Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 8 – Part Two

Daniel Sturridge toils as Liverpool’s lone striker against Manchester United. Gylfi Sigurdsson is fielded as a “false nine” for Bob Bradley’s first match in charge of Swansea, while a change to 3-4-3 sees Michail Antonio utilised as a wing-back for West Ham’s trip to Palace.

After assessing the first ten sides in yesterday’s article, here’s the lowdown on the remaining team sheets.

Liverpool

Starting XI: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner (Moreno 86), Can, Henderson, Coutinho, Mane, Sturridge (Lallana 60), Firmino (Origi 85).

• Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was forced into making two alterations for the home clash against Man United, with Emre Can coming in for the injured Georginio Wijnaldum, while Adam Lallana was only fit enough to start from the bench, so Daniel Sturridge was handed a recall.
• Can started in central midfield alongside Philippe Coutinho in Klopp’s favoured 4-3-3 system, with Jordan Henderson occupying the defensive midfield role. Sturridge operated as the central striker, meaning Roberto Firmino shifted over to the left of the front three.
• With Sturridge largely ineffective for the home side, Klopp decided to take the forward off on the hour mark, with Lallana entering the fray. That change saw Firmino take over as the “false nine”, with Coutinho replacing his compatriot on the left, while Lallana took up his usual position in central midfield. Klopp introduced Divock Origi and Alberto Moreno in straight swaps in the final minutes.
• After getting through 30 minutes last night, Lallana should be fit to start against West Brom on Saturday. His return would allow Coutinho to move back onto the left, with Firmino starting as the “false nine”. But if Wijnaldum is still out, Klopp may consider dropping Emre Can against the Baggies, which would allow either Sturridge or Origi to start in attack. That scenario would mean Coutinho playing in a deeper role once again, though.

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

Man United

Starting XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind, Fellaini, Pogba, Rashford (Rooney 77), Ander Herrera, Young (Shaw 90), Ibrahimovic.

• Jose Mourinho made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Stoke City for the trip to Anfield, with Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young coming in for Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard.
• Fellaini partnered Ander Herrera at the base of midfield in Mourinho’s standard 4-2-3-1 formation, allowing Paul Pogba to push forward into the number ten role. Young slotted in on the left of the attacking midfield trio.
• With Marcus Rashford tiring, Mourinho decided to replace the youngster with Wayne Rooney in a straight swap with 13 minutes remaining. Luke Shaw came on during stoppage time to take over from Young on the left wing.
• After a strong defensive performance, and with an equally difficult trip to Chelsea up next, Mourinho may approach Sunday’s match in a similar manner, meaning Young could keep his place in the side. The likes of Lingard and, to a lesser extent, Mata are viable alternatives, though. After impressive showings in midfield, Herrera and Fellaini may keep their starting berths, so Rooney will more than likely have to settle for a place on the bench once more. Morgan Schneiderlin and Anthony Martial missed out last night after picking up injuries in training. They’ll both be assessed ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge, although it’s unlikely either player will start given they’ve been peripheral figures over the last few weeks.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Wings

Southampton

Starting XI: Forster; Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Targett (McQueen 14); Romeu, Clasie; Redmond (Ward-Prowse 88), Tadic, Davis; Austin (Rodriguez 70).

• Southampton boss Claude Puel made three changes for the home clash against Burnley, with Jordy Clasie earning a recall in place of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, while Cuco Martina and Matt Targett came in for the injured Cedric Soares and Ryan Bertrand.
• Martina and Targett slotted in at right-back and left-back respectively, while Clasie played on the right of the midfield three in the 4-3-3 formation.
• Targett, who had been a doubt pre-match due to a knock, only lasted 14 minutes though due to a hamstring problem, and was replaced by youngster Sam McQueen in a straight swap. With Saints racing into a 3-0 lead, Charlie Austin was withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining, replaced by Jay Rodriguez. Puel’s final substitution saw James Ward-Prowse get a few minutes at the death in place of Nathan Redmond.
• Puel’s selection in the full-back positions against Manchester City on Sunday will depend on who he has available. McQueen may have to start at the Etihad should Bertrand and Targett be ruled out, while Martina could keep his place in the starting XI if Soares remains unavailable. Clasie and Hojbjerg continue to share starts in midfield, so Puel’s selection against Inter Milan in the Europa League on Thursday night ay provide some clues as to who will get the nod on the weekend.

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

Stoke City

Starting XI: Grant; Pieters, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Bardsley (Adam 65); Cameron, Whelan; Arnautovic, Allen (Muniesa 75), Shaqiri; Bony (Walters 76).

• Mark Hughes was forced into making one alteration for the visit of Sunderland to the bet365 Stadium, with Phil Bardsley coming in for the injured Glen Johnson.
• Bardsley slotted in at right-back for the Potters then, while elsewhere it was the same 4-2-3-1 formation for Hughes, with Joe Allen continuing in the central attacking midfield role.
• Bardsley who was the first player to be replaced after picking up a knock, with Charlie Adam brought on in his place after 65 minutes. That change saw Geoff Cameron move to right-back to allow Adam to operate in central midfield. Ten minutes later, Allen was withdrawn as he continues to manage a hamstring problem, with Marc Muniesa taking his place. Muniesa then played at right-back, with Cameron shifting back into midfield. Adam was then pushed forward into the central attacking midfield role. Hughes’ final substitution saw Jon Walters take over from Wilfried Bony as the lone striker for the final 14 minutes.
• After registering their first win of the season, Hughes will ideally want to name the same team for Saturday’s trip to Hull. The Welshman will hope Bardsley can shake off that knock, given that Johnson will be out for around three weeks with a thigh injury. Muniesa could step in should Bardsley be ruled out, with Cameron another option in that position, perhaps allowing Adam or Giannelli Imbula to come back into the side in midfield. Allen is expected to recover from his hamstring complaint in time.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield

Sunderland

Starting XI: Pickford; van Aanholt (Jones 40), Djilobodji, O’Shea, Manquillo; Khazri, McNair (Pienaar 55), Ndong, Rodwell (Anichebe 81), Watmore; Defoe.

• Sunderland boss David Moyes was forced into making three changes for the trip to Stoke, with Patrick van Aanholt, Papy Djilobodji and Jack Rodwell recalled in place of the injured trio of Lamine Kone, Jason Denayer and Jan Kirchhoff.
• Van Aanholt and Djilobodji returned at left-back and centre-back respectively, while Rodwell joined Didier Ndong and Paddy McNair in a three-man midfield in a 4-3-3 formation. Duncan Watmore and Wahbi Khazri flanked central striker Jermain Defoe in attack.
• Moyes was forced into making a change in the first half, though, with Billy Jones replacing Van Aanholt after the Dutchman suffered a groin injury. Jones played at right-back for the Black Cats, with Javier Manquillo switching over to left-back. Then 10 minutes into the second half, Moyes brought on Steven Pienaar in place of McNair in a straight swap, while with his final substitution, Victor Anichebe replaced Rodwell for the final nine minutes. That change saw Sunderland finish the match in 4-4-2, with Anichebe joining Defoe in attack, while Pienaar and Ndong combined in central midfield.
• Should Van Aanholt be ruled out for the trip to West Ham, Manquillo and Jones look set to start in the full-back positions. Moyes will hope to have Kone back for the trip to London, although his options appear more limited further up the pitch, with Pienaar the most likely to force his way into the starting XI. Anichebe and Lynden Gooch may have to settle for places on the bench once more.

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

Swansea City

Starting XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Amat, Taylor, Britton (Borja Baston 66), Cork (Ki Sung-yeung 71), Fer, Barrow (Rangel 83), Sigurdsson, Routledge.

• New Swansea manager Bob Bradley made three changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Liverpool in Francesco Guidolin’s final match in charge for the trip to the Emirates, with Federico Fernandez, Neil Taylor and Modou Barrow coming in for Mike van der Hoorn, Angel Rangel and Borja Baston.
• Fernandez and Taylor slotted in at centre-back and left-back respectively, with Kyle Naughton returning to right-back for the Swans, Leon Britton, Jack Cork and Leroy Fer formed the three-man midfield, although the Dutchman did play slightly in advance of Britton and Cork. Barrow (right) and Wayne Routledge (left) flanked “false nine” Gylfi Sigurdsson in the 4-3-3 formation.
• With the Welsh side 3-1 down, Bradley made an attacking first change, with Borja coming on in place of Britton after 66 minutes. That switch saw the Swans move to a 4-2-3-1, with Borja operating as the lone striker. Sigurdsson moved into his favoured number ten role, while Fer dropped in alongside Cork at the base of midfield. Five minutes later, Cork made way for Ki Sung-yeung in a straight swap, while, having picked up an ankle injury in the challenge which saw Granit Xhaka sent off, Barrow made way for Rangel for the final seven minutes. The Spaniard played at right-back, with Naughton pushed forward to the right side of the attacking midfield trio.
• Although there were some positives for Bradley to take from his first match in charge, the American may look to change things up at the back after conceding some soft goals. Van der Hoorn, Rangel and Kingsley may all come into contention, with the places of Fernandez and Taylor appearing the most at threat. For the visit of Watford to the Liberty Stadium, Bradley may look to start in a 4-2-3-1, so Borja could earn a recall, with Sigurdsson slotting into the number ten role. Britton may be the central midfield player to miss out to allow for the inclusion of a striker. Routledge’s place may also come under threat should Jefferson Montero recover from an ankle injury.

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

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld (Dier 60), Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama; Sissoko (Dembele 65), Alli, Eriksen, Lamela (Heung-Min Son 72); Janssen.

• Mauricio Pochettino made two changes from the side that beat Man City 2-0 for the trip to the Hawthorns, with Ben Davies and Vincent Janssen coming in for Danny Rose and Heung-Min Son.
• Davies slotted in at left-back for Spurs, while Janssen led the line in the 4-1-4-1 formation favoured by Pochettino of late.
• Pochettino’s first substitution was an enforced one, with Toby Alderweireld having to be replaced by Eric Dier after suffering a knee injury. Mousa Dembele was then introduced for Moussa Sissoko, with the Belgian moving into a double-pivot next to Victor Wanyama, while Christian Eriksen moved to the right in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Pochettino’s final change saw Son take over from Erik Lamela on the left wing for the final 18 minutes.
• While it’s believed Alderweireld only suffered severe bruising to his knee, he’s still a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth. Should he be ruled out, Dier is likely to deputise at centre-back. After being rested on Saturday, Rose will be expected to return at left-back. If Kyle Walker starts against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, there could be a chance that Kieran Trippier comes in against the Cherries should Pochettino continue to rotate. In midfield, Dembele could earn a recall alongside Wanyama, with one of Sissoko or Lamela perhaps making way. Son only came on as a substitute against the Baggies, but is the favourite to start as the lone striker against Bournemouth after Janssen failed to take his chance on Saturday.

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

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes; Amrabat (Zuniga 72), Prodl, Kaboul, Britos (Kabasele 85), Holebas; Pereyra, Capoue, Behrami, Success (Watson 89); Deeney.

• Walter Mazzarri made two changes for the trip to the Riverside, with Miguel Britos and Isaac Success starting in place of Juan Zuniga and Odion Ighalo.
• Having used a 4-3-3 in Watford’s last match against Bournemouth, Mazzarri shifted to more of a 5-4-1 against ‘Boro. Britos joined Younes Kaboul and Sebastian Prodl in central defence, with Nordin Amrabat and Jose Holebas operating as wing-backs. Valon Behrami and the more advanced Etienne Capoue patrolled central midfield, while Roberto Pereyra (right) and Success (left) took up the wide roles behind central striker Troy Deeney.
• With 18 minutes left on the clock, Mazzarri brought on Zuniga in place of Amrabat in a straight swap. Britos was then forced off with an ankle injury, so Christian Kabasele took over in central defence for the final five minutes. Ben Watson was sent on for Success in a defensive move late on to try and hold on for the 1-0 win.
• After getting the result at the Riverside, Mazzarri may be happy to continue with the same set-up for the trip to Swansea on Saturday. Should Britos be ruled out, Kabasele looks the obvious alternative if Craig Cathcart remains out due to a groin problem. He could also consider moving back to the 4-3-3, though, with Zuniga coming in at right-back, Pereyra moving back into central midfield and Amrabat operating on the right of the front three. Ighalo lost his place in the side to Success on Sunday and appears unlikely to earn a recall at the Liberty Stadium.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Defence, Flanks

West Bromwich Albion

Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Phillips (Brunt 69), Fletcher, Yacob, McClean; Chadli (Gardner 88); Rondon.

• Tony Pulis named the same team that drew 1-1 against Sunderland for the home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.
• Salomon Rondon did lead the line for the Baggies despite having limited preparation time having played for Venezuela over the international break. Allan Nyom kept his starting berth at left-back ahead of Brendan Galloway.
• Pulis’ first change saw Chris Brunt make his first appearance of the season following a long-term knee injury, with the Northern Ireland international replacing Matt Phillips for the final 21 minutes. Craig Gardner replaced Nacer Chadli for the final few minutes to provide some fresh legs in midfield.
• Pulis will be without the suspended Jonny Evans for Saturday’s trip to Anfield, so Jonas Olsson will probably fill in at centre-back. Brunt is likely to continue to build up his fitness from the bench, but his return to fitness will put pressure on the starting spots of Phillips and James McClean, while he could also be an option at left-back in place of Nyom.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence

West Ham United

Starting XI: Adrian, Reid, Kouyate, Ogbonna; Antonio, Noble, Obiang, Creswell, Lanzini (Nordtveit 89), Payet (Fernandes 89), Zaza (Calleri 87).

• Slaven Bilic made three changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Middlesbrough for the trip to Selhurst Park, with Manuel Lanzini, Simone Zaza and the fit-again Aaron Cresswell coming in for James Collins and the injured duo Sam Byram and Gokhan Tore.
• The return to fitness of Cresswell allowed Bilic to switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation, with the former Ipswich Town defender and Michail Antonio taking up the wing-back roles. Cheikhou Kouyate dropped into the three-man defence alongside Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna, while Lanzini and Dimitri Payet played in central attacking midfield roles behind lone striker Zaza.
• All of Bilic’s substitutions came in the final five minutes, with Jonathan Calleri, Havard Nordtveit and Edimilson Fernandes all providing fresh legs as the Hammers looked to hold onto their 1-0 lead. Ogbonna covered at left-back following the sending off of Cresswell for two bookable offences.
• Cresswell will miss Saturday’s home clash against Sunderland due to suspension, so Bilic may decide to switch away from a wing-back system if he feels Alvaro Arbeloa doesn’t have the legs for that position. The Spaniard and Nordtveit could then be utilised as full-backs, allowing Michail Antonio to operate on the flank.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs/Wing-Backs, Central Defence, Central Midfield