Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 8 – Part One

Claudio Ranieri omits Riyad Mahrez from the Leicester first XI as the Foxes win at Norwich. Pedro is dropped for the first time this term as Chelsea fall to another defeat. Tim Sherwood trials a 3-5-2, whilst Bakary Sakho warms the Palace bench against the Baggies.

We look back on the teamsheets from Gameweek 8 to re-cap on the personnel changes, the formations and tactics, plus the key risk areas for each team.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil (Oxlade-Chamberlain 75), Sanchez (Gibbs 81); Walcott (Giroud 75).

• Arsene Wenger made two changes from the team that won 5-2 at Leicester for the visit of Man United. Gabriel started in place of the injured Laurent Koscielny in defence, while Francis Coquelin returned in the double-pivot alongside Santi Cazorla.
• The Gunners lined up in the 4-2-3-1 system once again, with Theo Walcott continuing in the lone striker role. Walcott has now started each of the last five Gameweeks up front.
• Olivier Giroud again had to settle for a late cameo appearance, with the Frenchman coming on in a straight swap for Walcott.
• Wenger’s first choice side is starting to emerge, with Walcott’s run of starts suggesting he has the edge over Giroud. Aaron Ramsey looks like he’ll continue to have to settle for a place on the right of the three advanced midfield positions, with Ozil thriving in the number ten role, and Cazorla and Coquelin combining well in central midfield. Gabriel will continue to deputise for the injured Koscielny, though could retain his place at the expense of Per Mertesacker upon the Frenchman’s return.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Striker.

Aston Villa

Starting XI: Guzan; Crespo, Richards, Lescott (Grealish 46); Hutton, Gueye, Westwood (Gil 75), Veretout, Amavi; Sinclair (Ayew 58), Gestede.

• Tim Sherwood made two personnel changes from the side which lost 3-2 at Liverpool, with Jose Angel Crespo and Jordan Veretout replacing Carlos Sanchez and Jack Grealish.
• Sherwood opted for a 3-5-2 formation for the home clash against Stoke. Crespo made his first league appearance of the season, and started in a back three alongside Micah Richards and Joleon Lescott. Alan Hutton and Jordan Amavi were the wing-backs, with Veretout joining Ashley Westwood and Idrissa Gueye in central midfield. Scott Sinclair partnered Rudy Gestede up front.
• Sherwood changed things at the break, with Grealish replacing Lescott, and reverting back to a four-man rearguard. Villa then lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Grealish and Jordan Ayew, after he came on for Sinclair, supporting Gestede in attack. Carles Gil replaced Westwood as Villa searched for a late equaliser.
• Sherwood continues to switch between a three and four-man backline, and looks to still be searching for his most effective system. The former Tottenham boss also seems uncertain over which attacking midfielders best compliment lone striker Gestede, with Sinclair, Grealish, Ayew and Gabriel Agbonlahor all having had spells in the team. Adama Traore is also likely to come into the mix after the international break.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Attacking Midfield, Flanks.

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; Francis, Cook, Distin, Daniels; Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Pugh (Smith 57); King (O’Kane 70), Murray.

• Eddie Howe made two alterations from the side that lost 2-1 at Stoke. Glenn Murray started in place of the injured Callum Wilson, while Josh King came in for Lee Tomlin.
• The Cherries lined up in their default 4-4-1-1 formation, with King tucked in behind lone forward Murray up top.
• Marc Pugh was replaced by Adam Smith for the second match running, with the defender playing out of position on the right side of midfield. Eunan O’Kane came on for King with 20 minutes to go, allowing Matt Ritchie to play just behind Murray.
• Howe doesn’t have too many choices in attacking areas following the long-term injuries to Max Gradel and Wilson, with King, Tomlin and Murray his three main options. Harry After is getting closer to a return from his groin injury, but the trip to the Etihad in Gameweek 9 may still be too soon for him. Skipper Tommy Elphick remains sidelined with an ankle problem, prolonging Sylvain Distin’s tenure in defence. As yet, there is no return date set for Elphick.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Support Striker.

Chelsea

Starting XI: Begovic, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Ramires (Matic 45 (Remy 73 )), Fabregas, Willian (Pedro 65), Oscar, Hazard, Falcao.

• Jose Mourinho made four changes from the starting XI against Newcastle, with John Terry replacing Kurt Zouma in the back four, while Ramires, Willian and Radamel Falcao came in for Nemanja Matic, Pedro and Loic Remy.
• The champions lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ramires fielded in the double-pivot alongside Cesc Fabregas. Willian started in the three advanced midfield positions alongside Oscar and Eden Hazard, with Falcao the lone striker.
• Ramires only lasted 45 minutes, before being replaced by Matic. The Serbian then suffered the indignity of being replaced as a substitute, but that was possibly more as a result of the position of the match rather than anything else. Pedro came on for Willian just after the hour mark. Falcao played the full 90 minutes, and was joined by Remy in attack as the Blues looked to get back into the match.
• Zouma played the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Porto in the Champions League and was perhaps just rested for the visit of Southampton to Stamford Bridge. With Terry again putting in a disappointing performance, though, the young Frenchman looks poised to return to the side for the home clash against Aston Villa in Gameweek 9. Only Hazard looks assured a place in the advanced midfield positions, but Chelsea will have Diego Costa available for the Villa clash after completing his suspension.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield.

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Kelly, Hangeland, Dann, Souare; McArthur, Cabaye; Zaha (Ledley 89), Puncheon, Bolasie; Gayle (Campbell 73).

• Alan Pardew opted to make two changes from the XI which won 1-0 at Watford. James McArthur returned to the side in place of Joe Ledley, while Wilfried Zaha started in place of Bakary Sako on the flank.
• McArthur operated in the double-pivot alongside Yohan Cabaye in Pardew’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, while Zaha played on the right of the three attacking midfield positions. Dwight Gayle continued at the lone striker.
• Gayle was replaced by Frazier Campbell in a straight swap, while Ledley came on for Zaha in the dying stages.
• Joel Ward and Damien Delaney could both be fit after the international break, but after registering back-to-back clean sheets, the latter, in particular, may have to be patient to get back into the side, given the impact of Brede Hangeland. Connor Wickham could also be available once again and challenge Gayle for the starting position in attack. Sako and Zaha look to be competing for one spot, with Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie looking the more secure starters. Wayne Hennessey looks to have the starting position in goal at the moment, having played the last two matches.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Flanks, Central Striker.

Everton

Starting XI: Howard, Browning, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Galloway, McCarthy, Barry, Deulofeu (Lennon 60), Barkley, Naismith (Kone 79), Lukaku.

• Roberto Martinez named an unchanged starting XI from the one that beat West Brom 3-2.
• The Spaniard continued with the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Steven Naismith starting on the left of the three advanced midfield positions, and Gerard Deulofeu on the right, with Ross Barkley in the number ten role behind lone striker Romelu Lukaku.
• Deulofeu endured a mixed afternoon at Goodison Park, and was replaced by Aaron Lennon on the hour mark. Arouna Kone was thrown into the action as the Toffees searched for a late winner.
• John Stones and Seamus Coleman were close to being fit for the Merseyside derby, so the two-week break should see the pair return to the fray for the home clash against Man United in Gameweek 9. Leighton Baines was also being pencilled in for a return for that date, although that remains far from certain. The rest of the side has a fairly settled look to it, with the wide positions perhaps the only debating point, with Deulofeu, Kone, Naismith, Lennon and Kevin Mirallas (who has now served a three-match ban) all battling for minutes.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Full-backs, Flanks.

Leicester

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson (Benalouane 65), Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Albrighton, Drinkwater, Kante, Schlupp (King 77); Vardy, Okazaki (Ulloa 70).

• Claudio Ranieri made two alterations for the trip to Carrow Road, with Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs coming in for Ritchie de Laet and Riyad Mahrez.
• The Foxes lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation once again, with Shinji Okazaki playing just behind lone striker Jamie Vardy. Simpson started at right-back, with Fuchs at left-back, allowing Jeffrey Schlupp to push forward to the left side of midfield. The average position map showed he played a much more disciplined role than Marc Albrighton on the opposite flank, who was pushed forward alongside Okazaki.
• Yohan Benalouane replaced Simpson just after the hour mark, with Ranieri switching to a back three. Leonardo Ulloa replaced Okazaki in attack, while Andy King was brought on to help shore things up in midfield.
• The dropping of Mahrez was a huge surprise, and with Leicester picking up the win at Carrow Road, there are no guarantees the Algerian will return to the starting XI at Southampton in Gameweek 9. De Laet lost his place at right-back to Simpson, and looks in danger of a spell out of the side now. Fuchs’ chances of staying in the team rest of whether Ranieri opts to keep Schlupp in a more advanced role.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-backs, Attacking Midfield, Support Striker.

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Clyne, Milner, Lucas (Allen 79), Moreno, Coutinho, Sturridge, Ings (Lallana 76).

• Brendan Rodgers named an unchanged team from the one that defeated Aston Villa 3-2.
• The Reds lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation once again, with Philippe Coutinho operating “in the hole” behind Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings.
• Adam Lallana replaced Ings with 15 minutes to go, with Rodgers switching to more of a 3-4-3 system, with the former Southampton man and Coutinho flanking lone striker Sturridge. Joe Allen came on for Lucas to help provide fresh legs in midfield.
• With a new manager set to be in charge for the trip to White Hart Lane in Gameweek 9, there could well be some changes in both formation and personnel. Christian Benteke could possibly be available again if he recovers from his hamstring injury in time.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: All positions.

Man City

Starting XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho; De Bruyne, Silva (Iheanacho 75), Sterling (Navas 45); Aguero (Bony 66).

• Manuel Pellegrini made four changes from the XI which lost 4-1 at Tottenham. Joe Hart replaced Willy Caballero in goal, while Pablo Zabaleta and Eliaquim Mangala came in for Bacary Sagna and Martin Demichelis at the back. The other alteration saw the fit-again David Silva return in place of Yaya Toure, who missed out with a hamstring injury.
• The Chilean stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Silva replacing Toure in the number ten role, while Fernando and Fernandinho continued in the double-pivot.
• Raheem Sterling was replaced at the break by Jesus Navas, suggesting that he looks much more prone to rotation than Silva and Kevin de Bruyne. The latter move to the left to accommodate Navas on the opposite flank. Sergio Aguero was also carrying a minor niggle, so was replaced by Wilfried Bony with the victory sewn up.
• Toure is likely to be fit for the Gameweek 9 clash against Bournemouth, so he could return in place of Fernando. Vincent Kompany could also be available having struggled with a calf injury of late. With Zabaleta and Sagna both now fit, the pair could share playing time at right-back.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-back, Central Defence, Attacking Midfield.

Man United

Starting XI: De Gea, Darmian (Valencia 46), Smalling, Blind, Young, Carrick, Schweinsteiger, Mata (Wilson 82), Rooney, Depay (Fellaini 46), Martial.

• Louis van Gaal made two alterations for the trip to Arsenal, with Ashley Young replacing Antonio Valencia, while Bastian Schweinsteiger came in for Morgan Schneiderlin in central midfield.
• Young started at left-back, with Matteo Darmian on the opposite side of the back four, while Schweinsteiger slotted in alongside Michael Carrick in the double-pivot in van Gaal’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system.
• With United trailing 3-0 after a lacklustre first-half, the Dutchman made two changes at the break, with Valencia taking the place of Darmian at right-back, while Marouane Fellaini came on for Memphis Depay, with United switching to more of a 4-3-3 formation. Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata then provided support for Anthony Martial in attack. Striker James Wilson made his first league appearance of the season late on.
• Darmian has now been replaced at half-time in United’s last two away matches, and could be under pressure for his starting spot. Marcos Rojo could be back from is hamstring injury after the international break, and could come into the equation at left-back, with Valencia likely to battle it out with Darmian for the right-back spot.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-backs, Central Midfield, Flanks.

Part two of Lineup Lessons, covering the remaining ten teams, will be published later tomorrow.