement’s side switched to a 3-5-2 in the wake of Gylfi Sigurdsson’s departure and gave a good account of themselves for the first 44 minutes.
Eric Bailly scored on the stroke of half time, though, and Swansea collapsed following a change of formation in the second half.
Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial all found the net as Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the table.
Here are the winners and losers from Saturday’s encounters...
Second half snaps...
Bailly's goal
Pogba may have tried to claim it but his header was not over the line.
It’s Bailly’s name on the scoresheet.
Swansea unbeaten in their last six but on course for defeat here thanks to Bailly’s goal.
It is the defender’s first top flight goal in his 67th top flight appearance.
Why Swansea fans are booing Rashford
One of the early things from the game noticed by fans is that whenever Marcus Rashford gets the ball he is booed loudly from all areas of the Liberty Stadium.
Bit strange?
Cast your mind back to May 1, 2017 and to Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Swansea at Old Trafford last season, a game that finished 1-1.
At 0-0 the game was in a tentative state until Rashford found some space in the box before being brought down by Lukasz Fabianski in goal.
However, replays appeared to show that the teenager had started to fall to the ground before any contact had been made - in other words, he dived.
Man United are dominating possession early on but both sides have had chances.
Ayew hit the bar with a clever shot while at the other end Jones say his header hit the bar (via his shoulder).
Both sets of players are going thorough their final preparations before kick-off.
We’re now just 15 minutes away so don’t go anywhere...
"It's hard to find weakness in this United side"
There was no reason for Jose Mourinho to change his side after their emphatic 4-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford last weekend to open their Premier League campaign.
Ander Herrera, an automatic pick last season, is on the bench again, following Nemanja Matic’s imperious Premier League debut for United, while Anthony Martial’s impressive cameo, scoring and setting up the fourth goal last Sunday, was not enough for him to gain a start.
It’s hard to find a weakness in this United side, who will be looking for a repeat of last season’s 3-1 win here.
The lineups
Swansea XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Roque Mesa, Fer, Carroll, Ayew, Abraham.
Subs: Nordfeldt, van der Hoorn, Narsingh, Routledge, Rangel, Fulton, McBurnie.
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Blind, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku.
Subs: Romero, Lindelof, Smalling, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Martial.
Just over an hour to go
Kick off is just over an hour away and the fans are starting to arrive in South Wales.
We will bring you team news in about ten minutes.
Man United injury news
Manchester United head to Swansea for today’s game 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 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.
Swansea injury news
Swansea captain Leon Britton is doubtful for the 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.
Provisional 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.
Welcome!
Manchester United will look to extend their fine start to the new season when they take on Swansea this lunchtime.
Jose Mourinho’s men got their campaign off to a stunning start when they hammered West Ham 4-0 at Old Trafford last Sunday.
But despite storming to the top of the table, the Portuguese boss insists they are not favourites for the title.
“I’m too experienced and stable to lose my discipline, my stability and to think a 4-0 really makes us the best team in the country, the favourites or the dream team,” said Mourinho.
“We’re not favourites, we’re not the dream team, we’re just a team with more confidence than last season, with more time of work together, but I’m calm.”
Today, United take on Swansea - who have not lost in their last six Premier League games.
Paul Clement’s men completed the great escape last season and started this one with a 0-0 draw with Southampton.
The Swans have never kept a clean sheet against United - so could today be a first?
“I would have no doubts about putting Roque in, it is something I am thinking about,” Clement said.
“I think everyone is going to see him on the pitch sooner rather than later because he is very technical. He is a typical Swansea player with being so confident on the ball.”
We’ll bring you all the teams and the build-up ahead of the 12.30pm kick-off in Wales.
Keep track of all the latest in our live blog, here.
And while you are waiting, why not check out our new Mirror Football Podcast? You can listen to it here