MANCHESTER United’s early-season problems at both ends of the pitch were exposed in a 2-1 loss at Swansea on Sunday that ended its unbeaten start in the Premier League.

    On the day Manchester City spent more than 50 million pounds (US$77 million) on another attacking player, its cross-town rival again showed a lack of cutting edge up front to turn dominance and good build-up play into goals.

    United was comfortable and perhaps should have been more than 1-0 ahead, through Juan Mata’s 49th-minute strike, when Swansea launched its comeback with two goals in five minutes from Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis.

    Gomis’ winner in the 66th minute capped a brilliant, sweeping team move but should have been kept out by goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who failed to stop a low shot at his near post. Romero is only playing because United’s first-choice goalkeeper, David de Gea, isn’t being picked while he is linked with a move to Real Madrid.

    With Europe’s summer transfer window closing in England today, United has two days to resolve its goalkeeper situation and decide whether to sign a new striker to help out Wayne Rooney, who is yet to score in the Premier League since April.

    Swansea has no such problems up front. Gomis, who scored for the fourth straight game this season, and summer signing Ayew have netted all seven of the team’s goals in the league and that combination is the reason why Swansea is fourth in the standings after four games.

    United has lost three straight games to Swansea and fell five points behind Man City, which has won all four of its games.

    (SD-Agencies)