Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 6 – Part Two

Charlie Austin stakes a claim for regular pitch time by steering Southampton to a win at West Ham. Burnley see off Watford without the suspended Andre Gray, while Stephen Kingsley’s run of starts in Swansea City’s first XI comes to an end.

After rolling out Part One earlier today, we now take a look at the remaining 10 teams.

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward: Marney, Hendrick, Defour (Arfield 82), Boyd: Gudmundsson (Kightly 90), Vokes.

• Sean Dyche made two alterations for the home encounter against Watford on Monday, with Sam Vokes recalled in place of the suspended Andre Gray, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson replaced Scott Arfield.
• Gudmundsson operated on the right wing in the 4-1-4-1 formation, with Vokes stationed as the lone striker. Steven Defour and Jeff Hendrick were stationed in central midfield, with Dean Marney sitting in front of the back-four.
• Arfield and Michael Kightly entered the fray late on to provide some fresh legs, with Defour and Gudmundsson making way as the Clarets saw out the 2-0 victory.
• After a strong performance, Dyche could name an unchanged side for Sunday’s visit of Arsenal to Turf Moor. He may consider handing a recall to Arfield, but both Gudmundsson and George Boyd impressed against Watford and look set to keep their places in the starting XI.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Valdes; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Friend; De Roon, Clayton (Forshaw 82); Stuani, Ramirez (Traore 59), Downing; Negredo (Rhodes 59).

• Aitor Karanka made three changes for the home clash against Tottenham, with Adam Clayton and the fit-again Cristhian Stuani coming in for Adam Forshaw and Emilio Nsue, while Calum Chambers was handed his first league start for ‘Boro in place of Daniel Ayala.
• Chambers started alongside Ben Gibson in central defence, while Clayton partnered Marten de Roon at the base of midfield in Karanka’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. Stuani started in his usual position on the right of the attacking midfield trio.
• With his side trailing 2-0, Karanka made a double substitution after 59 minutes, with Adama Traore and Jordan Rhodes replacing Gaston Ramirez and Alvaro Negredo in straight swaps. Karanka’s final substitution saw Forshaw take over from Clayton in central midfield for the final eight minutes.
• Karanka handed starts to Chambers and Clayton against Spurs, but the pecking order with Ayala and Forshaw is still not totally clear. Traore made an impact off the bench, and could challenge Ramirez for a starting berth against West Ham on Saturday. Viktor Fischer provides another option either out wide or in the number ten role.

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

Southampton

Starting XI: Forster; Cedric Soares (Martina 89), Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Romeu; Hojbjerg, Davis; Redmond; Tadic (Ward-Prowse 80), Austin (Long 74).

• Saints boss Claude Puel made two alterations for the trip to West Ham, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Charlie Austin recalled in place of Jordy Clasie and Shane Long.
• Having moved to a 4-3-3 against Swansea City last time out, Puel kept faith in that formation at the London Stadium, with Austin operating on the left of the front three, alongside Nathan Redmond (central striker) and Dusan Tadic (right). Hojbjerg joined Steven Davis and Oriol Romeu in central midfield.
• Puel’s first substitution saw Long replace Austin in a straight swap after 74 minutes. Tadic was then withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining, with James Ward-Prowse entering the fray. Cedric Soares made way for Cuco Martina in a straight swap for the final few minutes.
• Puel will have been delighted with his side’s performance on Sunday and may only consider making one change for the trip to Leicester City, with Clasie an option to replace Hojbjerg in the starting XI. Changes elsewhere appear unlikely, although rotation may be a factor bearing in mind Saints travel to face Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Europa League on Thursday night. It’s expected he’ll rest a few of his star men for that fixture, though.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Stoke

Starting XI: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Cameron, Allen (Adam 86), Whelan; Arnautovic, Bony (Crouch 61), Shaqiri (Diouf 88).

• Mark Hughes made three changes to the side that lost 4-1 at Crystal Palace for the visit of West Brom to the Bet365 Stadium, with Lee Grant, Erik Pieters and the fit-again Xherdan Shaqiri replacing Shay Given, Bojan and the injured Jonathan Walters.
• Pieters returned at left-back for the Potters, with Geoff Cameron stationed alongside Glenn Whelan at the base of midfield in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Joe Allen was utilised in the central attacking midfield role, while Shaqiri returned on the right wing.
• Following another disappointing display, Wilfried Bony’s afternoon was cut short after 61 minutes, with Peter Crouch replacing the Ivorian in a straight swap. Charlie Adam and Mame Biram Diouf both entered the fray late on in place of Allen and Shaqiri, with Adam playing in a deeper midfield role than the Welshman as Stoke looked to hold onto their 1-0 lead.
• After a slightly improved performance, Hughes may not alter his side too much for the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday. Giannelli Imbula offers an alternative in central midfield but may have to bid his time for a recall. Hughes may persevere with Bony as the Man City loanee continues to build his match fitness, but Crouch did make an impact off the bench on Saturday and is a viable alternative. Bojan, Diouf and Walters, should he shake off an ankle problem, could also push for a start in attack. Grant was something of a surprise starter in goal, but there’s a chance he may now keep that position until Jack Butland returns in November following surgery on an ankle injury.

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

Sunderland

Starting XI: Pickford; Manquillo, Kone, Djilobodji, Van Aanholt; Cattermole (McNair 85), Kirchhoff; Ndong, Pienaar (Watmore 15), Januzaj (Anichebe 85); Defoe.

• David Moyes made one adjustment for the home clash against Crystal Palace, with Patrick van Aanholt returning in place of Jason Denayer.
• Van Aanholt slotted into his usual position at left-back, with Javier Manquillo switching over to right-back. Didier Ndong played in advance of Lee Cattermole and Jan Kirchhoff in the three-man midfield, with Adnan Januzaj (right) and Steven Pienaar (left) flanking central striker Jermain Defoe.
• Pienaar’s afternoon only lasted 15 minutes, though, after being forced off with a minor knock. He was replaced by Duncan Watmore in a straight swap. Then, with the score level at 2-2, Moyes turned to Paddy McNair and Victor Anichebe off the bench, with the pair replacing Cattermole and Januzaj. McNair played in an attacking midfield role, while Anichebe joined Defoe in attack.
• Moyes has shown loyalty to Lamine Kone and Papy Djilobodji in central defence, but after conceding another three goals on Saturday, he may consider handing recalls to either Denayer or John O’Shea. McNair offers a different option in central midfield, while Watmore could start in place of Pienaar against West Brom on Saturday should the South African be ruled out. Wahbi Khazri is another option – he recovered from illness to take his place on the bench last weekend.

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

Swansea City

Starting XI: Fabianski; Rangel, Van der Hoorn, Amat, Naughton; Britton (Borja 79), Cork (Ki Sung-yeung 73); Routledge (Barrow 73), Fer, Sigurdsson; Llorente.

• Francesco Guidolin made four changes for the visit of Man City to the Liberty Stadium, with Angel Rangel, Mike Van der Hoorn, Leon Britton and Wayne Routledge coming in for Federico Fernandez, Stephen Kingsley, Ki Sung-yeung and Modou Barrow.
• Guidolin stuck with the 4-3-2-1 formation, with Jack Cork and Leroy Fer playing in advance of holding midfielder Britton. Routledge and Gylfi Sigurdsson were handed the attacking midfield spots behind lone striker Fernando Llorente. Van der Hoorn slotted in at centre-back, while Rangel played at right-back, with Kyle Naughton shifting over to the left.
• With 17 minutes remaining, Guidolin made a double substitution, with Ki and Barrow replacing Cork and Routledge in straight swaps. After falling 3-1 behind, the Italian brought on Borja Baston in place of Britton. Borja partnered Llorente in attack, leaving Fer and Ki in central midfield, with Sigurdsson drifting over to the left as he did during different stages of the match.
• The new look back four defended reasonably well given the might of the City attack, so Van der Hoorn and Rangel may keep their places in the side for the home clash against Liverpool. Ki could put pressure on Cork for a starting spot but Britton looks likely to retain his starting role in midfield. Barrow may challenge Routledge for a starting position alongside Sigurdsson, while Borja is a viable alternative to Llorente in attack, having played 75 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to City in the EFL Cup. Llorente seems likely to retain his starting role against the Reds, though, having opened his account for his new club on the weekend.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama; Sissoko (Lamela 69), Alli, Eriksen (Nkoudou 89), Heung-Min Son; Janssen (Winks 86).

• Mauricio Pochettino was forced into making three changes from the side that beat Sunderland 1-0 for the trip to Middlesbrough, with Ben Davies, Christian Eriksen and Vincent Janssen recalled in place of the injured Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele and Harry Kane.
• Davies slotted in at left-back for Spurs, with Jan Vertonghen shifting across to his usual position at centre-back. Dele Alli partnered Victor Wanyama in the double-pivot in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Eriksen stationed in the number ten role behind lone striker Janssen.
• Sissoko was the first player to be replaced after suffering from concussion. He made way for Erik Lamela in a straight swap after 69 minutes. Then during the final stages, Harry Winks and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou got brief run-outs in place of Janssen and Eriksen.
• Dier and Dembele’s hamstring injuries aren’t thought to be serious, so the pair should be available for Sunday’s home encounter against Man City. They could perhaps form the central midfield partnership, with Alli moving into the number ten role and Eriksen taking over from Sissoko on the right wing. Pochettino’s team selection against CSKA Moscow tonight will likely provide some clues as to how his side will line up against the league leaders.

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

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes; Cathcart (Zuniga 46), Prodl, Britos: Amrabat (Success 58), Behrami, Capoue, Pereyra (Kenedy 74), Holebas: Deeney, Ighalo.

• Walter Mazzarri was forced into making one change from the side that beat Man United 3-1 for the trip to Burnley, with Nordin Amrabat coming in for the injured Daryl Janmaat.
• Amrabat slotted in at right wing-back in the Dutchman’s absence, while Jose Holebas passed a late fitness test to start at left wing-back for the Hornets in Mazzarri’s favoured 3-5-2 formation.
• But with his side trailing 1-0 at half-time, Mazzarri brought on Juan Zuniga in place of Craig Cathcart. That change saw the Italian switch to a 4-4-2 formation, with Zuniga playing at right-back, with Amrabat moving to the right wing. Roberto Pereyra drifted out to the left, with Holebas dropping to left-back. Isaac Success then replaced Amrabat just before the hour mark and was stationed on the left wing, with Pereyra moving to the opposite flank. After picking up a yellow card earlier, Pereyra made way for Kenedy in Mazzarri’s final substitution with 16 minutes left on the clock.
• While Mazzarri switched to a four-man backline at half-time last night, he’s not expected to ditch his favoured 3-5-2 formation for Saturday’s home clash against Bournemouth. If he sticks with that system, the only possible changes may come at right wing-back, with Zuniga and possibly Kenedy alternatives to Amrabat, while the fit-again Younes Kaboul may come into contention in central defence,

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

West Brom

Starting XI: Foster 6.5; Dawson 7.5, McAuley 6, Evans 6.5, Nyom 6; Yacob 6 (Morrison 77); Phillips 6 (Leko 88), Fletcher 7, Chadli 6, McClean 6.5 (Robson-Kanu 77); Rondon.

• Tony Pulis was forced into making one alteration for the trip to his former side Stoke, with Allan Nyom coming in for Brendan Galloway, who missed out due to a virus.
• Nyom filled-in at left-back for the Baggies, then, in what was more of a 4-1-4-1 formation used by Pulis at the Bet365 Stadium. Claudio Yacob was stationed in front of the back four, with Matt Phillips, Darren Fletcher, Nacer Chadli and James McClean playing across midfield.
• After falling a goal behind, Pulis turned to James Morrison and Hal Robson-Kanu off the bench, with the pair replacing Yacob and McClean. Those changes saw the Baggies line-up in more of a 4-2-3-1, with Morrison alongside Fletcher in central midfield. As a final roll of the dice, Pulis brought on Jonathan Leko for Phillips in a straight swap.
• Following another decent performance, Pulis isn’t expected to make many changes for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland. Galloway may return at left-back after recovering from illness to play for the reserves earlier this week, but the likes of Morrison, Robson-Kanu, Leko and Saido Berahino (who also recovered from illness to feature for the reserves), appear unlikely to force their way into the starting XI.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back

West Ham

Starting XI: Adrian; Nordtveit (Fletcher 71), Reid, Ogbonna, Arbeloa; Noble (Fernandes 82), Kouyate; Payet, Lanzini (Feghouli 46), Antonio; Zaza.

• Slaven Bilic made two changes for the home clash against Southampton, with the fit-again Winston Reid and Alvaro Arbeloa coming in for James Collins and the injured Arthur Masuaku.
• Reid and Arbeloa started at centre-back and left-back respectively, with Havard Nordtveit utilised at right-back this time around. It was more of a 4-1-4-1 formation used by Bilic against Saints, with Cheikhou Kouyate and Manuel Lanzini stationed in central midfield, and Michail Antonio and Dimitri Payet on the flanks.
• But with his side 1-0 down at half-time, Bilic turned to Sofiane Feghouli off the bench, with the Algerian replacing Lanzini. Feghouli played on the right, with Antonio moving over to the opposite flank, with Payet drifting into a more central position. Then after falling 2-0 behind, Ashley Fletcher was brought on in place of Nordtveit. Fletcher joined Simone Zaza in attack, with Payet moving onto the left wing. Antonio was then pushed to right-back for the Hammers. Edimilson Fernandes took over from Mark Noble in front of the back four for the final eight minutes.
• Following another dismal performance, no player – aside from Payet and Antonio – can really be sure of their place in the side for the home clash against Middlesbrough. In all likelihood, Reid, Arbeloa, Noble and Kouyate may also keep their starting spots. Elsewhere, Darren Randolph offers an alternative to Adrian in goal, while Sam Byram could earn a recall in one of the full-back positions. Nordtveit is also an option in both central defence and in a defensive midfield role, with Lanzini’s place in the side perhaps looking in doubt should Bilic opt for more of a 4-3-3 against ‘Boro. Feghouli may have to settle for a place on the bench once again, while a lack of options in attack means Zaza could keep his starting berth. Fletcher is the main alternative, with Jonathan Calleri not even named in the squad on Sunday.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: All Positions