Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 37 – Part One

Wayne Rooney is handed a rare role up front for United’s trip to Norwich. Jamie Vardy returns from suspension to notch twice in Leicester’s win over Everton, whilst Palace’s problems mount in the centre of the park.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Elneny (Coquelin 76), Ramsey, Welbeck (Wilshere 24), Iwobi (Walcott 59) Sanchez, Giroud.

• Arsene Wenger made two changes from the side that beat Norwich 1-0 for the trip to the Etihad, with Gabriel and Danny Welbeck recalled in place of the injured Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil.
• Gabriel slotted in alongside Laurent Koscielny in central defence, while Welbeck started on the left of the attacking midfield trio in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alex Iwobi taking over the number ten role vacated by Ozil, leaving Alexis Sanchez on the right behind lone striker Olivier Giroud.
• Welbeck picked up a knee injury during the first half though, and was replaced Jack Wilshere. The meant a formation change to more of a 4-3-3, with Wilshere alongside Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny in central midfield, with Iwobi and Sanchez flanking Giroud in attack. Theo Walcott then entered the fray in place of Iwobi on the hour mark, with Sanchez then switching over to the left. Wenger’s final substitution saw Francis Coquelin take over from Elneny as the defensive midfielder as the Gunners looked to hold onto what may turn out to be a precious point in their quest to secure a top three finish.
• Mertesacker has been ruled out for the final match of the season against Aston Villa, so Gabriel should keep his place in central defence, with Calum Chambers the alternative. Coquelin could challenge Elneny for a starting berth in midfield, while Wilshere will also be pushing for a start against the Villans, either at the base of midfield or in the number ten role should Ozil (hip) not be risked. The German’s injury isn’t thought to be a serious one, though. Walcott could be an option to replace Iwobi out wide after the Nigerian endured a quiet afternoon in Manchester, whilst Santi Cazorla is another who could feature on Sunday.

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

Aston Villa

Starting XI: Bunn; Hutton, Clark, Lescott, Toner, Bacuna; Gueye, Sanchez, Westwood; Ayew, Sinclair (Hepburn-Murphy 90).

• Caretaker manager Eric Black made two changes for Villa’s final home Premier League match following their relegation to the Championship, with Carlos Sanchez and Scott Sinclair coming into the starting XI for the visit of Newcastle to Villa Park in place of the injured Rudy Gestede and the suspended Aly Cissokho.
• Black kept faith in the 3-5-2 formation used in the 3-2 defeat to Watford in Gameweek 36, with Leandro Bacuna, Joleon Lescott and Ciaran Clark forming the three-man backline, leaving Alan Hutton and Kevin Toner in the wing-back roles. Ashley Westwood, Sanchez and Idrissa Gueye formed the three-man midfield behind the front two pairing of Sinclair and Jordan Ayew.
• Black’s only substitution came in the final few minutes, with youngster Rushian Hepburn-Murphy replacing Sinclair.
• Black has kept a fairly settled side in recent weeks, so that remain the case in their final match away to Arsenal. He looks set to keep faith in the 3-5-2 formation, with youngster Jordan Lyden perhaps an option to come into the side. Cissokho is back from suspension and may return at left wing-back, with Toner then perhaps taking over from Bacuna in central defence. Should Gestede recover from a groin injury, he could challenge Sinclair for a starting berth.

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

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Surman, Arter, Gradel (King 60), Daniels, Stanislas (Ritchie 74), Afobe (Wilson 61), Grabban.

• Eddie Howe made four alterations for the home encounter against West Brom, with Junior Stanislas, Benik Afobe, Lewis Grabban and the fit-again Max Gradel returning in place of Marc Pugh, Matt Ritchie, Josh King and Callum Wilson.
• Howe opted for a 4-4-2 system against the Baggies, with Gradel and Stanislas stationed out wide in midfield, leaving Grabban and Afobe as the front two.
• Howe made two changes around the hour mark, with King and Wilson replacing Gradel and Afobe in straight swaps. Howe’s final substitution saw Ritchie come on for Stanislas, with the substitute providing more width down the right flank than Stanislas had.
• With Howe again rotating in the wide positions and in attack, we could see further changes for the Cherries trip to Old Trafford on the final day. Ritchie, Wilson and King may all be recalled, while squad player such as Dan Gosling could also be handed a run-out.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois; Ivanovic (Baba Rahman 67), Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel (Traore 83), Matic; Willian (Oscar 80) Fabregas, Hazard, Costa.

• Guus Hiddink only made one adjustment from the side that drew 2-2 against Tottenham for the trip to Sunderland, with Eden Hazard rewarded for his dazzling second half performance with a recall in place of the injured Pedro.
• Hazard operated in his usual position on the left of the attacking midfield trio in the standard 4-2-3-1 formation.
• Hiddink’s first substitution saw Baba Rahman replace Branislav Ivanovic after 67 minutes. Rahman slotted in at left-back, with Cesar Azpilicueta switching over to right-back. With the Blues then trailing 3-2, Oscar and Bertrand Traore were thrown on in place of Willian and John Obi Mikel during the final 10 minutes as Hiddink’s men chased a late equaliser.
• John Terry will miss the final two matches of the season after receiving his second red card of the season at the Stadium of Light for two bookable offences. Rahman may come into the starting XI then, with Ivanovic moving to centre-back and Azpilicueta starting at right-back. Matt Miazga is the other obvious option in defence. With little to play for in the final two matches, youngsters Kenedy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Traore could all be handed some playing time, with Oscar and Alexandre Pato also options in midfield and attack respectively. Pedro missed out with a knock on Saturday, and looks set to miss the Liverpool match midweek, before a possible return against Leicester on the final day.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; McArthur, Cabaye (Ledley 46 (Mutch 56)); Bolasie, Puncheon, Gayle (Sako 90); Wickham.

• Alan Pardew only made one alteration for the visit of Stoke to Selhurst Park, with Dwight Gayle recalled in place of the injured Mile Jedinak.
• Gayle started on the left of the attacking midfield trio in Pardew’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system, although he did have the freedom to come inside alongside lone striker Connor Wickham. Yannick Bolasie occupied the number ten role, with Jason Puncheon stationed on the right. James McArthur dropped back into central midfield alongside Yohan Cabaye.
• Cabaye had to be replaced at half-time though after picking up a knock. Joe Ledley took over in central midfield, although the Wales international was himself forced off shortly after suffering an Achilles injury, with Jordon Mutch taking his place. Pardew’s final substitution saw Bakary Sako come on for Gayle for the final few minutes.
• With safety mathematically confirmed following Saturday’s 2-1 victory, Pardew could opt to rest many of his regular starters for the trip to Southampton ahead of the FA Cup Final against Man United. Ledley, Jedinak and Cabaye seem unlikely to be risked in the centre of the park. The likes of Julian Speroni, Martin Kelly, Adrian Mariappa, Sako, Mutch, Frazier Campbell and Emmanuel Adebayor may all come into contention then should Pardew put all of his focus on the final.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: All Positions

Everton

Starting XI: Robles; Oviedo, Pennington, Stones, Baines; McCarthy, Cleverley (Gibson 63); Lennon, Barkley (Osman 81), Niasse (Mirallas 63); Lukaku.

• Roberto Martinez made three changes for the trip to the King Power Stadium, with Joel Robles, Bryan Oviedo and Romelu Lukaku recalled in place of Tim Howard, Muhamed Besic and Darron Gibson.
• That meant Martinez changed from his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation to a traditional 4-4-2, with Lukaku partnering Oumar Niasse in attack. Tom Cleverley started alongside James McCarthy in central midfield, with Ross Barkley playing in an inside left position, leaving Aaron Lennon wide on the right. Oviedo started at right-back for the Toffees.
• Martinez made a double substitution after 63 minutes, with Gibson and Kevin Mirallas introduced in place of Cleverley and Niasse. Those changes saw Everton return to the normal 4-2-3-1 formation, with Gibson next to McCarthy in central midfield, leaving Mirallas (left) and Lennon (right) to flank number ten Barkley. It was Barkley who departed in the final substitution, with Leon Osman coming on for the final nine minutes.
• Given the lack of form among his squad and with little to play for, we could see plenty of rotation during the Toffees final two matches of the campaign. Robles is likely to play against Sunderland on Wednesday night, with Howard returning to the side against Norwich on the final day of the season. Hibbert could be an option to return at right-back, with Besic also in the mix in what has turned out to being a troublesome position following the injury to Seamus Coleman. Ramiro Funes Mori is back from suspension, though, and should replace Matthew Pennington in the starting XI. Gibson could earn another start in one of the next two matches, while Osman and Mirallas should also see some playing time. Even Lukaku’s playing time doesn’t look totally assured, with Martinez looking to hand Niasse an opportunity to find his feet in English football.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers

Leicester

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Wasilewski, Fuchs; Mahrez (Gray 90), Kante, King, Albrighton (Schlupp 67); Okazaki (Ulloa 62), Vardy.

• Claudio Ranieri made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Man United for the home fixture against Everton, with Marcin Wasilewski and Andy King coming in for the suspended Robert Huth and Danny Drinkwater, while Jamie Vardy returned from his two-match ban to replace Leonardo Ulloa. The other change saw Marc Albrighton recalled at the expense of Jeffrey Schlupp.
• Vardy returned as the lone striker for the Foxes, then, with Shinji Okazaki continuing in the support striker role in the 4-4-1-1 formation. King partnered N’Golo Kante in central midfield, with Albrighton returning in his usual position on the left of midfield. Wasilewski started next to Wes Morgan in central defence.
• Okazaki was once again the first player to be substituted, with Ulloa coming on in a straight swap shortly after the hour mark. Schlupp then entered the fray not long after after in place of Albrighton on the left wing, while Demarai Gray was handed a run-out for the final few minutes, taking over from Riyad Mahrez down the right flank.
• Although the league is in the bag, it remains to be seen whether Ranieri will make many changes for the trip to Chelsea on the final day, with the Italian perhaps allowing his regulars to see out the season at Stamford Bridge. Drinkwater is likely to come in at King’s expense in the centre of the park, whilst Vardy – who is still in the race for the Golden Boot – will surely be determined to lead the line should he shrug off last weekend’s cramp issues .

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet: Flanagan, Skrtel, Lucas, Moreno (Randall 89): Allen, Stewart: Ojo (Brannagan 78), Ibe, Coutinho (Firmino 61): Benteke.

• Jurgen Klopp made six changes from the team that lost 3-1 at Swansea for the home encounter against Watford, with Simon Mignolet, Jon Flanagan, Lucas Leiva, Alberto Moreno, Joe Allen and Christian Benteke replacing Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Pedro Chirivella, Daniel Sturridge, the suspended Brad Smith and the injured Danny Ward.
• Benteke operated as the lone striker for the Reds, with Philippe Coutinho (left), Jordon Ibe (number ten) and Sheyi Ojo (right) forming the attacking midfield trio in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Allen partnered Kevin Stewart in the double-pivot, while Flanagan, Lucas and Moreno slotted in at right-back, centre-back and left-back respectively.
• Coutinho played an hour before being replaced by Roberto Firmino. Youngsters Cameron Brannagan and Connor Randall were introduced late on in place of Ojo and Moreno.
• It’s likely we’ll see Klopp name something near his strongest starting XI for the match against Chelsea on Wednesday night, before fielding a second-string team against West Brom on Sunday – just three days before the Europa League final against Sevilla. With Ward out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Adam Bogdan looks set to start against the Baggies, with Randall, Flanagan, Skrtel and Smith possibly starting in the back four. Lucas could also be an option in defence. Stewart, Brannagan and Chirivella are all options in midfield, with Allen perhaps earning a start should he not be considered as a likely starter against Sevilla. Ojo, Ibe and Benteke all look set to start in attack on Sunday.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: All Positions

Man City

Starting XI: Hart, Sagna, Mangala, Otamendi, Clichy, Jesus Navas (Bony 79), Fernando (Toure 79), Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Iheanacho (Sterling 71), Aguero.

• Manuel Pellegrini made six alterations from the side that lost 4-1 at Southampton for the home clash against Arsenal, with Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Fernando, Jesus Navas, Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero coming in for Fabian Delph, Samir Nasri, Raheem Sterling, Wilfried Bony and the injured pair Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov.
• Pellegrini stuck with his standard 4-2-3-1 formation, with De Bruyne, Kelechi Iheanacho and Navas forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Aguero. Fernandinho and Fernando operated at the base of midfield, with Sagna and Clichy returning at right-back and left-back respectively.
• After struggling to make an impression in the match, Iheanacho was replaced by Sterling for the final 20 minutes, with Toure and Bony coming on for Fernando and Navas shortly after as City looked to push for a winner. Toure partnered Fernandinho in central midfield, while Bony joined Aguero in attack, with Sterling (left) and De Bruyne (right) providing the width.
• With City needing to win at Swansea to have any chance of securing Champions League qualification, Pellegrini should name a strong starting XI for the trip to the Liberty. The back four should remain unchanged then, with Toure possibly being recalled either in central midfield or in the number ten role. Fernando or Iheanacho could make way then, but after not being named in the matchday squad yesterday, reportedly due to illness, Nasri looks an outside bet for a starting berth, meaning Navas could keep his place in the side should David Silva remain sidelined with a hamstring injury.

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

Man United

Starting XI: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Rojo, Darmian (Borthwick-Jackson 16); Carrick (Fosu-Mensah 88); Mata, Herrera, Lingard (Schneiderlin 78), Depay; Rooney.

• Louis van Gaal made four changes for the trip to Carrow Road, with Matteo Darmian, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Memphis Depay replacing rested pair Marcus Rashford and Daley Blind, Anthony Martial and the suspended Marouane Fellaini.
• That minor hamstring injury to Martial in the warm-up meant Wayne Rooney was stationed as the lone striker for United in the 4-1-4-1 formation. Mata (right) and Depay (left) started on the flanks, with Herrera and Jesse Lingard operating in central midfield. Rojo moved to centre-back, with Darmian coming in at left-back.
• Darmian’s afternoon was cut short after suffering an ankle injury, with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson replacing the Italian at left-back after just 16 minutes. After Mata had given the away side the lead, Van Gaal made two defensive-minded substitutions, with Morgan Schneiderlin and Timothy Fosu-Mensah coming on for Lingard and Michael Carrick as the Dutch boss looked to hold on for a valuable three points.
• The short turnaround to tomorrow’s match against West Ham means Martial – according to reports earlier today – is set to miss out against the Hammers, with one eye perhaps on having the Frenchman fit for the FA Cup Final against Crystal Palace. United are fighting to secure Champions League qualification, though, so he could well return against Bournemouth on Sunday. Rashford certainly looks set to play a starring role in the final two matches, with Rooney probably dropping back into central midfield. Schneiderlin should see some playing time given Fellaini is unavailable due to suspension. Darmian may well miss both matches due to that ankle injury, so with Blind set to return, he may return at centre-back against West Ham, with Rojo switching to left-back. Borthwick-Jackson and Fosu-Mensah offer further options in defence.

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

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