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So Louis van Gaal reckons little Swansea City were lucky to beat his £300million crop of Manchester United superstars?

Once, Mr van Gaal, may be regarded as good fortune. Ten times against the big five over a four-season period surely makes you think there might actually be a damn good reason why the Swans so regularly knock over the some of the most iconic clubs in world football.

Given Van Gaal’s sore loser moan, we thought it would be a good time to study the stats from the Swansea Premier League era.

And they make eye-opening reading. No other team, not even Tottenham who had Gareth Bale in their line-up, has such an impressive record against the giants from the Premier League as Swansea.

Punched above their weight

Nor Everton, Newcastle, Southampton or West Ham, each of whom are viewed as sides firmly stabilised in the top half of the division.

Whether Garry Monk, Michael Laudrup or Brendan Rodgers has been in charge, the Swans have consistently punched above their weight in regularly defeating the big guns of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and the world’s richest club Manchester City.

In the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup, the Swans have met the big five a combined total of 44 times since earning promotion for the 2011-12 top flight campaign.

Memories! Some of the best Swansea City wins in recent years

They have won 10 of those encounters, drawn another 10 and lost 24.

No shame, of course, in any of those defeats, considering the stature of the Galacticos that have been in opposition to them down the years, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Didier Drogba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero among them.

But to triumph in 10 of those games, and avoid losing in a further 10, proves these Swans are not lucky, as Van Gaal reckoned they were in defeating his Man Utd team at the weekend. They clearly have a method of playing against the big five which succeeds more than that of any other team in the Premier League.

Over the same period, Tottenham have consistently looked to break into the UEFA Champions League places and have had the likes of Bale, Jermain Defoe, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane bagging their goals.

Gunners win in 2012

But even super Spurs, managed by Harry Redknapp, Andre Villas-Boas and Mauricio Pochettino, have only managed nine wins against the big five, with 10 draws and 21 defeats to their name.

Other historical giants like Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa trail behind the Swans, too.

As for West Ham, they’ve only managed three wins over the Premier powerhouses.

The Swans success, of course, began on Jan 15, 2012 when goals by Scott Sinclair, Nathan Dyer and Danny Graham fired them to a 3-2 triumph over Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, trumping efforts in return by Van Persie and Theo Walcott.

That was quite rightly viewed at the time as one of the greatest triumphs in Swansea City FC history. Probably something of a one-off.

Louis Van Gaal reaction to Swansea City loss:

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Anything but, it was to prove just the beginning.

Yaya Toure, David Silva and Man City were then downed 1-0 at the Liberty, so too a Liverpool side boasting Luis Suarez, Craig Bellamy and Steven Gerrard.

A triple whammy on one season, eclipsed by even greater achievements in 2013-14 when Laudrup’s Swans beat Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea away from home.

Just when you thought Michu’s double in the League at the Emirates couldn’t be bettered, suddenly up popped Michu again and Graham as Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea were defeated 2-0 in the League Cup semi-final showdown at Stamford Bridge.

And then there was Manchester United. Beaten in the FA Cup, the double done over Van Gaal’s side in the League this season. First 2-1 to the Swans at Old Trafford, then 2-1 at the Liberty at the weekend.

Throw into the mix an earlier 2-1 win over Arsenal this season, and it makes it the Perfect 10 for Swansea.

Lucky? Put it this way... Newcastle, Everton and Tottenham would crave the Swans’ record against the real Premier League powerhouses.

Swansea City's record against big five compared to other Premier League teams

THE RECORDS AGAINST THE BIG FIVE OF MANCHESTER UNITED, CHELSEA, ARSENAL, LIVERPOOL AND MAN CITY

(last four seasons, league and cup)

SWANSEA CITY:

Played: 44

Swansea City results against big five since 2011/12 Won 10 Drawn 10 Lost 24

TOTTENHAM:

Played: 39

Won: 9

Drawn: 9

Lost: 21

NEWCASTLE:

Played: 40

Won: 9

Drawn: 4

Lost: 27

EVERTON:

Played: 41

Everton results against big five since 2011/12

ASTON VILLA:

Played: 40

Won: 7

Drawn: 4

Lost: 29

WEST HAM:

Played: 31

Won: 3

Drawn: 7

Lost: 21

SOUTHAMPTON:

Played: 36

Won: 7

Drawn: 12

Lost: 17

STOKE:

Played: 42

Won: 7

Drawn: 10

Lost: 25

SUNDERLAND:

Played: 43

Sunderland results against big five since 2011/12 9 Won 8 Drawn 26 Lost

WEST BROM:

Played: 37

Won: 6

Drawn: 8

Lost: 23