After rolling out Part One yesterday, we now turn our attentions to the remaining ten Premier League sides to review the personnel, formations and changes made, whilst speculating on the likely Gameweek 34 line-ups.
Newcastle
Starting XI: Darlow; Janmaat (De Jong 40), Taylor (Lascelles 46), Mbemba, Anita; Townsend, Shelvey, Wijnaldum, Sissoko; Perez (Cisse 70), Mitrovic.
- Rafael Benitez only made two adjustments from the side that lost 3-2 at Norwich for the trip to Southampton, with Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic earning recalls in place of Cheick Tiote and Papiss Cisse.
- Perez started the match in the number ten role for the Magpies in the 4-2-3-1 system favoured by Benitez so far during his brief tenure at St James’ Park. Georginio Wijnaldum started in a deeper role alongside Jonjo Shelvey in central midfield, with Andros Townsend (right) and Moussa Sissoko (left) providing the width behind lone striker Mitrovic.
- After picking up a knock in the build-up to Southampton’s second goal, Daryl Janmaat had to be replaced, with Siem de Jong taking his place after 40 minutes. Jamaal Lascelles then came on for Steven Taylor at half-time, who had picked up a slight knock during a difficult first-half for the Magpies. Those changes saw Sissoko drop back to left-back, and Vurnon Anita switch over to right-back, with Chancel Mbemba and Lascelles forming the centre-half pairing. De Jong operated in the number ten role, with Perez shifting over to the left flank. Benitez’s final substitution saw Cisse replace Perez, with Newcastle ending the match with Sissoko covering all of the left-hand side as they hoped to get back into the match.
- Janmaat and Taylor will both have to be assessed ahead of the home match against Swansea on Saturday, with Janmaat likely to be risked given the importance of the match. Lascelles offers an alternative to Taylor, but Fabricio Coloccini is still struggling to overcome a calf injury. Paul Dummett was an unused substitute on Saturday and may be able to return at left-back, although Jack Colback is also back after completing a two-match ban, and could also cover that position. Should Dummett start at left-back, Colback may return alongside Shelvey in central midfield, allowing Wijnaldum to operate further up the pitch. Perez could miss out, then, with Townsend, Sissoko and Mitrovic all likely starters. Cisse only looks a viable starter should Benitez look to go with two strikers from the off.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Defence, Central Midfield, Strikers
Norwich
Starting XI: Ruddy; Wisdom, Bennett, Klose (Bassong 40), Olsson; Jarvis (Redmond 76), Howson, O’Neil, Brady; Naismith (Bamford 66); Mbokani.
- Following the 3-2 win over Newcastle, Alex Neil named an unchanged starting XI for the trip to Selhurst Park.
- That meant the Canaries once again lined up in the 4-4-1-1 formation, with Matt Jarvis (right) and Robbie Brady (left) out wide in midfield, and Steven Naismith in the number ten role behind lone striker Dieumerci Mbokani.
- Neil was forced into making a change in the first half, after Timm Klose suffered a knee injury. The Swiss international was replaced in a straight swap by Sebastian Bassong. Patrick Bamford was then introduced in place of Naismith with 24 minutes remaining, playing more as a strike partner for Mbokani. Neil’s final change saw Nathan Redmond come on for Jarvis down the right flank for the final 14 minutes.
- Russell Martin again missed out due to a knock but, should he be fit for Saturday’s crucial home clash against Sunderland, could replace Andre Wisdom at right-back. Klose’s injury may well keep him out this weekend, with Bassong looking set to come into the starting XI, while Redmond offers an alternative to Jarvis and Brady out wide. The former Birmingham winger, and Wes Hoolahan, may struggle to get back into the side though.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Flanks
Southampton
Starting XI: Forster; Martina, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand; Clasie (Romeu 77), Wanyama; Mane, Long (Ward-Prowse 60), Tadic (Rodriguez 83); Pelle.
- Ronald Koeman made three alterations for the visit of Newcastle to St Mary’s, with Shane Long coming in for the injured Steven Davis, while Cuco Martina and Dusan Tadic replaced Cedric Soares and Matt Targett.
- After starting with a 3-4-2-1 formation against Leicester last time out, Koeman rolled out a 4-2-3-1 against lowly Newcastle. Martina slotted in at right-back, while Tadic (left) and Long (number ten) earned recalls in the attacking midfield positions.
- With the match pretty much over at 3-0, Koeman decided to sub off Long on the hour mark, with James Ward-Prowse taking his place in a straight swap. Likewise, Oriol Romeu provided fresh legs in place of Jordy Clasie in central midfield with 13 minutes remaining, while Jay Rodriguez was handed his first league appearance since Gameweek 9 with a late cameo off the bench, taking over from Tadic on the left flank.
- Should Koeman stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation for the trip to Everton, personnel changes seem unlikely. Cedric Soares continues to provide an alternative to Martina at right-back, but in a four-man defence, Martina looks to have the edge. If Davis remains out with an ankle injury, Tadic should keep his place in the starting XI.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Flanks
Stoke
Starting XI: Haugaard, Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters (Muniesa 82), Cameron, Imbula, Shaqiri (Diouf 71), Afellay, Bojan (Joselu 71), Crouch.
- Mark Hughes made three changes for the trip to Anfield, with the fit-again Ryan Shawcross and Xherdan Shaqiri coming in for the injured pair Glenn Whelan and Marko Arnautovic, while Peter Crouch started in place of Joselu.
- It was Crouch who operated as the lone striker is Hughes’ usual 4-2-3-1 formation then, with Shaqiri (right), Bojan (number ten) and Ibrahim Afellay (left) forming the attacking midfield trio. Geoff Cameron started alongside Giannelli Imbula at the base of midfield, allowing Shawcross to return at centre-half.
- With his side trailing 4-1, Hughes made a double substitution with 19 minutes remaining, with Mame Biram Diouf and Joselu coming on for Shaqiri and Bojan in straight swaps. Marc Muniesa then took the place of Erik Pieters for the final eight minutes, with the Dutchman having picked up a yellow card.
- Pieters will now serve a two-match ban after registering his tenth yellow card of the campaign, so Muniesa looks the likely candidate to fill in at left-back. Cameron and Phil Bardsley offer alternatives, particularly if Whelan can shake off a back injury to return in central midfield against Tottenham next Monday. Joselu is likely to replace Crouch up front after dropping to the bench due to illness at Anfield, while after scoring in the last two matches, Bojan should also remain in the starting XI. Should he recover from a knee problem, Arnautovic may replace Afellay or Shaqiri in the starting XI then. Jakob Haugaard did struggle against Liverpool, so Shay Given could push for a first league start of the season against Spurs.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker
Sunderland
Starting XI: Mannone; Yedlin, Kone, Kaboul, Van Aanholt; M’Vila (Rodwell 68), Kirchhoff, Cattermole; Borini (Lens 76), Defoe, Khazri (N’Doye 68).
- Sam Allardyce named an unchanged starting XI from the one that took to the field against West Brom last time out for the visit of league leaders Leicester to the Stadium of Light.
- It was the 4-1-4-1 formation once again for Big Sam then, with Fabio Borini continuing to get the nod over Dame N’Doye on the right side of midfield.
- Allardyce made a double substitution immediately after Leicester opened the scoring, with Jack Rodwell and N’Doye coming on for Yann M’Vila and Wahbi Khazri in straight swaps. His final change came with 14 minutes left on the clock, with Jeremain Lens taking over from Borini down the right flank.
- Big Sam doesn’t look to have too many alternatives ahead of the massive clash at Carrow Road on Saturday. N’Doye and Lens offer different options out wide, with Borini looking the more vulnerable, while Rodwell could come into contention in central midfield.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Fer; Ayew (Routledge 67), Sigurdsson, Montero (Naughton 84); Paloschi (Gomis 75).
- Head Coach Francesco Guidolin made four changes from the side that drew 2-2 at Stoke for the home encounter against Chelsea, with Neil Taylor, Andre Ayew, Jefferson Montero and Alberto Paloschi replacing Kyle Naughton, Leon Britton, Wayne Routledge and Bafetimbi Gomis.
- Having gone with a midfield diamond at the Britannia, Guidolin returned to the 4-2-3-1 formation against Chelsea to accommodate Montero on the left wing. Ayew returned from an ankle injury on the opposite flank, while Paloschi operated as the lone striker. Jack Cork and Leroy Fer started in central midfield, while Taylor slotted in at left-back for the Swans.
- With Ayew starting to tire in his first match back after injury, the Ghanaian was the first player to be replaced, making way for Routledge in a straight swap after 67 minutes. Gomis then entered the fray for Paloschi with 15 minutes remaining on the clock, while Guidolin’s final change saw Montero, another who was tiring towards the end of the match due to a lack of match fitness, replaced by Naughton in a defensive move as the Welsh side looked to hold onto their 1-0 lead.
- After one of their best performances of the season, Guidolin may not look to make many changes for the trip to Newcastle on Saturday. Routledge and Modou Barrow offer alternative options out wide, as does Gomis in attack, but they look unlikely to force their way back into the starting XI for now, as do the likes of Ki Sung-yeung and Leon Britton in central midfield.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Lone Striker
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Lamela (Chadli 87), Alli (Mason 90), Eriksen, Kane (Heung-Min Son 89).
- Mauricio Pochettino made two alterations for the home clash against Man United, with the fit-again Jan Vertonghen and Erik Lamela returning in place of Kevin Winner and Heung-Min Son.
- Vertonghen returned at the heart of the defence alongside Toby Alderweireld, while Lamela started on the right of the three advanced midfield positions in Pochettino’s standard 4-2-3-1 formation.
- With Spurs 3-0 up, Pochettino made all of his three substitutions during the final few minutes, with Nacer Chadli, Son and Ryan Mason replacing Lamela, Harry Kane and Dele Alli respectively.
- Given Tottenham now only facing one match per week for the remainder of the season, Pochettino looks set to keep faith in the majority of the side that played on Sunday. Son and Chadli offer alternatives to Lamela on the right wing, but the Argentine looks the clear first-choice after an impressive performance against United.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes, Paredes, Britos, Cathcart, Holebas, Capoue (Suarez 82) Watson, Behrami (Guedioura 45), Jurado (Amrabat 59), Deeney, Ighalo.
- Quique Sanchez Flores made five alterations from the side that lost 4-0 to Arsenal for the home clash against Everton, with Juan Carlos Paredes, Miguel Britos, Jose Holebas, Jurado and the fit-again Valon Behrami coming in for Allan Nyom, Sebastian Prodl, Nathan Ake, Mario Suarez and Almen Abdi.
- Jurado slotted in alongside Troy Deeney in the attacking midfield spots in Flores’ preferred 4-3-2-1 formation. Behrami started in the middle of the park along with Ben Watson and Etienne Capoue, with Paredes, Britos and Holebas returning at right-back, centre-back and left-back respectively.
- Behrami only played 45 minutes on his return to the starting XI though, with Adlene Guedioura taking his place. The former Wolves midfielder’s introduction saw a change in formation to a 4-2-3-1 system, with Guedioura stationed on the right of the three advanced midfield positions. Jurado then made way on the hour mark for Nordin Amrabat in a straight swap, while Suarez entered the fray for the final eight minutes in place of Capoue, who picked up a slight knock.
- After a better performance, Flores may keep faith in the majority of the starting XI for the trip to West Brom on Saturday. The Hornets face a trip to West Ham a week on Wednesday though, before their FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace. Rotation seems likely against the Hammers, then, particularly in the full-back positions, with Nyom, Paredes, Ake and Holebas all viable starters. Guedioura has come off the bench in the last three matches and could get a start against the Hammers, while Abdi and Amrabat may also get some minutes in that match.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
West Brom
Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Chester; Fletcher, Sandro; Sessegnon (Leko 80), Berahino, McClean; Rondon (Gardner 21).
- Tony Pulis made two alterations for the trip to the Etihad, with Stephane Sessegnon and James McClean starting in place of Claudio Yacob and Craig Gardner.
- Sessegnon was stationed on the right of the three attacking midfield positions in the 4-2-3-1 formation favoured by Pulis in recent weeks, with McClean operating on the opposite flank. Saido Berahino continued in the number ten role behind lone striker Salomon Rondon, while Darren Fletcher dropped back into central midfield having played in a more advanced position against Sunderland.
- Pulis was forced into making an early substitution though, with Rondon suffering a back injury. He was replaced by Gardner, who moved into the number ten role, allowing Berahino to push forward into the lone striker position. Pulis’ only other change came with 10 minutes remaining, with Jonathan Leko taking over from Sessegnon on the right-wing.
- James Chester once again got the nod ahead of Jonas Olsson in defence, and looks to have the edge for the time being. Yacob could come back into contention in central midfield during West Brom’s two matches in Gameweek 34, though, while Pulis could rotate his wide men, with Sessegnon, McClean, Gardner, Leko, Alex Pritchard and Callum McManaman all possible options. Gardner could force his way into the starting XI should Rondon be ruled out for the home fixture against Watford on Saturday, with Berahino starting as the lone striker. Rickie Lambert and Victor Anichebe are other options in attack for the Baggies.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker
West Ham
Starting XI: Adrian; Tomkins (Emenike 46), Reid, Ogbonna; Antonio, Kouyate, Noble, Cresswell; Payet, Lanzini; Carroll.
- Slaven Bilic only made two adjustments from the side that drew 2-2 against Crystal Palace, with the fit-again James Tomkins and Andy Carroll coming in for Emmanuel Emenike and Diafra Sakho.
- Those changes saw Bilic switch from his usual 4-2-3-1 formation to a 3-4-2-1 system. Tomkins was part of a three-man backline, with Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio operating in the wing-back roles. Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini took up the two attacking midfield slots behind lone striker Carroll.
- With the scores level at 2-2 at the break, Bilic brought on Emenike in place of Tomkins, reverting back to the 4-2-3-1 formation. That meant Antonio returned to right-back, while Emenike took up a position on the right of the three advanced midfield positions, leaving Payet in the number ten role and Lanzini on the left flank.
- With the Hammers squaring up to Man United in the FA Cup tomorrow night, and facing two matches during Gameweek 34, we are likely to see some rotation, particularly if they progress past United to the semi-finals. Tomkins could earn playing time at right-back, with Sam Byram (knock) also expected to be able to play some part during the DGW. James Collins has returned to training following a hamstring injury and could also start one of the matches during the double, perhaps against Watford should an FA Cup semi-final follow three days later. Pedro Obiang and Alex Song (if fit) provide alternatives to the first-choice central midfield partnership of Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate, while Emenike, Victor Moses and Enner Valencia could get some minutes in the wide areas over the DGW, with Valencia and Emenike also options as the lone striker. Sakho has been ruled out for a week earlier today, strengthening Carroll’s chances of retaining the lone forward slot.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker
