Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 30

Manuel Pellegrini retains a 4-4-2 for City’s trip to Norwich. Aleksandar Mitrovic leads the line in Rafa Benitez’ first match un charge of Newcastle, whilst Matt Targett returns to the Southampton XI as a result of Jose Fonte’s one-match suspension.

Aston Villa

Starting XI: Guzan; Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Cissokho; Westwood, Gueye; Carles Gil (Sinclair 70), Veretout (Green 62), Ayew; Gestede.

• Remi Garde made three changes for the home encounter against Tottenham, with Jores Okore and Carles Gil coming in for Micah Richards and Ciaran Clark, while Rudy Gestede earned a recall in place of the injured Gabriel Agbonlahor.
• Having gone with a three-man backline in recent matches, Garde switched back to a 4-2-3-1 system on Sunday. Okore and Joleon Lescott formed the centre-back partnership, while Ashley Westwood and Idrissa Gueye started in central midfield. Carles Gil (right), Jordan Veretout (number ten) and Jordan Ayew (left) formed the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Gestede.
• Youngster Andre Green was handed his Premier League debut, coming on for Veretout just after the hour mark in a straight swap. Scott Sinclair then entered the fray in place of Gil with 20 minutes remaining. Sinclair was stationed on the left wing, with Ayew moving to a central role just behind Gestede, with Green shifted out to the right flank.
• Garde is continuing to experiment both in terms of formations and personnel as he looks to try and find a winning formula. Okore and Lescott got the nod in central defence on Sunday, but Richards and Clark may come back into the reckoning for the trip to Swansea on Saturday. The likes of Leandro Bacuna and Sinclair may push for starts out wide, with Gil’s spot looking in some doubt. Ayew could also be used as the lone striker, so another spot may free up on the left, with Sinclair perhaps looking the obvious alternative there.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Central Striker

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Gosling (O’Kane 46), Surman, Gradel (Pugh 76); King, Afobe (Grabban 66).

• Following the impressive 3-1 win at Newcastle, Eddie Howe unsurprisingly named an unchanged side for the visit of Swansea to the Vitality Stadium.
• Howe continued with a 4-1-4-1 set-up, which saw Dan Gosling and Andrew Surman started at the base of midfield, while Matt Ritchie (right), Josh King and Max Gradel (left) forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Benik Afobe.
• After picking up a yellow card in the first-half, Dan Gosling was substituted at half-time, with Eunan O’Kane taking his place in the middle of the park. Lewis Grabban was then introduced for Afobe in a straight swap just after the hour mark, with Howe’s final change seeing Marc Pugh come on for Gradel on the left-hand side, with the former Leeds winger still building up his match fitness following a serious knee injury.
• Howe will hope to have Harry Arter (Achilles) back to face Tottenham on Sunday, but if the midfielder is ruled out once again, it looks a battle between Gosling and O’Kane to start alongside Surman in central midfield.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Leicester

Starting XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton (Ulloa 74), Okazaki (Schlupp 64), Vardy.

• Claudio Ranieri once again named an unchanged side for the home fixture against Newcastle.
• The Italian kept faith in his usual 4-4-1-1 formation, with Shinji Okazaki in the support striker role behind Jamie Vardy.
• The Japanese forward was the first player to be substituted, with Jeffrey Schlupp coming on in his place just after the hour mark. That saw the Foxes switch to a 4-2-3-1 system, with Schlupp on the left, Marc Albrighton on the right and Riyad Mahrez in the number ten role. Albrighton then made way for Leonardo Ulloa shortly after, with Ranieri finishing the match using the original 4-4-1-1 formation.
• If none of the Leicester players picked up a knock last night, it looks very likely that Ranieri will once again name an unchanged side for the trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Schlupp continues to offer an alternative to Albrighton on the left-wing, but the former Aston Villa man should retain his starting berth.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas:

Man City

Starting XI: Hart; Sagna (Zabaleta 84), Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Navas (Iheanacho 77), Fernando, Fernandinho, Silva; Aguero, Bony (Sterling 58).

• Manuel Pellegrini made just one enforced change for the trip to Carrow Road, with Fernando coming in for the injured Yaya Toure.
• Fernando came in alongside Fernandinho in central midfield then, with the Chilean keeping faith in the 4-4-2 system, which saw Wilfried Bony partner Sergio Aguero in attack once more.
• Bony once again struggled to make much of an impact, though, and was replaced just before the hour mark by Raheem Sterling. That change saw City revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sterling stationed on the left wing. Kelechi Iheanacho was then introduced in place of Jesus Navas, with Pablo Zabaleta coming on for Bacary Sagna in a straight swap with just six minutes left on the clock.
• Gael Clichy and Sagna look to be Pellegrini’s first-choice full-backs, but with a midweek Champions League tie against Dynamo Kiev to contend with, rotation can’t be fully ruled out – Aleksandar Kolarov and Zabaleta remain viable options, then. Toure has already recovered from a heel problem ahead of the weekend derby at home to United, with Fernando likely to make way. Sterling should also push for a recall, with Bony’s place in the starting XI appearing in serious doubt. A return to the 4-2-3-1 system appears a distinct possibility, with Toure potentially moved into a central attacking role if Pellegrini opts to retain Fernando in his line-up.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Midfield, Flanks

Newcastle

Starting XI: Elliot, Janmaat, Taylor, Lascelles, Anita (Townsend 55), Shelvey (Doumbia 86), Colback, Sissoko, Perez (De Jong 70), Wijnaldum, Mitrovic.

• In his first match in charge, Rafael Benitez made two changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Bournemouth for the trip to league leaders Leicester. Paul Dummett missed out due to a hamstring injury, while Emmanuel Riviere was dropped to the bench, with Vurnon Anita and Aleksandar Mitrovic both handed recalls.
• Benitez kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 formation that had been favoured by Steve McClaren, although he moved Moussa Sissoko to the left flank, with Ayoze Perez switching to the right of the three advanced midfield positions. Anita partnered Jonjo Shelvey at the base of midfield, so it was Jack Colback who filled in at left-back. Mitrovic was handed the lone striker role for the Magpies.
• With his side trailing 1-0, Benitez turned to the fit-again Andros Townsend off the bench, with the winger coming on for Anita. That change saw Georginio Wijnaldum drop back alongside Shelvey in the middle of the park, with Townsend stationed on the right-wing. Perez moved to the number ten role, although he was replaced by Siem de Jong in a straight swap shortly after. As a final roll of the dice, Seydou Doumbia was thrown on in place of Shelvey.
• Benitez will hope either Fabricio Coloccini (calf) or Chancel Mbemba (foot) will recover in time to start in the huge north east derby against Sunderland on Sunday. Unless one of those centre-backs are passed fit, Colback may have to continue at left-back, with Jamaal Lascelles the other option. Anita may retain his starting berth in central midfield then, while although Riviere and Doumbia may be handed the lone striker role on Sunday, it would be surprising to see Mitrovic being dropped so quickly.

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

Norwich

Starting XI: Ruddy; Martin, Bennett, Klose, Olsson; Howson, O’Neil; Redmond (Dorrans 44), Hoolahan (Mbokani 67), Jarvis; Bamford (Jerome 67).

• Alex Neil made four changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Swansea for the visit of Man City to Carrow Road, with Ryan Bennett and Patrick Bamford coming in for Ivo Pinto and Cameron Jerome, while Martin Olsson and Matt Jarvis replaced the injured Robbie Brady and Steven Naismith.
• Jarvis came in on the left of the attacking midfield trio in the 4-2-3-1 formation, while Bamford was stationed as the lone striker. In defence, Russell Martin shifted over to right-back, with Olsson at left-back, leaving Bennett and Timm Klose in central defence.
• Nathan Redmond picked up an ankle injury during the first-half, and was replaced just before half-time, with Graham Dorrans taking his place. That change saw Jarvis move over to the right flank, with Dorrans taking over on the left. The Canaries lined up in more of a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Dorrans forced back through Man City’s stream of attacks. With the match still goalless, Neil turned to Jerome and Dieumerci Mbokani for a goal, with Hoolahan and Bamford making way, seeing a switch to a standard 4-4-2 formation.
• After a much brighter performance, Neil may not make too many changes for the trip to West Brom on Saturday. Olsson may keep his place at left-back even if Brady recovers from a slight knock, while should Redmond be ruled out, Neil will hope Naismith can recover from a knock to take his place in the starting XI. Brady may also be an option further forward, though, if available. Bamford enjoyed a fairly effective first start for Norwich, and may hold off the challenge of Jerome and Mbokani to lead the line once more.

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

Southampton

Starting XI: Forster; Martina, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Targett (Yoshida 80); Clasie (Ward-Prowse 69), Davis, Romeu; Long, Pelle, Tadic (Mane 75).

• Ronald Koeman made two adjustments for the trip to the Britannia, with Matt Targett coming in for the suspended Jose Fonte, while the fit-again Shane Long replaced Sadio Mane.
• The Dutchman kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 formation used in the 1-1 draw against Sunderland, with Long used in the number ten role just off lone striker Graziano Pelle. Targett started at left-back for Saints, with Ryan Bertrand partnering Virgil van Dijk in central defence.
• James Ward-Prowse was the first player called upon off the bench, taking the place of Jordy Clasie in a straight swap with 20 minutes remaining. Dusan Tadic was substituted shortly after, with Mane coming on in his place. Maya Yoshida then came on for Targett with 10 minutes left, a change which saw Bertrand revert back to his usual position at left-back.
• Mane successfully appealed his weekend dismissal earlier today, though it remains to be seen whether he’ll find a way back into the starting XI. Fonte will be free to return against Liverpool on Sunday though having served his one-match suspension, so he could return in central defence, allowing Bertrand to shift over to left-back. Victor Wanyama is also available again after serving his ban, and he may challenge Oriol Romeu for a starting berth in central midfield.

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

Stoke

Starting XI: Butland; Cameron, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters (Walters 90); Whelan (Crouch 78), Imbula; Shaqiri (Bojan 31), Afellay, Arnautovic; Diouf.

• Mark Hughes only made one alteration for the home fixture against Southampton, with the fit-again Ryan Shawcross coming in for Marc Muniesa.
• Shawcross started alongside Philipp Wollscheid in central defence, while Hughes otherwise kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 formation that had seen his side pick up a point at Stamford Bridge a week earlier.
• The Welsh boss was forced to make an early change though, with Xherdan Shaqiri having to be replaced in the first-half after suffering a thigh injury. Bojan was brought on to replace the Swiss international, with the former Barcelona man moving into the number ten role, allowing Ibrahim Afellay to shift over to the right wing. With the Potters trailing 2-1, Hughes turned to Peter Crouch off the bench, with the striker coming on in place of Glenn Whelan with 12 minutes remaining. That change saw Afellay drop back alongside Gianelli Imbula in central midfield, with Mame Biram Diouf moving to the right flank. As a final roll of the dice, Jon Walters was thrown on for Erik Pieters in stoppage time.
• Shaqiri appears a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Watford, so Hughes may turn to either Diouf or Walters to start on the right at Vicarage Road, so Crouch or Joselu may also come into contention for recalls as the central striker. Bojan could also be in the frame to come into the starting XI, either in the number ten role or as the lone striker. Shawcross picked up a minor back problem last weekend and if Hughes decides to court caution with his captain’s fitness, Muniesa could be afforded a recall.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Centre-Half, Right Wing, Central Striker

Swansea

Starting XI: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Fer (Ki Sung-yeung 85), Cork; Barrow (Emnes 80), Sigurdsson, Routledge (Gomis 60), Paloschi.

• Head coach Francesco Guidolin, who named the side once again despite not being able to attend the match in Bournemouth as he continues to recover from a lung infection, made two changes from the starting XI that took to the field against Norwich. Modou Barrow came in for the injured Andre Ayew, while Leroy Fer replaced Leon Britton.
• Barrow started on the right of the attacking midfield trio in the 4-2-3-1 formation, while Fer slotted in alongside Jack Cork at the base of midfield.
• With the Swans trailing 2-1, first-team coach Alan Curtis decided to bring on Bafetimbi Gomis in place of Wayne Routledge on the hour mark, changing to a 4-4-2 system. That saw Gomis partner Alberto Paloschi in attack, with Gylfi Sigurdsson moving to the left of midfield. Marvin Emnes that replaced Barrow in a straight swap with 10 minutes remaining, with Ki Sung-yeung then introduced for the tiring Fer for the final five minutes.
• With the Welsh outfit facing a huge home match against Aston Villa on Saturday, Guidolin may opt to recall Britton in central midfield, with Fer perhaps making way. Should Ayew recover from his ankle injury, the Ghanaian could return to the side either on the right wing, or as the central striker. Given Barrow’s impressive performance on Saturday, Ayew may well be handed a chance to lead the line at the expense of Paloschi. The other option could be to start Ayew on the left instead of Routledge, although that appears a less likely scenario.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Right Wing, Central Striker

Tottenham

Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Lamela (Chadli 90), Eriksen (Carroll 78), Alli (Mason 86); Kane.

• Mauricio Pochettino named an unchanged side from the one that drew 2-2 against Arsenal for the trip to Villa Park, with Danny Rose passed fit to start following a calf problem.
• The Argentine stuck with his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, with Dele Alli deployed in his usual number ten role, allowing Christian Eriksen to continue on the left of the attacking midfield trio.
• All three of Tottenham’s substitutions came late on, with Tom Carroll, Ryan Mason and Nacer Chadli providing fresh legs in place of Eriksen, Alli and Erik Lamela.
• With Jan Vertonghen still expected to be out for a few more weeks due to a knee injury, the only place in the Tottenham side that looks somewhat in doubt is on the right wing, with Lamela currently the preferred option. Pochettino has good alternatives in that position though, with Chadli and Heung-Min Son both viable starters.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing