The Swans head back to the Liberty Stadium for their first home game of 2019 against promotion chasing Sheffield United.
Match Preview by Ross Power – @rosspow10
Swansea have had a very good start to 2019 with two wins and a draw from three away games in league and cup but they will face a sterner test of Saturday against a Sheffield United team who sit 2nd in the Championship. Having won their last 4 championship games, they have moved ahead of Norwich in the automatic promotion race.
Swansea, however, have a good record against Sheffield United including the 2-1 win at Bramall Lane on the opening day of the season.
With Graham Potter resorting to minimal changes in the last 3 games I fully expect him to name a similar team as the last two games with the only change Oli McBurnie coming in for Courtney Baker-Richardson.
It would be harsh on Baker-Richardson as he has scored in the last two games but McBurnie is Swansea’s main striker and he will be required against one of the leagues best teams.
There will be a call for Daniel James to come in but with the form of Routledge and Dyer, he might find himself on the bench again with his pace a useful option for Potter if he needs to stretch United later in the game.
The opposition arrive in South Wales in great form and their aggressive brand of football where they like to use width and get crosses into the front two will test the Swansea defence. United line up with a unique 3-4-1-2 formation with three powerful centre-backs who are capable of getting forward, a combative midfield with George Baldock and Enda Stevens providing the width and options including David McGoldrick, Leon Clarke and Billy Sharpe upfront.
Everyone in this team knows their jobs and physically they will be a test for Swansea and they all know their roles with Chris Wilder having developed his team over a number of years.
