Brendan Rodgers rolls out a 3-4-1-2 system, with Daniel Sturridge handed his first appearance of the season. Anthony Martial bags a brace on his first league start up top for United, whilst John Terry is again benched as Jose Mourinho affords Kurt Zouma a fourth straight start. Here’s the first instalment of the lessons learned from this weekend’s teamsheets and tactical tweaks…
Arsenal
Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin (Chambers 45), Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil (Giroud 75), Sanchez (Oxlade-Chamberlain 75); Walcott.
Arsene Wenger named an unchanged starting XI from the side that won 2-0 against Stoke for the trip to Stamford Bridge. Per Mertesacker missed out once again, with the German lacking match fitness following his recent chest infection, so Gabriel continued alongside Laurent Koscielny at the heart of defence. Theo Walcott again started as the lone striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation with his pace preferred on the counter attack away from home. Following his sending off, Gabriel will now serve a three-match ban, with Mertesacker likely to be fit for next weekend’s trip to Leicester. Should he fail to recover in time, Calum Chambers, who came on at half-time at Chelsea, could earn a start alongside Koscielny. Francis Coquelin was the man to make way after 45 minutes because of a knee injury, and the Frenchman has been ruled out of the Capital One Cup clash at Tottenham on Wednesday, and is a doubt for next weekend. Mikel Arteta could come into the starting XI if Coquelin fails to recover in time, or Aaron Ramsey could play alongside Santi Cazorla, who will be available for the Leicester clash as he’ll serve his one-match ban against Spurs.
Aston Villa
Starting XI: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Amavi; Westwood, Sanchez (Veretout 82); Gil (Bacuna 76), Sinclair (Gestede 46), Grealish; Agbonlahor.
Tim Sherwood only made one change for the visit of West Brom to Villa Park, with Alan Hutton replacing Leandro Bacuna at right-back who dropped to the bench. The former Tottenham boss retained the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Gabby Agbonlahor starting as the central striker, but Scott Sinclair, who played “in the hole” behind Agbonlahor, was replaced at the break by Rudy Gestede. The Villans switched to a 4-4-2, with Carles Gil and Jack Grealish stationed out wide, and Agbonlahor and Gestede up front. Bacuna came on as a substitute on the right side of midfield, replacing Gil with 15 minutes to go. Sinclair’s ineffectual performance may mean he struggles to retain his starting spot for the trip to Anfield next weekend.
Bournemouth
Starting XI: Boruc; Francis, Cook, Distin, Daniels; Ritchie (Smith 88), Surman, Gosling, Pugh; Tomlin (O’Kane 64); Wilson (Murray 75)
After the disappointing 3-1 defeat at Norwich last time out, Eddie Howe made five changes for the home clash against Sunderland. At the back, Tommy Elphick missing out because of an ankle injury and was replaced by Sylvain Distin at centre-back, while Charlie Daniels recovered from injury to take the place of Adam Smith at left-back. Further up the field, Marc Pugh came in for Junior Stanislas on the left wing, Dan Gosling started in central midfield in place of Eunan O’Kane, whilst Lee Tomlin replaced Joshua King in the slot behind lone striker Callum Wilson in a 4-4-1-1. Glenn Murray was limited to a late cameo appearance off the bench, and doesn’t appear likely to force his way into the starting XI for the time being. Given the impressive nature of the victory, all three players who came into the starting line-up could well keep their places for the trip to Stoke on Saturday. Howe’s propensity to rotate in midfield requires some monitoring, however.
Chelsea
Starting XI: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Fabregas (Mikel 92), Matic, Pedro, Oscar (Ramires 69), Hazard, Costa (Remy 82).
Jose Mourinho made two changes from the side which lost 3-1 at Everton for the London derby against Arsenal. Gary Cahill replaced John Terry at the back, while Oscar came in for John Obi Mikel. The Brazilian played in the number ten role in the 4-2-3-1 system, with Cesc Fabregas stationed alongside Nemanja Matic in the double-pivot. Kurt Zouma has now started the last four matches and looks to be establishing himself as a regular starter at centre-back, with Mourinho favouring a higher defensive line, in which Zouma is hugely influential with his extra pace to cover counter-attacking runners. Willian missed out with a muscle problem, although Pedro and Oscar recovered from knocks to start the match. After getting just their second league win of the campaign, changes may be kept to a minimum for the trip to Newcastle on Saturday, though Terry will be hopeful of ousting Cahill in the back-four. Chelsea’s teamsheet for the midweek Capital One Cup tie at Walsall will be of keen interest – particularly when it comes to Mourinho’s selection at the back.
Crystal Palace
Starting XI: McCarthy; Kelly, Hangeland, Delaney, Souare; McArthur (Mutch 76), Cabaye, Puncheon; Zaha (Campbell 46), Sako (Bamford 84); Bolasie.
Alan Pardew was forced into making one change from the team which lost 1-0 to Manchester City for the trip to White Hart Lane, with Scott Dann ruled out with a calf injury. Damien Delaney, who missed out against City because of a minor knock, returned alongside Brede Hangeland at the heart of the Palace defence. Pardew once again started with Yannick Bolasie as the lone forward in the 4-2-3-1 system, with Bakary Sako, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha forming the attacking midfield trio. After an ineffectual display, Zaha was replaced at half-time by Frazier Campbell, who immediately took up the lone striker role, with Bolasie returning to a wide berth. Should Dann be fit to return for the trip to Watford next weekend, Hangeland looks the most likely to make way at the back. It appears that Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford remains down the pecking order given that Pardew first turned to Campbell from the bench in this match, unless match fitness was an issue.
Everton
Starting XI: Howard; Browning, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway; Barry, McCarthy; Kone (Deulofeu 65), Barkley (Mirallas 90), Naismith; Lukaku.
Following his hat-trick as a substitute against Chelsea, Steven Naismith was handed a starting berth against Swansea, replacing Muhamed Besic, as he did last week, with the Bosnian ruled out because of a hamstring injury. Roberto Martinez made one other change, with Seamus Coleman failing to shake off his hamstring complaint, so Tyias Browning started at right-back. Everton lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ross Barkley in the number ten role, Naismith on the left and Arouna Kone on the right of the three advanced midfield positions. Kevin Mirallas was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Modou Barrow, and now faces a three-match suspension. Gerard Deulofeu came on for Kone, and appears ahead of Aaron Lennon in terms of pushing for a start on the right flank instead of the Ivorian. Coleman’s hamstring issue isn’t thought to be too serious, so he could return to the starting XI for the trip to West Brom next time out. Darron Gibson was back among the substitutes after recovering from a broken foot.
Leicester
Starting XI: Schmeichel; De Laet, Huth, Morgan, Schlupp; Mahrez, Drinkwater, Inler (Albrighton 46), Kante (King 86); Okazaki (Ulloa, 63), Vardy.
Claudio Ranieri made one change from the side which beat Aston Villa 3-2, with N’Golo Kante replacing Marc Albrighton. Although the Italian stuck with the 4-4-2 formation, Kante played narrower than Albrighton on the left of midfield, while Shinji Okazaki played tucked in behind fellow forward Jamie Vardy. With the Foxes 2-0 down at half-time, Ranieri brought Albrighton on for Gokhan Inler, with Kante then stationed alongside Danny Drinkwater in central midfield. Okazaki was replaced for the second match running, with Leonardo Ulloa coming on for the Japan international this time. Okazaki certainly doesn’t look guaranteed of his place in the Leicester starting XI, given Nathan Dyer, who replaced him against Villa, wasn’t fit enough to be included among the substitutes as a precaution. Kante was swapped with Andy King late on because of cramp, and is poised to recover in time for the home clash against Arsenal.
Liverpool
Starting XI: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho; Clyne, Leiva (Firmino 72), Milner, Moreno; Coutinho; Benteke (Ings 46), Sturridge (Lallana 63).
Daniel Sturridge made his first start of the season against Norwich, playing alongside Christian Benteke in a 3-4-1-2 formation as Danny Ings dropped out. Brendan Rodgers made a total of four changes from the side which lost 3-1 at Old Trafford, with Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno replacing Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez respectively, while Philippe Coutinho was back from a one-match ban and came in for Roberto Firmino, with Emre Can moved into central defence. The Brazilian played in the number ten role, while Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne lined up as wing-backs. Rodgers was dealt a blow when Benteke had to be substituted at half-time because of tightness in his hamstring, so Ings was brought on as a like-for-like replacement. The Belgian’s injury doesn’t appear too serious, but at this stage he could remain a doubt for the home clash against his former side Aston Villa on Saturday. Sturridge lasted 63 minutes on his comeback, and appears likely to keep his starting spot for Saturday as he continues to build up his match sharpness. Ings, having scored the Reds only goal, would appear to be in the box seat to start alongside Sturridge if Benteke fails to recover in time. Gomez may now face a spell out of the side if Rodgers keeps faith in the new system, while captain Jordan Henderson broke a bone in his foot in training last Friday, and now faces around six-to-right weeks on the sidelines. We’re expecting changes from Rodgers for the Capital One Cup tie with Carlisle in midweek with second string starters likely – that should reveal more on the likely first choice XI against Villa.
Man City
Starting XI: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala (Demichelis 45), Kolarov (Iheancho 85); Fernandinho, Toure; Navas, De Bruyne, Sterling (Bony 66); Aguero.
Manuel Pellegrini made three changes from the side that won 1-0 at Crystal Palace, with Nicolas Otamendi making his first Premier League start in place of the injured Vincent Kompany, while Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne came in for Samir Nasri and Wilfried Bony. Nasri missed out because of a slight knock, while David Silva was initially named in the starting XI, only to pick up a calf injury in the warm-up. City lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with De Bruyne in the number ten role behind Sergio Aguero. Eliaquim Mangala was replaced by Martin Demichelis at half-time due to a muscle problem, and if Kompany recovers from his calf injury for the trip to Tottenham on Saturday, may well lose his spot in the starting XI to either Otamendi or Demichelis. Sterling again failed to complete the full 90 minutes for the fifth time this season, with Pellegrini deciding to instead keep Navas on the pitch from start to finish. Silva’s injury isn’t thought to be too serious, so the Spaniard is expected to be in contention to play at White Hart Lane. Pablo Zabaleta also isn’t too far away from a first-team return following his knee injury and that will threaten Bacary Sagna’s start.
Man United
Starting XI: De Gea; Darmian (Valencia 46), Smalling, Blind, Rojo (McNair 69); Carrick (Schweinsteiger 60), Schneiderlin; Mata, Rooney, Depay; Martial.
Marcos Rojo replaced the injured Luke Shaw for the away encounter at Southampton to start at left-back, with Daley Blind again stationed alongside Chris Smalling at centre-back. Louis van Gaal made three other changes from the starting XI which beat Liverpool, with Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Morgan Schneiderlin coming in for Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera and Bastian Schweinsteiger. The Dutch boss retained the 4-2-3-1 formation with Martial taking the lone striker position, and Rooney playing in the number ten role. Schneiderlin was stationed alongside Michael Carrick in the double-pivot. Matteo Darmian was surprisingly replaced at the break by Antonio Valenica, with van Gaal concerned at how much space Dusan Tadic was being afforded. Given the Italian’s form up until yesterday, it would still be a surprise if Valencia gained the starting spot against Sunderland on Saturday but, clearly, his start is under the microscope. Carrick was again replaced by Schweinsteiger as the two continue to share playing time in midfield, while Paddy McNair came on for Rojo, who like Darmian, was at times exposed by the Saints attack. Phil Jones’ return to training this week ahead of the clash with Sunderland could yet hand Van Gaal another option at the back with Blind potentially reverting to left-back and Jones slotting in alongside Smalling. In attack, Martial’s outstanding form in his first two league matches for United means Rooney is likely to continue in a deeper role over the next few weeks.
Part two of Lineup Lessons, covering the remaining teams, will be published later tomorrow.
