Gylfi Sigurdsson grabs a goal on his return to the Swansea starting XI. Danny Rose earns a second successive start at left-back for Spurs, whilst Mauro Zarate hands Slaven Bilic a dilemma out wide.
After rolling out Part One yesterday, we now turn our attentions to the remaining ten Premier League sides to review the personal, formations and changes made, whilst speculating on the likely Gameweek 11 lineups…
Newcastle
Starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett (Thauvin 76); Colback (Anita 50), Tiote (Lascelles 46); Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez; Mitrovic.
- Steve McClaren named an unchanged starting XI for the Tyne-Wear derby, with Cheick Tiote keeping his place in central midfield, while Paul Dummett was fit to start at left-back once again.
- The Magpies lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Ayoze Perez partnering Aleksandar Mitrovic in attack. Georginio Wijnaldum started on the left of the four-man midfield once more.
- Following Fabricio Coloccini’s sending off on the stroke of half-time, McClaren brought on centre-back Jamaal Lascelles, with Tiote sacrificed. Jack Colback picked up a lower leg injury shortly after, and was replaced by Vurnon Anita in a straight swap. Florian Thauvin was introduced late on as the Magpies looked to get back into the game.
- Colback picked up his fifth booking of the campaign before his withdrawal, so he’ll miss the home clash against Stoke this weekend regardless of the severity of the injury. Anita should replace him in central midfield. Coloccini, meanwhile, has successfully appealed his weekend dismissal and will be available for selection for the Potters showdown.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield
Norwich
Starting XI: Ruddy; Martin, Bennett, Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Howson, Tettey, Jarvis; Hoolahan (Jerome 78); Mbokani.
- Alex Neil made three adjustments from the starting XI against Newcastle last time out, with Ryan Bennett, Matt Jarvis and Wes Hoolahan coming in for Steven Whittaker, Martin Olsson and Graham Dorrans.
- Bennett played alongside Sebastian Bassong in central defence, with Russell Martin moving to right-back, while having started in a more attacking role last week, Robbie Brady returned to left-back this time around. Jonny Howson partnered Alex Tettey in the double-pivot in the 4-2-3-1 system, with Jarvis on the left of the three advanced midfield positions, Hoolahan in the number ten role and Nathan Redmond on the right.
- Neil threw on Cameron Jerome for Hoolahan as the Canaries chased a late equaliser.
- With Norwich falling to a third consecutive defeat, there appear to be few sure starters in the Canaries side. Brady and Olsson are continuing to rotate at left-back, while it remains to be seen if Bennett impressed enough to keep his starting spot at centre-back. Dorrans could come back into contention in central midfield, with Howson perhaps moving to the flank to accomodate his return. Dieumerci Mbokani has picked up an illness since Saturday’s match, and could be a doubt for the trip to the Etihad on Saturday. Jerome would be the obvious replacement should he miss out.
Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield
Southampton
Starting XI: Stekelenberg: Soares, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand: Clasie (Juanmi 76), Wanyama, Davis: Mane, Pelle, Tadic (Ward-Prowse 64).
- Ronald Koeman made two changes for the trip to Anfield, with the fit-again Maarten Stekelenburg returning at the expense of Kelvin Davis in goal, while Jordy Clasie came in for James Ward-Prowse.
- Clasie made his first league start for the Saints alongside Victor Wanyama in the double-pivot in Koeman’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Cedric Soares kept his starting spot at right-back.
- Ward-Prowse came on for Dusan Tadic, playing on the left of the three advanced midfield positions, while Juanmi made just his third league appearance of the season, replacing Clasie.
- With Clasie now gaining his first start, the Dutch international could become a regular starter alongside Wanyama in the engine room. That leaves the likes of Davis and Ward-Prowse battling for one position alongside Sadio Mane and Tadic in the three attacking midfield positions. Mane will be free to face Bournemouth on Sunday, with his one-match ban being served against Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Attacking Midfield.
Stoke
Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Cameron (Wilson 9), Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Adam; Shaqiri (Walters 60), Bojan; Arnautovic; Joselu (Crouch 60).
- Mark Hughes named an unchanged team from the one which won 1-0 against Swansea, with Joselu continuing as the central striker.
- The Potters continued in their 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bojan starting in the number ten role, although the average position map shows he often played beyond Joselu as the furthest forward.
- Geoff Cameron pulled up with a thigh problem after just ten minutes, so Marc Wilson was called upon from the bench. Peter Crouch came on for the disappointing Joselu on the hour mark, with Jon Walters replacing Xherdan Shaqiri at the same time.
- With Joselu struggling, Mame Biram Diouf could be thrust into a first-team return at Newcastle. Other options for the lone striker role include Crouch and Walters. Should Cameron miss out with that thigh injury, Wilson looks the obvious man to step in, unless Ryan Shawcross is deemed ready for a first league appearance of the season. Bojan may be rested for midweek cup duties due to a blistered toe but is expected to return to the XI next weekend.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Striker
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Williams, Fernandez, Taylor; Sung-Yeung, Shelvey (Cork 85); Ayew, Sigurdsson, Montero (Barrow 76); Gomis (Eder 90).
- Garry Monk made three changes for the trip to Villa Park, with Kyle Naughton, Ki Sung-yeung and Gylfi Sigurdsson coming in for Angel Rangel, Jack Cork and Modou Barrow.
- Naughton slotted back in at right-back for the Swans, while Ki lined up alongside Jonjo Shelvey at the base of midfield in the 4-2-3-1 often favoured by Monk. Sigurdsson played in his customary number ten role, with Ayew returning to the right flank.
- Barrow replaced Jefferson Montero, and played on the right wing, with Ayew switching to the left.
- After picking up their first win in six matches, changes appear unlikely for the home clash against Arsenal on Saturday. Cork could challenge Ki for a starting berth in midfield, but Eder is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench once again. Naughton has presumably seen off the claims of Rangel for the right-back role.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield
Sunderland
Starting XI: Pantilimon; Jones, O’Shea (Coates 37), Kaboul, Yedlin; Cattermole, M’Vila; Lens (Larsson 81), Toivonen (Defoe 36), Johnson; Fletcher.
- Sam Allardyce made three alterations to the side which lost 1-0 at West Brom, with Ola Toivonen and Adam Johnson coming in for Sebastian Larsson and Jordi Gomez, while Jeremain Lens returned from suspension in place of the injured Fabio Borini.
- Big Sam stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation used at the Hawthorns, with Toivonen filling the number ten role, and Lens (left) and Johnson (right) operating on the flanks.
- Toivonen was forced off with a calf injury, and was replaced by Jermain Defoe, with the Black Cats then lining up in a 4-4-2 formation. Minutes later, John O’Shea picked up a hamstring injury, seeing Sebastian Coates take his place at the heart of the defence.
- If O’Shea isn’t fit to face Everton on Sunday, Coates should be the one to deputise, with Wes Brown the other obvious option available to Allardyce. Should Toivonen be ruled out, Defoe and Borini – providing the Italian shakes off a foot injury – look like the ones to fill the void. Gomez is another option for Big Sam, particularly if he wants a more defensively minded player in that attacking midfield position in a tougher fixture at Goodison Park. The rest of the starting XI are likely to keep their starting spots given the nature of the first victory of the campaign.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Attacking Midfield
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris; Walker (Trippier 82), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Alli; Lamela, Dembele (Mason 68), Eriksen; Kane (N’Jie 85).
- Mauricio Pochettino made just one change from the team which drew 0-0 against Liverpool, with Eric Dier returning from suspension in place of the injured Nacer Chadli.
- Dier slotted into his usual role in the double-pivot alongside Dele Alli, with Mousa Dembele operating in the number ten role. Christian Eriksen played on the left of the three advanced midfield positions, with Erik Lamela on the opposite flank.
- Ryan Mason made his first league appearance since getting injured when scoring the winning goal at Sunderland in Gameweek 5, replacing Dembele in the central attacking midfield role. Kieran Trippier and Clinton N’Jie provided fresh legs late on with the match already won.
- With Mason now back to fitness, he could now come into the equation for either Alli or Dembele in the middle of the park. Danny Rose started for the second straight match at left-back, and now seems back ahead of Ben Davies in the pecking order.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Nyom, Britos, Cathcart, Ake; Anya (Paredes 66), Capoue, Watson, Abdi (Behrami 77); Ighalo (Guedioura 88), Deeney.
- Quique Sanchez Flores made one alteration for the trip to Stoke, with Miguel Britos replacing Sebastian Prodl at centre-back.
- The Hornets played in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ben Watson continuing alongside Etienne Capoue at the base of midfield.
- Ikechi Anya made way for Juan Carlos Paredes in a straight swap on the right of the three attacking midfield positions. Valon Behrami made his first-team return late on, coming on for Almen Abdi, with Flores looking to solidify the midfield area.
- Following the 2-0 victory, Britos could be set for a run in the side ahead of Prodl. Watson appears likely to keep his starting spot ahead of Behrami for the time being, while Anya looks set to keep playing out-of-position down the right-hand side.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks
West Brom
Starting XI: Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt; Fletcher, Yacob; Sessegnon, Berahino (Gardner 88), McClean; Rondon (Lambert 74).
- Tony Pulis named an unchanged starting XI for the trip to Norwich, with Stephane Sessegnon keeping his place in the side.
- Sessegnon played on the right of midfield once again, with Pulis maintaining the 4-4-2 formation. James McClean operated on the opposite flank, with Sadio Berahino starting alongside Salomon Rondon in a front two.
- Rickie Lambert came on for Rondon in a straight swap, while Craig Gardner was introduced late on to help secure the 1-0 victory.
- With the Baggies racking up the wins, changes appear unlikely for the visit of Leicester to the Hawthorns. Callum McManaman now looks well behind McClean, in particular, for a starting berth out wide, while the midfield selection could be altered if James Morrison is available: he’s still struggling to overcome an ankle injury.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks
West Ham
Starting XI: Adrian; Jenkinson, Collins, Tomkins, Cresswell; Noble (Ogbonna 90), Kouyate, Lanzini (Obiang 82): Payet, Zarate (Carroll 69); Sakho.
- Slaven Bilic only made one change for the visit of Chelsea to Upton Park, with Mauro Zarate coming in for the ineligible Victor Moses, who is on loan from the Blues.
- Zarate played on the right of the three advanced midfield positions in Bilic’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system, with Manuel Lanzini shifted over to the left.
- Andy Carroll came on for Zarate, with Diafra Sakho switching to the right wing. Pedro Obiang was introduced for Lanzini to help see the match out.
- James Collins again started ahead of Angelo Ogbonna, but the Wales international is under pressure from the former Juventus defender, while Winston Reid could also recover from a back injury to face Watford on Saturday. Zarate was impressive against Chelsea, but with Moses available again, the Croatian faces a difficult decision, while Carroll is also edging closer to gaining his first league start of the campaign. This all means that Sakho’s position as the lone striker is beginning to look slightly vulnerable. The Senegal international could also play as a wide man though, as he did in the latter stages against the champions.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Central Striker
