Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 12 – Part Two

Joe Allen shifts into the Stoke double-pivot before earning himself a one-match ban. Gylfi Sigurdsson thrives as Swansea’s “false nine”, whilst Chris Brunt retains his place on the flank as West Brom thrash Burnley at the Hawthorns.

After rolling out part one yesterday, here’s the lowdown on the remaining ten teams.

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Marney, Defour (Barnes 46); Gudmundsson (Boyd 79), Hendrick, Arfield; Vokes (Gray 70).

• Burnley manager Sean Dyche made one adjustment for the trip to the Hawthorns, with the fit-again Stephen Ward returning in place of Jon Flanagan.
• Ward slotted into his usual position of left-back in a 4-2-3-1 set-up. Steven Defour partnered Dean Marney at the base of midfield, with Jeff Hendrick stationed in the No 10 role.
• With the Clarets trailing 3-0 at half-time, Dyche decided to make a change, with Ashley Barnes coming on for Defour. Barnes joined Sam Vokes in attack, forming a 4-4-2, though the Wales international was himself replaced with 20 minutes remaining by Andre Gray. Dyche’s final substitution saw George Boyd take over from Johann Berg Gudmundsson on the right side of midfield.
• With Burnley hosting Man City on Saturday, it’s unlikely Dyche will consider starting with two strikers. Barnes and Gray are the options to join Vokes in attack if he were to go on the offensive, while Boyd offers an alternative out wide to either Gudmundsson or Scott Arfield.

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

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Valdes; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio (Downing 70); Clayton (Fischer 73); Traore, De Roon, Forshaw (Leadbitter 88), Ramirez; Negredo.

• Aitor Karanka made two alterations for the visit of Chelsea, with Fabio coming in for the injured George Friend, while Gaston Ramirez returned from suspension to replace Stewart Downing.
• Fabio slotted in at left-back for ‘Boro, while Ramirez played on the left of what was more of a front three in a 4-3-3 formation, although that switched to a 4-1-4-1 when out of possession.
• Karanka made an attacking first change, with Downing brought on to replace Fabio at left-back for the final 20 minutes. Shortly after, Viktor Fischer was introduced in place of Adam Clayton, seeing ‘Boro switch to a 4-2-3-1, with Fischer, Adama Traore and Ramirez forming the attacking midfield trio. Grant Leadbitter was handed a brief run-out late on to provide fresh legs in place of Adam Forshaw.
• With Karanka’s men travelling to face Leicester City on Saturday, it’s likely the Spaniard will keep faith with the same formation. There doesn’t appear to be many players putting their hands up to force their way into the starting XI, with Downing, Fischer, Leadbitter, Cristhian Stuani and Emilio Nsue among the players hoping to earn a start. Friend is expected to remain sidelined, so Fabio, Downing or Nsue are the options available at left-back. Jordan Rhodes is the main alternative to Alvaro Negredo in attack.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Flanks

Southampton

Starting XI: Forster: Cedric, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand, Hojbjerg (Reed 79), Romeu, Davis, Redmond, Austin (Rodriguez 75) Boufal (Long 66).

• Southampton manager Claude Puel made three alterations from the side that lost 2-1 to Hull City for the home encounter against Liverpool, with the fit-again Cedric Soares replacing Maya Yoshida, while Sofiane Boufal came in for the injured Dusan Tadic. The other change saw Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg start in place of Jordy Clasie.
• Soares slotted into his usual position at right-back, while Hojbjerg joined Oriol Romeu and Steven Davis in the three-man midfield. Boufal (left) and Nathan Redmond (right) flanked central striker Charlie Austin.
• Boufal was the first player to be replaced by Puel, with the fit-again Shane Long taking his place in a straight swap for the final 24 minutes. Jay Rodriguez then entered the fray in place of Austin in a straight swap, with Puel’s final substitution seeing Harrison Reed provide some fresh legs in midfield in place of Hojbjerg.
• Hojbjerg got the nod over Clasie last weekend, but the Dutchman could push for a recall when Saints host Everton on Sunday. Boufal may make way should Tadic be available after suffering a broken nose while playing for Serbia. Puel has further options in attack following the return to fitness of Long, so his selection for Thursday night’s Europa League clash against Sparta Prague should provide clues as to who will start in the front three against the Toffees.

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

Stoke City

Starting XI: Grant; Bardsley (Johnson 57), Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Allen, Adam; Shaqiri, Bojan (Walters 73), Arnautovic; Bony (Crouch 68).

• Mark Hughes made three changes for the home clash against Bournemouth, with the fit-again Xherdan Shaqiri returning in place of Ramadan Sobhi, while Bojan and Marko Arnautovic, who was back after serving a one-match ban, came in for Jon Walters and the injured Glenn Whelan.
• Shaqiri and Arnautovic started on the right and left respectively of the attacking midfield trio in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bojan operating in the No 10 role. That meant Joe Allen dropped into a deeper position at the base of midfield next to Charlie Adam.
• Hughes was forced into making a change just before the hour mark, with the returning Glen Johnson having to come on for Phil Bardsley, who had picked up a knock. Peter Crouch was then summoned from the bench to replace Wilfried Bony as the lone striker, while Bojan made way for Walters in Hughes’ final substitution, seeing Stoke end the match in a 4-4-2, with Crouch and Walters up front as they looked to find a late equaliser.
• Johnson could well earn a starting spot at right-back, even if Bardsley is passed fit for the trip to Watford. Hughes will hope to have at least one of Whelan (hamstring) or Geoff Cameron (knee) available for Saturday’s match, given he’ll be without the suspended Allen. Should they both remain out, Giannelli Imbula looks the obvious replacement in central midfield. Jack Butland’s status will need to be monitored towards the end of this week, with the goalkeeper possibly in with a chance of being fit to face the Hornets after recovering from an ankle injury.

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

Sunderland

Starting XI: Pickford; Jones, Kone, Djilobodji, Van Aanholt; Watmore, Denayer (O’Shea 84), Ndong, McNair (Love 89); Anichebe, Defoe.

• David Moyes was forced into making one change from the side that beat Bournemouth 2-1 for the home encounter against Hull City, with Jason Denayer coming in for the suspended Steven Pienaar.
• Denayer started alongside Didier Ndong and Paddy McNair in a three-man midfield, with Victor Anichebe and Duncan Watmore flanking central striker Jermain Defoe in the 4-3-3 formation.
• Moyes only made two changes late on with his side leading 3-0. John O’Shea was brought on in place of Denayer, while following the sending off of Papy Djilobodji, Donald Love was introduced in place of McNair, who was forced off with a slight knock.
• Moyes will be without the suspended Djilobodji for the trip to Anfield on Saturday, so O’Shea may deputise at centre-back. Denayer provides another option in that position, although with McNair also a doubt, and given the lack of other options for Moyes in midfield, it’s likely the Belgian will be needed to play in the engine room. Pienaar will be available after serving his one-match ban, though, and would offer a viable alternative to both players.

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

Swansea City

Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Amat, Fernandez, Taylor; Cork, Fer, Fulton (Sung-Yeung 87); Barrow (Dyer 81), Sigurdsson, Routledge.

• Bob Bradley made eight changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Man United for the trip to Goodison Park, with Kyle Naughton, Jordi Amat, Federico Fernandez, Neil Taylor, Jack Cork, Leroy Fer, Jay Fulton and Modou Barrow coming in for Angel Rangel, Mike van der Hoorn, Alfie Mawson, Stephen Kingsley, Leon Britton, Ki Sung-yeung, Fernando Llorente and Borja Baston.
• Those changes saw the Swans switch from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3, with Barrow and Wayne Routledge flanking “false nine” Gylfi Sigurdsson in attack. Cork, Fulton and Fer combined in midfield, while Naughton, Amat, Fernandez and Taylor formed the back four.
• Bradley introduced the fit-again Nathan Dyer late on, with the winger providing fresh legs in place of Barrow in a straight swap. Ki was then brought on for the final three minutes, with Fulton making way in central midfield.
• While the Welsh outfit put in an improved performance on Merseyside, the constant chopping and changing under Bradley means he could yet make further alterations for the home clash against Crystal Palace. If the American opts for a more attacking approach, he could switch to a 4-2-3-1, and hand a recall to either Borja or Llorente in attack, with Sigurdsson dropping back into the No 10 role. Jefferson Montero could be an option on the left wing should he be able to play with a cast on his broken hand, while Britton and Ki are viable alternatives in central midfield. The more attack-minded Kingsley may also be an option instead of Taylor at left-back.

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

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Lloris; Walker (Trippier 89), Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Dembele (Son Heung-min 73), Wanyama, Winks; Eriksen; Kane, Janssen (Alli 69).

• Mauricio Pochettino made two changes for the London derby against West Ham United, with Harry Winks and Vincent Janssen coming in for Kevin Wimmer and Son Heung-min.
• Those changes saw Spurs switch from the 3-4-1-2 formation used against Arsenal to a 4-1-2-1-2 system. Victor Wanyama played at the base of a midfield diamond, with Winks and Mousa Dembele slightly further forward on the sides. Christian Eriksen was stationed at the tip of the diamond behind the front two of Harry Kane and Janssen.
• But after falling 2-1 behind, Pochettino brought on Dele Alli, with Janssen making way. Shortly after, Son was introduced in place of Dembele, seeing Eriksen drop into a slightly deeper midfield role, with Alli at the tip of the diamond behind Kane and Son. Kieran Trippier was handed a few minutes late on in place of Kyle Walker.
• Toby Alderweireld look likely to miss Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge due to a leg injury, while Danny Rose will be unavailable due to suspension. So either Trippier or Wimmer appear likely to come into the side if Ben Davies (ankle) remains sidelined, with Jan Vertonghen an option to play at left-back should Wimmer be chosen at centre-half. Both Alli and Son look set to earn recalls, with Janssen and Winks the most likely to make way. Moussa Sissoko and Erik Lamela, providing he recovers from a hip injury, could provide further options in midfield, with Pochettino having a few different formations to choose from, including the 4-1-2-1-2, 4-1-4-1 and 4-2-3-1.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Centre-Half, Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes ; Britos, Kaboul, Prodl; Janmaat (Guedioura 87), Behrami, Pereyra, Zuniga, Amrabat, Capoue, Deeney (Okaka 90).

• Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri made two alterations for the home clash against Leicester City, with Juan Zuniga coming in for the suspended Jose Holebas, while Sebastian Prodl replaced Odion Ighalo.
• Those changes saw Watford line up in more of a 3-4-3 formation, with Zuniga playing at left wing-back. Prodl joined Younes Kaboul and Miguel Britos in the three-man defence, while Nordin Amrabat (right) and Roberto Pereyra (left) flanked central striker Troy Deeney.
• Mazzarri only made two changes late on, with Adlene Guedioura coming on for Daryl Janmaat, while the fit-again Stefano Okaka got a few minutes late on in place of Deeney.
• Holebas will be available to face Stoke City on Sunday after serving his one-match ban and is favourite to regain his starting spot in place of Zuniga. If Mazzarri sticks with the 3-4-3, the rest of the starting XI may stay unchanged. But Ighalo could come back into contention if the Italian looks to switch back to a 3-5-2.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Strikers

West Bromwich Albion

Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Yacob; Phillips (McClean 75), Morrison (Gardner 83), Fletcher, Brunt; Rondon (Robson-Kanu 79).

• Tony Pulis named an unchanged side from the one that beat Leicester City 2-1 for the home encounter against Burnley.
• Chris Brunt (right), James Morrison (No 10) and Matt Phillips (left) once again formed the attacking midfield trio in the 4-2-3-1 behind lone striker Salomon Rondon.
• Pulis handed run-outs to James McClean, Hal Robson-Kanu and Craig Gardner during the final 15 minutes with his side cruising to a comfortable 4-0 victory, with Phillips, Rondon and Morrison making way in straight swaps.
• Following such an impressive performance, Pulis may well consider naming an unchanged starting XI once again for the trip to Hull. Nacer Chadli would be the only obvious change to make should he be passed fit following knee surgery, but with the short turnaround, and given the performances of Brunt, Morrison and Phillips, he may not need to be risked against the Tigers.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Attacking Midfield, Flanks

West Ham United

Starting XI: Randolph; Kouyate, Reid, Ogbonna; Antonio, Lanzini, Obiang, Cresswell; Ayew (Fernandes 61), Payet (Nordtveit 85); Sakho (Zaza 61).

• Hammers boss Slaven Bilic made three alterations for the trip to White Hart Lane, with Diafra Sakho coming in for the suspended Mark Noble, while Winston Reid returned from a one-match ban to replace James Collins. The other change saw Darren Randolph replace Adrian in goal.
• Sako played as the central striker in the 3-4-2-1, with Andre Ayew and Dimitri Payet starting in the attacking midfield positions. Manuel Lanzini dropped back into central midfield to partner Pedro Obiang, while Reid joined Angelo Ogbonna and Cheikhou Kouyate in the three-man backline.
• Sakho and Ayew failed to make much of an impact, though, and were replaced by Simone Zaza and Edimilson Fernandes just after the hour mark. Fernandes played in central midfield alongside Obiang, with Lanzini then pushed into a more advanced midfield role behind lone striker Zaza. In a bid to hold onto their 2-1 lead, Bilic introduced Havard Nordtveit in place of Payet, forming more of a 3-6-1 formation during the latter stages until Reid’s late dismissal.
• Bilic will be without the suspended Reid for Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford, then, although Noble will be available following his one-match ban. Collins looks set to earn a recall in central defence, with Nordtveit offering another option. With Noble returning in midfield, Lanzini may push further forward in place of either Ayew or Sakho, with Zaza also an option as the lone striker if Bilic looks to change things up in attack. Michail Antonio could also potentially move into a more advanced role. Adrian was dropped on Saturday, and may miss out to Randolph once more.

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