Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 19 – Part One

Eden Hazard is fielded as a false nine for Chelsea’s trip to United. Wayne Rooney returns up front for the Red Devils, whilst Claudio Ranieri start with a 4-5-1 for Leicester’s home clash with City.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Gibbs (Monreal 82); Chambers, Ramsey; Oxlade-Chamberlain, (Iwobi 90) Ozil Walcott, Giroud (Campbell 81)

• Arsene Wenger made four changes from the side that was thrashed at St Mary’s on Boxing Day night. This saw Calum Chambers, Gabriel, Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain come in for Mathieu Flamini, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal and Joel Campbell.
• Wenger retained his usual 4-2-3-1 set-up, with Chambers partnering Aaron Ramsey in the double-pivot. Gibbs and Gabriel were installed at the back as the Frenchman chose to freshen up his defence, whilst Oxlade-Chamberlain patrolled the right flank, allowing Theo Walcott to continue on the opposite wing.
• Wenger made a trio of alterations in the final ten minutes of the match. Monreal and Alex Iwobi were like-for-like replacement for Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain, whilst Campbell’s introduction for Giroud allowed Walcott a brief stint up top.
• The Arsenal line-up has been fairly predictable of late and yesterday’s changes can mainly be put down to the schedule. Koscielny, Campbell and Monreal will all be expected to return at home to Newcastle, though Chambers could retain his role in the centre of the park if Flamini fails to shake off an ankle problem. Wenger has hinted at some rotation, though, which could see Gabriel continue at the expense of Mertesacker in the heart of defence.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield

Aston Villa

Starting XI: Guzan; Hutton, Clark, Richards, Bacuna; (Gestede 69); Westwood, Gueye; Sinclair (Traore 58), Veretout (Grealish 81), Richardson; Ayew

• Remi Garde made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 with West Ham just two days beforehand. This saw Micah Richards, Ciaran Clark, Kieran Richardson and Scott Sinclair come in for Joleon Lescott, Jores Okore, Carlos Sanchez and Rudy Gestede.
• Garde switched from a midfield diamond to a 4-2-3-1. Richards and Clark got the nod at centre-half, whilst Richardson and Sinclair were fielded on the left and right flanks respectively. Jordan Ayew was handed the lone striker role.
• Garde freshened up his options in the final third by bringing on Adama Traore, Gestede and Jack Grealish for Sinclair, Leandro Bacuna and Jordan Veretout in the second half as he attempted to claw his way back into the match. Richardson shifted to left-back upon Bacuna’s withdrawal.
• Garde continues to tinker with personnel and tactics in an attempt to arrest his side’s form. He’s without Ayew and Ashley Westwood for the trip to Sunderland, though – the duo are suspended, having earned their fifth cautions of the season at Carrow Road. Gusted looks set to lead the line, then, whilst Okore is due to train today and could come into contention. Sanchez, however, looks almost certain to miss out again with his hamstring problem, with Carles Gil and Jack Grealish likely to vie for a midfield role in Westwood’s absence. On the flanks, Sinclair and Richardson will face competition from Traore who could be in line to earn a rare start as Garde rolls the dice.

Current Status: Fairly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc, Daniels, Cook, Francis, Smith, Gosling (O’Kane, 62), Arter, Surman, Ritchie, Pugh (Stanislas, 45), King (Murray, 80).

• Eddie Howe made just two changes from the side that drew with Palace on Boxing Day, with Marc Pugh and Josh King coming in for Junior Stanislas and Glenn Murray.
• Pugh took up the left flank berth in Howe’s 4-1-4-1 as Stanislas had not long recovered from a hamstring injury. King shook off a similar complaint to lead the line as Murray dropped to the bench.
• Stanislas replaced Pugh at the break with the Cherries 1-0 down. Howe then introduced Eunan O’Kane for Dan Gosling just after the hour make before Murray came on for King with ten minutes remaining.
• Howe has tried to keep changes to a minimum and could limit his chopping and changing again. Stanislas looks likely to come in for Pugh on the left wing but aside from that, there’d be no surprises if there are no other alterations for the weekend trip to Liverpool.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left flank, Central Striker

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian (Ramires 70), Oscar (Loftus-Cheek 90+3), Pedro; Hazard.

• Guus Hiddink made three alterations from the side that drew at home to Watford. Kurt Zouma, Eden Hazard and John Obi Mikel came in for Gary Cahill, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.
• Zouma returned to the back-four after Cahill picked up a foot problem, whilst Mikel replaced Fabregas in the double-pivot due to illness. Having fully recovered from a hip problem, Hazard was fielded as a “false nine” as Costa served out a one-match ban.
• Ramires came on for Willian midway through the second period, whilst Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaced Oscar in injury time as Hiddink ran down the clock.
• Both Cahill and Fabregas could come back into contention if they recover in time for the weekend encounter with Palace. With Costa set to lead the line again, though, Hiddink has a dilemma in the three attacking midfield positions, having started with Willian, Oscar and Pedro in both his matches in charge. Hazard looks likely to return to the left flank, with Pedro perhaps dropping down to the bench.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield.

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Hangeland, Dann, Souare; Jedinak, McArthur (Mutch 75); Zaha, Cabaye, Puncheon (Lee 71); Chamakh (Bamford 46)

• Alan Pardew made four changes for the visit of Swansea, with Brede Hangeland, Mile Jedinak, Yohan Cabaye and Marouane Chamakh coming in for Damien Delaney, Jordon Mutch, Joe Ledley and Fraizer Campbell.
• Cabaye was shifted into a central support role behind Chamakh, with Jedinak partnering James McCarthy in the double-pivot in Pardew’s default 4-2-3-1. Hangeland filled in after Delaney missed out with a knock.
• Bamford replaced Chamakh up front at the break, whilst Lee Chung-young and Mutch both came on late in the second half as the Eagles looked for a winner.
• With the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Dwight Gayle and Connor Wickham still sidelined through injury, Chamakh could earn the nod at home to Chelsea. Campbell is another option, though Bamford has cut short his loan spell to return to Chelsea. Cabaye is suspended for the weekend after earning a fifth booking of the season, with Ledley likely to deputise. At the back, Delaney should return to the XI if he can prove his fitness in time.

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

Everton

Starting XI: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Galloway; McCarthy, (Cleverley 26, Naismith 64), Barr; Deulofeu, Barkley, Kone; Lukaku

• Roberto Martinez made four changes to his starting XI for the visit of Stoke. James McCarthy, Brendan Galloway, Arouna Kone and Gerard Deulofeu came in for Tom Cleverley, Leighton Baines, Kevin Mirallas and Aaron Lennon.
• McCarthy recovered from injury to take his spot in central midfield, whilst Baines was rested after a run of starts at left-back. Martinez freshened up the flanks by restoring previous first-choice options Kone and Deulofeu to his XI.
• McCarthy suffered a recurrence of a groin problem and was replaced early on by Cleverley, who was also withdrawn due to an Achilles injury – Steven Naismith took his place as Ross Barkley dropped deeper to cover.
• Baines will be expected to return to the XI, whilst Barkley may have to sit in the double-pivot if Cleverley joins McCarthy on the sidelines. The likes of Mo Besic and Darron Gibson offer alternatives should Martinez keep Barkley in the attacking midfield three. Phil Jagielka, Bryan Oviedo and Steven Pienaar remain major doubts, with only the former likely to be handed an immediate return if he proves his fitness as Martinez attempts to address his side’s defensive frailties.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks

Leicester

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez, Inler (Ulloa 67), Drinkwater (King 80), Kante, Albrighton (De Laet 92); Vardy

• Claudio Ranieri made a couple of alterations to his starting line-up for the home clash with City, as Gokhan Inler and Danny Drinkwater came in for Andy King and Shinji Okazaki.
• The Foxes boss opted for a 4-5-1 set-up, with Inler and Drinkwater joining N’Golo Kante in the centre of the park. This saw Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton stationed on the right and left flanks respectively, with Jamie Vardy leading the line up top.
• Ranieri moved to 4-4-2 with just over 20 minutes remaining, as Leonardo Ulloa emerged from the bench to partner Vardy up front.< Andy King and Ritchie de Laet came in for Drinkwater and Marc Albrighton as the Foxes boss freshened up his midfield
• With a home clash against Bournemouth up next , Ranieri can be expected to return to 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2, with Ulloa or Shinji Okazaki joining Vardy up top. King could come back in for Drinkwater, given the latter only returned from injury last night, but aside from that, changes are likely to be minimal.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Support Striker

Man City

Starting XI: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Toure; De Bruyne, Silva (Navas 74), Sterling (Iheanacho 88); Aguero (Bony 64)

• Manuel Pellegrini made just one change from the side that beat Sunderland 4-1 as Sergio Aguero came in for Wilfried Bony.
• Aguero led the line in a 4-2-3-1 set-up, with Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem sterling on the flanks and David Silva tucked in behind. Aleksandar Kolarov and Bacary Sagna continued in the full-back berths.
• Aguero’s minutes continue to be managed by Pellegrini, with the Argentine replaced by Wilfried Bony just after the hour mark. Jesus Navas came on for Silva later on, whilst Sterling made way for Kelechi Iheanacho just prior to the final whistle.
• Given he’s played just over 60 minutes in the past week, Aguero should continue in the starting XI for the weekend trip to Watford. The City boss will be tempted to retain the same trio behind Aguero, though might be tempted to freshen up his full-backs in light of the heavy schedule. Fabian Delph could also come into contention in central midfield.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Striker

Man United

Starting XI: De Gea; Young, Smalling, Blind (Jones 81), Darmian (Borthwick-Jackson 70’); Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin; Mata (Memphis 76’), Herrera, Martial; Rooney.

• Louis van Gaal made four changes to the side that lost at Stoke on Saturday, with Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Wayne Rooney replacing Memphis Depay, Phil Jones, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini.
• Rooney was handed the lone striker role, with Anthony Martial shifted onto the left flank after leading the line at the Britannia. Juan Mata occupied the opposite wing, with Ander Herrera fielded in the central support berth. Darmian came in at left-back as Daley Blind moved to centre-half to partner Chris Smalling.
• Darmian and Blind both made way late in the match, replaced by Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Phil Jones . Depay came on for Juan Mata with 13 minute remaining as the hosts tried to find a way past the Chelsea defence.
• With results continuing to falter, Van Gaal could be set to tinker again as he attempts to find a winning formula. Considering his side have scored twice in the last five, changes up front seem likely yet again – Martial could return to the lone striker berth at home to Swansea, allowing Rooney to take up the role in “the hole”, with Mata and Depay on the flanks again. At the back, a first clean sheet in four could persuade the Dutchman to hold firm.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker

Newcastle

Starting XI: Darlow; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Anita (Tiote 27)), Colback (Thauvin 86); Sissoko, Perez (De Jong 72), Wijnaldum; Mitrovic.

• Steve McClaren made just one enforced change for the trip to West Brom, with Karl Darlow replacing Rob Elliot in goal.
• Elliot was initially named in the starting line-up but had to withdraw at the last minute due to illness. Further up the field, Ayoze Perez tucked in behind Aleksandar Mitrovic, with Georginio Wijnaldum and Moussa Sissoko on the flanks.
• Vurnon Anita was forced off early on due to a hamstring injury, with Cheick Tiote stationed alongside Jack Colback in central midfield. Colback and Perez made way for Florian Thauvin and Siem de Jong late on as the Magpies attempted to claw back a one-goal deficit.
• Elliot is expected to recover in time to oust Darlow between the posts in time for the weekend. Tiote could be set to deputise for Anita, with McClaren worried over the latter’s availability for the trip to the Emirates. Further up the field, De Jong could come in for Perez, though the Magpies options are limited, with Papiss Cisse looking likely to miss out again.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Support Striker, Central Striker

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