Swansea City 1-1 Manchester United: Leaders Frustrated by Marvellous Michu

Swansea City striker Michu enhanced his status as the bargain signing of the summer with his 13th league goal of the season as Manchester United's lead at the Premier League's summit was cut to four points after an entertaining draw at the Liberty Stadium.

Patrice Evra headed United ahead on a quarter of an hour, only for Michu to tap home after David de Gea had saved from Jonathan de Guzman.

Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick both struck the bar during a frenetic second half as United couldn't force a winner. Their lead over champions Manchester City now stands at four points following a result which further adds to Michael Laudrup's managerial credentials.

Already assured of topping the league at Christmas, a position the last three champions have occupied at this stage of the season, United recalled Nemanja Vidic for his first start since September, in place of Rio Ferdinand.

The league's joint-highest goal scorer Michu was chosen to lead the Swans' attack ahead of Danny Graham and Itay Shecter, while Michel Vorm was recalled in goal in place of Gerhard Tremmel.

The Dutchman had spent two months out with a groin injury and was handed a rude welcome back as United hit the net after 15 minutes, Robin Van Persie's corner finding Evra, who flicked the ball beyond Leon Britton on the line.

Vorm got closer to Ashley Young's effort minutes later following a Wayne Rooney through ball, but instead of the floodgates being opened, it was the turn of Laudrup's side to go on the offensive, and they were rewarded for their change of emphasis just short of the half hour.

As Vidic was dragged out of position, Wayne Routledge fed De Guzman whose shot forced a smart save from De Gea, only for Michu to take advantage from the rebound.

Rooney should have put United ahead for a second time prior to the interval as the visitors sought to reassert their dominance, but the break did nothing to disrupt Swansea's authority, with Kemy Agustien and then Routledge both testing De Gea.

Javier Hernandez was introduced at the expense of Antonio Valencia but it was via their first choice starting pair Rooney and Van Persie that United manufactured their best chance of the second period, the latter clipping the bar from a left-foot volley.

With 12 minutes left, a Carrick header suffered a similar fate, striking the bar from Vorm's save, and as Swansea retreated into their shell Evra found Van Persie, whose first shot was blocked by Ashley Williams before Young was denied by Ben Davies on the line.

That was the closest the visitors came to forcing a winner as Laudrup claimed the most credible result of his reign in English football - and Swansea's first ever points from Manchester United - to put the brakes on United's title challenge.