Manchester United travelled to Swansea City this afternoon knowing that they could open up a six-point lead at Christmas over local rivals City with a win.
The Red Devils were held to a draw in South Wales, however, as Swansea produced a resolute display in the second half to hang on to a point.
Michu was once again Swansea's saviour as the Spaniard netted from close range to cancel out Patrice Evra's opener.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon all! Should be a wonderful clash in Wales with two attacking sides sure to go at each other. We're still waiting to hear the team news but I'll bring it to you as soon as I hear.
Swansea are expected to be boosted by the return of goalkeeper Michel Vorm, who hasn't featured for almost two months.
That will mean a drop to the bench for the number two Gerhard Tremmel. The veteran German performed admirably in Vorm's absence, keeping two clean sheets in eight games.
Ferguson also has a goalkeeping dilemma with United. Will he continue with David de Gea, who has started the last two in the league, or will he bring back Anders Lindegaard between the sticks?
There's no such problem for the Glaswegian up front. The duo of Van Persie and Wayne Rooney have been in deadly form in recent weeks and you wouldn't bet against them finding the net again today. Would you?
TEAM NEWS AHOY!
UNITED XI: De Gea; Jones, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Cleverley, Carrick; Valencia, Rooney, Young; Van Persie
SWANSEA XI: Vorm; Tiendalli, Chico, Williams, Davies; Britton, Agustien, De Guzman, Dyer, Routledge; Michu
The big news for United is that Nemanja Vidic returns at centre-back for United alongside Jonny Evans, with Rio Ferdinand dropping to the bench.
United subs: Lindegaard, Giggs, Hernandez, Welbeck, Scholes, Buttner, Fletcher
Chris Smalling is also missing from the United squad this afternoon and his place is taken by Phil Jones. Looking at the United bench, you'd have to say that it lacks defensive presence. Premier League new boy Alexander Buttner is the only recognised defender and he's a left-back. If any of the United defenders are injured then it's likely that Michael Carrick will drop in to help out.
As expected, Vorm returns for the hosts and it's harsh on Tremmel who, @OptaJoe tells us on Twitter, is the only Premier League goalkeeper with a saves-to-shots rate of more than 80% this season.
The other change for Swansea sees Kemy Agustien replace Ki Sung-Yueng in the heart of midfield.
Swansea subs: Tremmel, Richards, Monk, Yueng, Graham, Moore, Shechter
Angel Rangel continues to be sidelined with a calf problem while Pablo Hernandez hasn't passed a fitness test to make the matchday squad.
Will the returning Vidic be able to handle mighty Michu this afternoon? The Spaniard has been a revelation since joining from Rayo Vallecano in the summer. He began the season in the number-10 role behind Danny Graham but has now usurped the forward to regularly lead the line for the Swans.
Swansea will be boosted by their record when United visit south Wales. Of the nine games between the sides in Swansea, the hosts have won six, drawn two and lost just one. However, that one United victory did come last season.
Victory for Michael Laudrup's side this afternoon would see them climb back into the top half of the table to eighth place. United, meanwhile, are guaranteed top spot at Christmas but a six-point gap rather than just three will make that Turkey taste a lot nicer on Tuesday.
Ferguson has been speaking to Sky Sports News and he's confident that Vidic is ready to return: "He's done all his training, he's been very good the last three or four weeks." Fergie also says that his side are just taking each game at a time and not looking at the bigger title picture.
Here's an interesting stat from Infostrada Sports: Swansea are the third Premier League club with four Dutchmen in their starting line up after Chelsea (2000-2002) and Middlesbrough (2004).
There are also five Dutchmen on the field at the start of a Premier League match for the first time since April 2005 when Middlesbrough drew 1-1 with Fulham.
There's bound to be plenty of (Dutch) courage from both teams and a draw is an unlikely result as United are the only side in Europe's top five leagues yet to draw a domestic game this season.
Fifteen minutes until kickoff.
REFEREE WATCH: Today's man in charge is Michael Oliver.
My prediction for this afternoon is a comfortable 2-0 win for United. Expect Swansea to see plenty of the ball but they could struggle to get the ball into Michu who might get isolated up top.
The two sides are lined up in the tunnel and Vidic is returning as captain of the Red Devils.
Both sides are in their home colours, with Swansea all in white and United in red tops and black shorts and socks.
KICKOFF: Swansea get us underway.
Evans needlessly gives the ball when trying to dribble into the opposition half but Dyer's cross is headed clear by Vidic.
Valencia is furious with the officials after Ben Davies blocked his cross with his arm. Would have been extremely harsh on the young left-back as his arm was right up against his body.
"Whey" jeer the crowd as Young's touch is too strong under the pressure of Tiendalli. United camped in the Swansea half early on but no chances to speak of.
Sublime passing football from the Swans results in Tiendalli having to slide in to get his cross away and when he does it's a peach into the 'corridor of uncertainty' but there's no white shirt there to poke it in.
Tiendalli certainly isn't afraid of getting forward and the replacement right-back wins a corner as his cross is blocked by Young. Nothing comes of the set piece as De Gea collects with ease.
SHOT! Michu is picked out with a cracking long ball from De Guzman and the Spaniard has the pace to beat Vidic to the ball but he slices wide on the half-volley.
De Guzman is allowed to run at the United defence right up to the edge of the area but his attempted through pass to Michu is cut out and Routledge's shot from the loose ball is more of a backpass for De Gea.
Routledge collects the ball in midfield and sets Michu free with just Evans to beat. The Spaniard should get his head up and switch for the unmarked Dyer on the far side but he decides to shoot and scuffs it.
BEATEN AWAY! Rooney lets fly from about 20 yards and Vorm has to get down low to parry the Englishman's powerful effort away.
SAVE! So close to an opener for United as Carrick slips in Young and Vorm dives low to his right to push away for a corner.
GOAL! Swansea 0-1 Manchester United (Evra)
It had been coming in the last couple of minutes and it's Evra who heads United into the lead. Van Persie's delivery from the right is met by the Frenchman and he flicks to the far post, beating Britton who had drifted from his position on the post.
Michael Oliver blows his whistle as Michu blocks off Evans to prevent the United defender getting back to hassle De Guzman who was running through on goal. The Swans' fans aren't happy but it's the correct call.
Mr Evra has now scored three goals in the league this term. That's as many as he'd got in his previous 10-year Premier League stint. All three of the Frenchman's goals this season have been headers. The only man to score more with his noggin is Michu.
United are turning on the style here with Van Persie at the heart of everything. The latest attack comes to an end as Jones's attempted clip to the back post drifts onto the roof of the net.
Better from Swansea as Dyer manages to escape a couple of challenges before lofting over a cross for Michu who can't keep his header down.
YELLOW! Jones is the first man to go into Oliver's book for a nasty follow-through on Davies. In fairness, the United man was trying to pull out but it was still reckless.
Wow, this is an impressive stat for RVP: The Dutchman has now been involved in 82 goals (60 goals, 22 assists) in 81 PL appearances since the start of 2010-11.
GOAL! Swansea 1-1 Man Utd (Michu)
Out of nowhere, the Swans are level and who else but Michu. Routledge finds De Guzman in the area with a fabulous first-time pass and the playmaker's shot is palmed clear by De Gea but straight into the path of Michu, who can't miss from a couple of yards.
I know everyone will repeatedly be saying this up and down the country but what a signing Michu has been. That goal meant that he has equalled Sergio Aguero's record of 13 PL goals before Christmas by a foreigner in their debut season in England.
Oliver has words with Evra and Routledge after a bit of handbags at a Swansea corner. That goal has lifted the Liberty Stadium and it's the hosts who are on top at the moment as Williams's looped cross goes over De Gea and almost into the net.
Wonderful end-to-end football now as, first, De Guzman somehow keeps the ball alive near the goalline but decides to shoot from a tight angle before Carrick frees Valencia down the right but his cross can't reach Van Persie at the back post.
Swansea continue to press and this time it's Dyer who has a shot but it's right at De Gea who grasps comfortably.
Plenty of applause all round the Liberty Stadium as more neat, one-touch football from the home side ends when Routledge miscues his cross after a tidy one-two with Britton.
United respond with a one-two of their own between Van Persie and Jones but the latter can't pick out Rooney's run in the middle.
CHANCE! Best chance of the match for Rooney as Evra beats Dyer down the left and sprints into the area. The Frenchman squares for Rooney eight yards out but the Englishman's left-foot effort is straight at Vorm who just about holds on with Valencia lurking nearby.
HALF-TIME: Swansea 1-1 United
An entertaining 45 minutes of action at the Liberty Stadium that is level thanks to goals from Evra and Michu. Click here to read our half-time report if you've only just joined us.
The first-half stats show that the scoreline is a fair one. Swansea edged the possession with 51% and the hosts had nine shots to United's seven.
My pre-match prediction of 2-0 United has been extinguished by Michu's equaliser but I still expect the visitors to come through this one.
United are said to be unhappy with the fact that Chico was not penalised for hauling Van Persie over just seconds before the equaliser. Having looked at the replays, Oliver definitely could have blown his whistle. Swansea deserve to be level, mind.
The two sides are back out for the second half. No changes by either manager.
KICKOFF United get the second half underway.
First slight opening of the second period sees Rooney with plenty of space to run at the Swans' backline but he can't pick out Van Persie in the area.
Apologies about that, we ran into some technical issues. It's still 1-1 at the Liberty Stadium and Ashley Young has just overhit a ball down the right. United are enjoying a good spell of possession here.
Rooney gets the ball in a decent enough shooting position on the edge of the box but completely mis-hits his shot. He has looked out of sorts at times today.
OFF THE BAR! Rooney sends an inswinging cross into the box and Van Persie connects with an audacious, looping volley which comes off the top of the crossbar. Great effort from the Dutchman, and better from Rooney too.
BOOKING! Tiendalli races down the right flank and goes down under the late challenge of Wayne Rooney, who is correctly put in the book. Chance for Swansea...
Evans gets it more up than out, but Williams's effort from the edge of the box was blocked and United eventually get it clear.
Half-chance for United as Van Persie gets behind the defence before trying to square it for Hernandez, but the pass is marginally too heavy for the Mexican. That was a matter of inches away from surely being a second for United!
The evergreen Ryan Giggs is preparing to come on for United. Could his experience hold the key to unlocking Swansea here?
CHANCE! Rooney picks up the ball in a great position and drives into the box, but his attempted pass to Van Persie is woefully underhit and the opportunity passes. Poor again from the England international.
A good United move results in a free kick right on the edge of the box for the Red Devils after Van Persie was fouled. The Dutchman bounces straight back up and confronts a huddle of Swansea players. He is livid about something that happened there, and Williams and Van Persie are subsequently put in the book.
The replays show that Williams, in going to clear the ball, smashed it from point blank range against Van Persie's head. Hard to tell if that was intentional, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt.
Rooney takes the free kick but it is blocked by the wall, and he is immediately hauled off by Ferguson for Giggs, much to the delight of the home fans.
OFF THE BAR! The resulting corner is met by Carrick's glancing header, but Vorm pulls off a fine save to tip it onto the crossbar. So close for United!
CHANCES! Two chances in quick succession for United as Giggs finds Evra, whose low cross is turned goalwards by Van Persie, but Williams blocks his shot. Young follows up with the rebound but that was is also cleared off the line. United want a handball, but the ref is having none of it!
Swansea are really hanging on at the moment, it seems like a matter of time before United get a second.
And it almost comes through a mistake as Vorm has to rush out to meet a poor backpass with Van Persie bearing down on him!
A couple more long balls are creeping into United's game as we edge closer to the 90 minute mark. A sign of desperation?
Giggs shows some of his old magic by jinking past Routledge before feeding Van Persie, who in turn looks for Young, but Swansea get back to clear it out for a corner. Good defending from the Welsh side, yet again!
SUB: On comes more experience as Scholes replaces Cleverley. Both of United's main stalwarts are on the field now.
SUB: Swansea respond with a sub of their own as Aguestien comes of for Shechter. Positive change from Laudrup!
Williams gets another crucial interception after Giggs skilfully found Hernandez in the box, but the defender just prevented the Mexican from getting a volley away.
Van Persie goes down in the box with a couple of arms on his shoulder, but once again the ref waves the protests away. That one would've been soft.
Swansea aren't parking the bus here! They come forward through Michu and Shechter but United repel the attack and come forward themselves...
...and as they knock the ball about patiently the fourth official signals four minutes of Fergie, sorry I mean added, time!
BOOKING! A vintage Scholes tackle sees him enter the referee's notebook. He may have been one of the best midfielders to ever grace the league, but he still hasn't learned how to tackle!
SHOT! Vorm acts as a sweeper keeper, coming out of his box to head the danger clear, but Giggs is waiting and tries an optimistic first-time lob which bounces wide.
Shechter tries to take the ball into the corner but Evra soon dispossess the striker. Swansea are just one minute away from a big point here!
FULL-TIME: Swansea 1-1 Manchester United
There you have it! Swansea pick up their first ever Premier League point against United in a dogged defensive display that you wouldn't normally associate with them.
United dominated the second half and should have probably got the winner, but they couldn't have done too much more. They hit the bar twice and, although they weren't at their very best, still have to credit Swansea's defensive performance.
Right, that's it from Sports Mole for this match! Thanks for joining me and be sure to stay with us for live coverage of Chelsea's match against Aston Villa!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
