Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 9 – Part Two

Bob Bradley rings the changes in his first home match in charge of Swansea City. Michail Antonio is again utilised as a wing-back as West Ham continue with a 3-4-2-1 and Aitor Karanka’s tactical switch earns ‘Boro a rare clean sheet at the Emirates.

After publishing Part One yesterday, here’s the lowdown on the remaining ten teams from Gameweek 9.

Man United

Starting XI: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly (Rojo 52), Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Fellaini (Mata 46); Rashford, Pogba, Lingard (Martial 65); Ibrahimovic.

• Jose Mourinho only made one alteration from the side that drew 0-0 at Liverpool for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with Jesse Lingard recalled in place of Ashley Young.
• Lingard started on the left of midfield in what was more of a 4-1-4-1 formation used by Mourinho, with Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini playing slightly in advance of holding midfielder Ander Herrera in central midfield.
• But heading into the break trailing 2-0, Mourinho decided to bring on Juan Mata in place of Fellaini, who had picked up a knock. That change saw United revert to a 4-4-2 with Marcus Rashford joining Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front. Mata played on the right side of midfield, with Pogba and Herrera manning the middle of the park. After suffering a knee injury, Eric Bailly had to be replaced seven minutes into the second half, with Marcos Rojo taking his place. Rojo played at left back, with Daley Blind taking over at centre-back. Mourinho’s final substitution saw Anthony Martial introduced in place of Lingard in a straight swap for the final 25 minutes.
• After slipping to an emphatic 4-0 defeat, Mourinho could make several changes for the home clash against Burnley on Saturday. Bailly looks near-certain to be ruled out after reportedly suffering ligament damage, so Blind may return to centre-back, allowing Luke Shaw or Rojo to start at left-back. The likes of Michael Carrick or Morgan Schneiderlin may come into contention to start in central midfield, while Mata or Martial could challenge Lingard for a starting spot. Mourinho may also consider starting with a 4-4-2, so Rashford could partner Ibrahimovic in attack.

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

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Valdes, Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Clayton, Traore, De Roon, Forshaw, Ramirez (Downing 85), Negredo (Stuani 90).

• Aitor Karanka made three changes for the trip to the Emirates, with Daniel Ayala coming in for Calum Chambers, who was ineligible to face his parent club, while Adam Clayton and Adama Traore started in place of Stewart Downing and Cristhian Stuani.
• Those changes saw ‘Boro line up in more of a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Clayton sat in front of the back four, while Gaston Ramirez, Marten de Roon, Adam Forshaw and Traore lined up across midfield. Ayala partnered Ben Gibson in central defence.
• With his side performing so admirably, Karanka only made two changes late on to freshen up his side. Downing came on in place of Ramirez on the left side of midfield, while Stuani took over from Alvaro Negredo up front in stoppage time.
• Given ‘Boro host Bournemouth on Saturday, Karanka may well switch back to his favoured 4-2-3-1 against the Cherries. One of Clayton or Forshaw appears likely to drop to the bench, then, allowing either Downing or Stuani to return to the starting XI. Chambers will be available again to return at centre back, although Ayala did his chances of keeping his starting berth no harm with his performance in north London.

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

Southampton

Starting XI: Forster; Martina, Van Dijk, Fonte, McQueen; Clasie (Hojbjerg 67), Romeu; Davis, Tadic (Boufal 70), Redmond; Austin (Ward-Prowse 83).

• Claude Puel was forced into making one adjustment for the trip to the Etihad, with Sam McQueen coming in for the injured Matt Targett.
• McQueen slotted in at left-back for Saints, who once again lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Charlie Austin and Dusan Tadic flanking central striker Nathan Redmond in attack.
• With Saints having to do a lot of defending, Puel introduced the fresh legs of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg after 67 minutes, with the Dane replacing Jordy Clasie in a straight swap. Minutes later, club-record signing Sofiane Boufal was handed his Premier League debut, taking over from Tadic in attack. Puel’s final substitution saw James Ward-Prowse replace Austin, with Ward-Prowse offering further protection in midfield as City looked to find a late winner.
• While McQueen performed very well at left-back, Puel will hope to have one of either Ryan Bertrand or Targett (both hamstring) fit to face Chelsea on Sunday. Boufal may get the chance to start against Sunderland in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, and once he is fully up to speed, the Saints boss will be faced with a conundrum in attack, with Boufal, Tadic, Austin and Redmond battling for three places if the Frenchman continues with the 4-3-3 system.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left Back, Flanks

Stoke City

Starting XI: Grant; Bardsley, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Whelan, Cameron, Shaqiri, Allen, Arnautovic; Bony (Diouf 72).

• Stoke City manager Mark Hughes unsurprisingly named the same side that beat Sunderland 2-0 for the trip to the KCOM Stadium.
• Wilfried Bony once again started as the lone striker for the Potters, then, supported by the attacking midfield trio of Xherdan Shaqiri, Joe Allen and Marko Arnautovic. Phil Bardsley was fit to start at right-back for the visitors.
• Hughes only made one substitution, with Mame Biram Diouf taking over from Bony in attack for the final 18 minutes.
• Providing there were no knocks picked up in Saturday’s 2-0 win, Hughes may well roll out the same starting XI for the visit of Swansea City to the bet365 Stadium on Monday night. Bony is still struggling for form up front but is likely to keep his place in the starting XI, particularly up against his former club.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Lone Striker

Sunderland

Starting XI: Pickford; Manquillo, Kone, O’Shea, Van Aanholt; Watmore (Gooch 75), Rodwell, Ndong, Pienaar (McNair 79), Khazri (Jones 86); Defoe.

• David Moyes made two alterations for the trip to the London Stadium, with the fit-again Lamine Kone replacing Papy Djilobodji, while Steven Pienaar earned a recall in place of Paddy McNair.
• Moyes opted for a 4-3-2-1 formation in east London, with Pienaar, Didier Ndong and Jack Rodwell combining in central midfield. Wahbi Khazri and Duncan Watmore played in the attacking midfield positions behind lone striker Jermain Defoe. Kone came in alongside John O’Shea in central defence for the Black Cats.
• Moyes made his first change with 15 minutes remaining, bringing on Lynden Gooch in place of Watmore in a straight swap. McNair was then introduced for Pienaar to provide some fresh legs in midfield, while Moyes’ final substitution saw Billy Jones come on in place of Khazri. That defensive change saw Sunderland end the match in more of a 5-4-1 formation as they looked to hold on for a point. Jones played in central defence alongside Kone and O’Shea.
• Providing Van Aanholt recovers from an adductor problem that prevented him from training today, Moyes could stick with the same back four for Saturday’s home clash against Arsenal. He may consider handing a recall to McNair, though, particularly if Rodwell fails to overcome a calf problem. But unless some of the players currently on the treatment table return to fitness this week, the Sunderland boss looks to have few alternatives, other than Gooch, for the attacking midfield positions.

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

Swansea City

Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Van der Hoorn, Mawson, Kingsley; Britton, Ki Sung-yeung; Barrow, Sigurdsson, Routledge (Llorente 68); Borja.

• Bob Bradley made five alterations from the side that lost 3-2 at Arsenal for his first home match in charge against Watford, with Mike van der Hoorn, Alfie Mawson, Stephen Kingsley, Ki Sung-yeung and Borja Baston replacing Federico Fernandez, Jordi Amat, Neil Taylor, Jack Cork and Leroy Fer.
• After using a 4-3-3 at the Emirates, Bradley opted for a 4-2-3-1 at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. Van der Hoorn and Mawson formed the central defensive partnership, with Kingsley returning at left back. Ki joined Leon Britton in the double-pivot, with Gylfi Sigurdsson restored to the No 10 role. Borja returned as the lone striker for the Swans.
• Bradley only made one substitution, with the fit-again Fernando Llorente brought on in place of Wayne Routledge for the final 22 minutes. That change saw the home side shift to a 4-4-2, with Llorente and Borja combining in attack. Sigurdsson was forced onto the left side of the midfield four to accommodate the change.
• After registering their first clean sheet since the opening day win at Burnley, Bradley may be inclined to name an unchanged back four for the trip to Stoke on Monday night. Taylor offers an alternative to Kingsley at left back, though, with the Wales international the more conservative choice. Bradley could also choose to stiffen up the midfield at the bet365 Stadium, so he may again consider using Sigurdsson in the “false nine” role, allowing one of Cork or Fer to be recalled in midfield. But if he sticks to the 4-2-3-1, Llorente may push Borja for the starting spot in attack.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left Back, Central Midfield, Lone Striker

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dembele; Lamela, Eriksen, Alli (Sissoko 71); Heung-Min Son (Janssen 61).

• Mauricio Pochettino made four alterations for the trip to Bournemouth, with Eric Dier coming in for the injured Toby Alderweireld, while Danny Rose, Mousa Dembele and Heung-Min Son replaced Ben Davies, Moussa Sissoko and Vincent Janssen.
• Dier started alongside Jan Vertonghen in central defence, while Dembele partnered Victor Wanyama in the double-pivot in the 4-2-3-1 formation chosen by Pochettino on Saturday. Dele Alli was flanked by Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela in the advanced midfield positions behind lone striker Son.
• With the match goalless, Pochettino firstly turned to Janssen off the bench, with the Dutchman coming on for Son in a straight swap just after the hour mark. The Argentine’s only other change saw Sissoko come on in place of Alli. Sissoko played on the right wing, with Eriksen moving into the No 10 role.
• With Spurs facing Liverpool in the EFL Cup tonight before Saturday’s home clash against Leicester City, the starting lineup for the match against the Foxes will probably become clearer after tonight. Kyle Walker and Rose may keep their starting spots if Kieran Trippier and Davies start tonight, while Pochettino will hope Alderweireld recovers from a knee problem to feature on Saturday. Pochettino looks set to be without Sissoko, though, after confirming he won’t contest an FA charge of alleged violent conduct involving Bournemouth’s Harry Arter. So Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen and Alli may all keep their starting spots in midfield. If one of Son or Janssen doesn’t start tonight, it’s likely they’ll lead the line against the champions. Harry Kane (ankle) is nearing a first-team return, but it’s currently unclear if he’ll be able to play a part on the weekend.

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

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes; Kaboul, Prodl, Britos; Zuniga (Amrabat 62), Pereyra, Behrami, Capoue (Guedioura 78), Holebas; Deeney, Ighalo.

• Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri made two changes for the trip to south Wales, with Juan Zuniga recalled in place of Nordin Amrabat, while Odion Ighalo was restored to the starting XI in place of the injured Isaac Success.
• Those changes saw Mazzarri switch to a 3-5-2 for Saturday’s match, with Ighalo playing centrally alongside Troy Deeney in attack. Zuniga slotted in at right wing back for the Hornets.
• Mazzarri made his first substitution just after the hour mark, with Amrabat brought on in a straight swap for Zuniga. With Etienne Capoue on a yellow card, the Italian decided to replace the midfielder with Adlene Guedioura in a straight swap for the final 12 minutes.
• Should Success be available for Saturday’s home encounter against Hull City, Mazzarri may have to choose between him and Ighalo to play alongside Deeney in attack. The Italian appears happy to rotate Zuniga and Amrabat in the right wing back position, so the latter may come into contention for a recall this weekend.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing Back, Strikers

West Bromwich Albion

Starting XI: Foster: Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Nyom: Fletcher, Yacob (Brunt 46): Phillips (Morrison 51), Chadli, McClean (Robson-Kanu 65): Rondon.

• Tony Pulis was forced into making one change from the side that drew 1-1 against Tottenham Hotspur for the visit to Anfield, with Jonas Olsson coming in for the suspended Jonny Evans.
• Olsson partnered Gareth McAuley at the heart of the Baggies defence then, with the rest of the side lining up in a straightforward 4-2-3-1 formation.
• Heading into half-time 2-0 down, Pulis decided to introduce Chris Brunt in place of Claudio Yacob. Six minutes later, James Morrison entered the fray in place of Matty Phillips, with Brunt playing on the right side of midfield in a 4-1-4-1 formation, leaving Morrison and Nacer Chadli in central midfield. With 25 minutes remaining, Hal Robson-Kanu came on in place of James McClean, with the substitute playing down the right flank, seeing Brunt revert back to his more familiar position on the left.
• Evans will be available to face Man City on Saturday, so he should slot straight back in at the expense of Olsson. After getting another 45 minutes under his belt, Brunt could be close to getting his first start of the season, in place of either Phillips or McClean. Pulis will be without the suspended Yacob on the weekend after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, so either Morrison or Craig Gardner could deputise in central midfield.

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

West Ham United

Starting XI: Adrian; Kouyate, Reid, Ogbonna; Antonio (Feghouli 62); Obiang, Noble, Fernandes; Lanzini (Fletcher 84), Zaza (Calleri 68), Payet.

• Hammers boss Slaven Bilic was forced into making one adjustment from the side that beat Crystal Palace 1-0 for the home encounter against Sunderland, with Edimilson Fernandes coming in for the suspended Aaron Cresswell.
• Fernandes took Cresswell’s spot at left wing back in the same 3-4-2-1 formation that was introduced at Selhurst Park. Cheikhou Kouyate started in the back three once again, while Simone Zaza kept his place as the lone striker.
• Bilic’s first change saw Sofiane Feghouli take over from Michail Antonio at right wing-back shortly after the hour mark. Six minutes later, the Croatian brought on Jonathan Calleri in place of Zaza in a straight swap in a bid to try and break the deadlock. As a final roll of the dice, Bilic replaced Manuel Lanzini with Ashley Fletcher, moving to a 3-4-1-2 system, with Payet operating behind the front two of Calleri and Fletcher.
• Following a second successive win, Bilic is unlikely to make many changes for Sunday’s trip to Everton. Cresswell should return in pace of Fernandes, but other than that, it’s probably unlikely that the likes of Feghouli, Calleri, Fletcher or Havard Nordtveit will earns recalls at Goodison Park.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left Wing Back