Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 15 – Part One

Aaron Ramsey is handed a central midfield role as Arsenal defeat Sunderland at the Emirates. Eden Hazard continues up front for Chelsea, whilst Marouane Fellaini and Siem de Jong are afforded rare starts behind the lone striker for United and Newcastle respectively.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Walcott 64), Ozil, Campbell (Gibbs 76); Giroud (Chambers 80).

• Arsene Wenger made two changes for the home clash against Sunderland, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Campbell coming in for the injured duo Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez.
• Wenger kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 system, with Aaron Ramsey switching to a central role alongside Mathieu Flamini. Oxlade-Chamberlain started on the left of the three attacking midfield positions, with Campbell stationed on the opposite flank.
• Theo Walcott made his first appearance since Gameweek 9, replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain. He played down the right flank, with Campbell switching to the left. The Costa Rica international was then replaced by Kieran Gibbs, with the final change a defensive one, with Calum Chambers coming on for Olivier Giroud as the Gunners looked to hold on to victory.
• Largely due to Arsenal’s length injury list, we should see Wenger name a similar team to face Aston Villa next weekend given the paucity of options currently available to him. The back four is settled, and Ramsey and Flamini look the clear first-choice pairing in the middle of the park. With Walcott returning to fitness, he does have options further forward, with the England international’s return meaning Giroud’s place in the side is less certain. Walcott could also operate on the right as he did when he entered the fray on Saturday, with Campbell the most likely to miss out in such a scenario.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Central Striker

Aston Villa

Starting XI: Guzan; Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna (Richardson 78); Veretout, Sanchez (Agbonlahor 90), Gueye; Ayew, Gestede (Westwood 75), Sinclair.

• Remi Garde made four alterations from the side that lost 3-2 to Watford, with Jores Okore, Joleon Lescott, Leandro Bacuna and Rudy Gestede replacing Micah Richards, Ciaran Clark, Kieran Richardson and Carles Gil.
• The former Lyon manager opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation at St Mary’s, with Carlos Sanchez and Idrissa Gueye patrolling central midfield. Scott Sinclair (right) and Jordan Ayew (left) operated on the flanks, with Jordan Veretout in the number ten role behind lone striker Gestede. Bacuna played at left-back for the Villans, with Okore and Lescott forming the centre-back partnership.
• Garde brought Ashley Westwood on for Gestede, switching to more of a 4-3-3 formation. Richardson came on for Bacuna in a straight swap, while Gabriel Agbonlahor made his comeback from injury as a late substitute.
• Richards missed out with a knee injury, but should he be available to face Arsenal, will likely return to the starting XI. Clark is also expected to return after serving a one-match ban. Bacuna picked up a slight knock which forced him off, so Richardson could perhaps earn a recall at left-back against the Gunners. Garde has been fairly consistent in his selection in the middle of the park, with Gueye and Sanchez being favoured, although the latter is a slight doubt due to a head injury picked up against the Saints. Gil could possibly come into contention for a start, but Gestede – providing he recovers from a knock that forced him off – may keep his starting berth against an Arsenal side vulnerable in the air.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Defence, Central Striker

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Surman, Ritchie, Gosling, Arter, Stanislas; King (Murray 79).

• Eddie Howe made two adjustments for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with Artur Boruc and Adam Smith coming in for Adam Federici and Sylvain Distin.
• The Cherries lined up in more of a 4-2-3-1 system against the champions, with Dan Gosling sitting alongside Andrew Surman at the base of midfield. Harry Arter played in a central attacking midfield role. At the back, Smith started at right-back, with Simon Francis shifting across to partner Steve Cook at centre-back.
• Howe only decided to make one change, with Glenn Murray replacing Josh King in what was to prove an inspired move, with the former Crystal Palace striker netting the winner.
• After keeping a clean sheet, and with Adam Federici unlikely to be fit to face Man United in any case, Boruc should get the nod in goal once again. Distin missed out on Saturday due to illness, but again, may struggle to force his way back in after such an impressive defensive performance. While Murray struck the winning goal from the bench, King’s form as the lone striker could see him lead the line once again.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Right-Back, Central Defence

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Cahill, Baba Rahman (Traore 82); Fabregas (Remy 82), Matic; Willian, Oscar (Costa 46), Pedro; Hazard.

• Jose Mourinho only made two changes from the side that drew 0-0 against Tottenham, with the fit-again Thibaut Courtois replacing Asmir Begovic in goal, while Baba Rahman came in for Cesar Azpilicueta.
• Rahman, something of a surprise inclusion ahead of Azpilicueta, slotted in at left-back for the Blues. Eden Hazard continued as a “false nine” for the champions.
• Following a disappointing first-half display, Mourinho brought on Diego Costa for Oscar at the break, with Hazard dropping back into the attacking midfield positions. The former Real Madrid boss threw on Bertrand Traore and Loic Romy after Bournemouth took a shock lead with ten minutes to go.
• Whether or not Azpilicueta was purely rested on Saturday, you’d expect the Spaniard to return at left-back for the trip to Leicester a week on Monday. Should John Terry recover from his ankle injury, he could also come into contention. With just one goal in their last four matches, Mourinho could make several changes further forward, with Diego Costa possibly earning a recall in attack. Should Ramires shake off a muscular injury, he may also force his way back into the starting XI, with Oscar looking the most vulnerable.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Defence, Attacking Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker

Leicester

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (Schlupp 90), Drinkwater, Kante, Albrighton; Ulloa (King 87), Vardy.

• Claudio Ranieri only made one change for the trip to south Wales, with Leonardo Ulloa coming in for Shinji Okazaki.
• That change saw Ranieri switch to a 4-4-2 formation, with Ulloa partnering Jamie Vardy up front.
• The Italian only made two changes late on, with Andy King and Jeffrey Schlupp replacing Ulloa and hat-trick hero Riyad Mahrez.
• The only changing piece of the starting XI remains who will provide support to Vardy, with Ulloa, Okazaki and, to a lesser extent Schlupp, all providing different options.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Strikers

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Lucas, Allen; Milner, Firmino (Sturridge 62), Ibe (Origi 75); Benteke (Lallana 62).

• Jurgen Klopp made two changes from the side which beat Swansea 1-0, with Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen coming in for Adam Lallana and the suspended Emre Can.
• The new Liverpool boss kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 system he rolled out against the Swans, with Allen and Lucas combining at the base of midfield. James Milner (left) and Jordon Ibe (right) played out wide, with Roberto Firmino tucked in the number ten role behind Christian Benteke.
• Klopp made a double change just after the hour mark, with Lallana and Daniel Sturridge replacing Firmino and Benteke. The Reds lined up in more of a 4-3-3 from that point on, with Lallana and Ibe flanking the lone striker Sturridge. Divock Origi came on for Ibe in the final substitution.
• Following the surprise 2-0 defeat, Klopp will be expected to bring Can straight back in after the German served his one-match ban. Allen will most likely make way, while Lallana also appears likely to earn a recall. Philippe Coutinho will also come back in should he have recovered fully from a hamstring injury, leaving Milner, Firmino and Ibe all looking slightly vulnerable. Sturridge could also start either alongside or in place of Benteke.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Central Striker

Man City

Starting XI: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Demichelis, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho (Delph 56); De Bruyne, Silva (Navas 62), Sterling; Bony (Iheanacho 56).

• Manuel Pellegrini made four changes from the team that beat Southampton 3-1, with Fernando and Wilfried Bony replacing the injured Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero, while David Silva started in place of Fabian Delph. In goal, the fit-again Joe Hart came in for Willy Caballero.
• City lined up in their normal 4-2-3-1 formation, with Fernando partnering Fernandinho in the double-pivot, while David Silva took up the number ten role behind lone striker Bony.
• Bony struggled to make much of an impression at the Britannia though, and along with Fernandinho, was hauled off before the hour mark. Kelechi Iheanacho and Delph took their places in straight swaps. With Silva still building up his match fitness, the Spaniard was replaced by his countryman Jesus Navas with 28 minutes remaining.
• Toure has recovered from injury and looks sure to start against Swansea on Saturday, whilst Aguero will also return if he can shake of his heel problem. Bony and Fernando would be the likely ones to miss out, with the latter being forced off with a hamstring injury at the Britannia. Should Gael Clichy start in the Champions league in midweek, Aleksandar Kolarov appears set to continue at left-back against the Swans. Eliaquim Mangala will also be available after serving a one-match ban, and could return at centre-back, with doubts now surrounding Martin Demichelis’ fitness. Rotation is possible in the three attacking midfield positions, with Navas an alternative to the trio that started against the Potters.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Central Striker

Man United

Starting XI: De Gea; McNair (Varela 46), Smalling, Blind, Darmian; Schweinsteiger (Depay 73), Schneiderlin (Carrick 44); Mata, Fellaini, Lingard; Martial.

• Louis van Gaal made three changes for the home clash against West Ham, with Marouane Fellaini coming in for the injured Wayne Rooney, while Morgan Schneiderlin and the fit-again Jesse Lingard replaced Michael Carrick and Ashley Young.
• Van Gaal switched back to the 4-2-3-1 system after going with a 3-4-1-2 formation at Leicester. Paddy McNair started at right-back, with Matteo Darmian at left-back. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin started at the base of midfield, with Fellaini stationed in the number ten role. Anthony Martial started as the lone striker.
• Schneiderlin was forced off just before half time with a hip injury, with Carrick taking the Frenchman’s place in a straight swap. McNair had to be replaced at half-time due to an ankle injury, with Guillermo Varela surprisingly getting the nod ahead of Young. Van Gaal’s final change saw Memphis Depay introduced in an attacking substitution for Schweinsteiger.
• With a lengthening injury list and changes in system distinctly possible, alterations for the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday appear likely. Darmian should take up one of the full-back berths, but should McNair and Phil Jones be ruled out, Varela or Young look likely to take the other starting spot. Carrick could earn a recall in place of the injured Schneiderlin, but the Dutch boss doesn’t have many options in the front four should Wayne Rooney (ankle) be ruled out once again. Depay is the only real alternative, and could earn a recall.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield

Newcastle

Starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Colback (Gouffran 77), Anita; Sissoko, De Jong (Perez 68), Wijnaldum; Cisse (Thauvin 82).

• Steve McClaren only made one alteration from the side that lost 5-1 at Crystal Palace, with Siem de Jong replacing Ayoze Perez.
• The former England manager stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation he used at Selhurst Park, with de Jong taking over the number ten role from Perez.
• With a lack of match fitness, De Jong only played 68 minutes before making way for Perez. Yoan Gouffran and Florian Thauvin were introduced late on to provide fresh legs as the Magpies claimed a surprise 2-0 victory.
• After such an impressive performance, McClaren will be expected to keep faith in the majority of the players who started against Liverpool. The only obvious dilemma looks to be whether to hand De Jong another start at Tottenham on Sunday, or look to the likes of Perez, Gouffran or Thauvin in support of Papiss Cisse.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Attacking Midfield

Norwich

Starting XI: Rudd; Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond (Mbokani 45), Tettey, Dorrans, Brady; Howson (Ojdidja-Ofoe 78); Grabban (Jerome 67).

• Alex Neil made three changes for the trip to Vicarage Road, with Declan Rudd, Alex Tettey and Nathan Redmond replacing John Ruddy, Gary O’Neil and Wes Hoolahan.
• With Tettey returning to the starting XI, Neil opted for more of a 4-1-4-1 formation against Watford, with the Norwegian sitting just in front of the back four. Redmond (right) and Robbie Brady (left) started out wide, with Jonny Howson and Graham Dorrans patrolling the middle of the park.
• Redmond was given the hook at half-time, with Dieumerci Mbokani entering the fray, meaning a shift to a 4-3-3, with Brady and Lewis Grabban flanking the central striker Mbokani. Grabban made way for Cameron Jerome after the hour mark, though, with Neil’s final substitution seeing Vadis Ojdidja-Ofoe replace Howson.
• Given the Canaries lost 2-0, Neil may hand skipper Russell Martin a recall in place of Andre Wisdom at right-back when Norwich host Everton at Carrow Road on Saturday. Declan Rudd will likely be given more than one match to prove himself, so should remain between the sticks. The likes of O’Neil and Youssouf Mulumbu could come back into contention in central midfield, although the knee injury that ruled Hoolahan out against the Hornets could also force him to miss out once again this weekend. Grabban could be under pressure for his central striker position from both Mbokani and Jerome.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Central Striker