Toby Alderweireld misses out as Mauricio Pochettino switches from 3-4-2-1 to 4-3-2-1 for Tottenham’s win over Burnley. Southampton’s Cedric Soares recovers from illness as Claude Puel continues to rotate with abandon, while Daniel Sturridge emerges from the bench to play a key role in Liverpool’s Merseyside derby win.
After rolling out Part One yesterday, here’s the lowdown on the remaining ten teams.
Everton
Starting XI: Stekelenburg (Robles 64), Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines, McCarthy (Barry 46), Gueye, Lennon, Barkley, Valencia (Calvert-Lewin 72), Lukaku.
- Ronald Koeman was forced into making one change from the team that beat Arsenal 2-1 for the Merseyside derby, with Ramiro Funes Mori replacing the suspended Phil Jagielka.
- Funes Mori partnered Ashley Williams at the heart of the Everton defence, while elsewhere, Koeman rolled out a 4-3-3 formation, with James McCarthy, Idrissa Gueye and Ross Barkley forming the three-man midfield.
- Koeman was forced into making a change at half-time, with James McCarthy having to be replaced by Gareth Barry, who was back from his one-match ban, after picking up a knock. Everton’s second substitution was also an enforced one, with Maarten Stekelenburg replaced by Joel Robles just after the hour-mark. Koeman’s final change saw Dominic Calvert-Lewin take over from Enner Valencia on the right of the front three for the final 18 minutes.
- Stekelenburg and McCarthy will need to be assessed ahead of the Boxing Day trip to the King Power Stadium, with Robles and Barry the obvious replacements should they be ruled out. Jagielka will be back following his suspension to challenge Funes Mori for his spot in central defence. Koeman may also consider making a change out wide, with Calvert-Lewin, Kevin Mirallas and Gerard Deulofeu alternatives to Aaron Lennon and Valencia.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks
Liverpool
Starting XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Klavan, Lovren, Milner, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Lallana (Can 81), Mane, Origi (Sturridge 81), Firmino.
- Jurgen Klopp named an unchanged starting XI from the one that beat Middlesbrough for the trip to Goodison Park.
- Joel Matip missed out again due to an ankle injury, so Ragnar Klavan kept his berth alongside Dejan Lovren in central defence. Divock Origi continue as the central striker, although he and Roberto Firmino did regularly switch positions throughout the match.
- With the match remaining goalless, Klopp turned to the fit-again Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge, with Adam Lallana and Origi making way in straight swaps.
- While Klavan performed well on Monday night, Matip is expected to come straight back into the side against Stoke City if he’s fully recovered from his ankle injury. Can could also push for a recall if place of Georginio Wijnaldum, while Sturridge’s impact of the bench will see him push for a start in attack over the busy festive period.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Central Striker
Southampton
Starting XI: Forster; Cedric, Yoshida, van Dijk, Bertrand; Reed (Davis 46); Redmond, Clasie, Hojbjerg, Boufal (Tadic 62); Rodriguez (Long 90).
- Saints boss Claude Puel made six changes from the side that drew 0-0 against Stoke City for the trip to Bournemouth, with Cedric Soares, Maya Yoshida, Jordy Clasie, Harrison Reed, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Jay Rodriguez replacing Cuco Martina, Jose Fonte, Oriol Romeu, Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse and Shane Long.
- Those changes saw Southampton line up in more of a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Reed operating in the defensive midfield role. Cedric and Yoshida slotted in at right-back and centre-back respectively, while Clasie and Hojbjerg combined in central midfield. Rodriguez was stationed as the lone striker.
- Puel decided to change things at half-time, though, with Davis brought on in place of Reed, seeing Saints switch back to their more accustomed 4-3-3. Dusan Tadic then took over from Sofiane Boufal on the right of the front three shortly after the hour-mark, with Puel’s final substitution seeing Shane Long provide some fresh legs in place of Rodriguez for the final few minutes.
- The rotation we saw for this match raises some alarm bells given Southampton face Tottenham Hotspur on December 28, and then have two further matches in quick succession over the festive period. Cedric and Martina may continue to alternate at right-back, then, while Yoshida could get another start in one of those three matches in place of Fonte. Puel also has a host of options available to him in midfield, although Romeu appears likely to earn a recall against Spurs. After scoring twice at the weekend, Rodriguez may get the nod to start as the central striker, but he looks set to rotate with Long over the coming matches, while Tadic is a threat to both Boufal and Nathan Redmond.
Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker
Stoke City
Starting XI: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi; Diouf, Whelan (Sobhi 90), Imbula, Pieters; Allen, Bojan (Adam 83); Walters.
- Mark Hughes made three alterations for the home clash against Leicester City, with Bojan coming in for the suspended Marko Arnautovic, while Giannelli Imbula and Mame Biram Diouf started in place of Charlie Adam and Xherdan Shaqiri.
- Those changes saw the Potters return to the 3-4-2-1 formation, with Diouf stationed at right wing-back. Imbula joined Glenn Whelan in central midfield, while Bojan and Joe Allen played in central attacking midfield roles behind lone striker Jon Walters.
- After Jamie Vardy was sent off during the first-half, it was something of a surprise that Hughes only made his first substitution with seven minutes remaining, with Adam coming on in place of Bojan. That change allowed Imbula to operate slightly further forward in midfield. Ramadan Sobhi got a brief run-out late on in place of Whelan, as the Potters chased a late winner.
- If Hughes sticks with the 3-4-2-1 for the trip to Anfield, he is unlikely to make too many personnel changes, with Adam and Shaqiri possibly pushing Imbula and Bojan for starting berths. If he switches back to a four-man defence, Diouf could possible drop out of the starting XI, allowing Shaqiri to earn a recall.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
Sunderland
Starting XI: Pickford; Love (Larsson 88), Kone, Djilobodji, Van Aanholt; Ndong, Denayer; Borini (Khazri 90), Januzaj (O’Shea 80), Anichebe; Defoe.
- David Moyes made three changes for the home encounter against Watford, with Donald Love coming in for the injured Billy Jones, while Didier Ndong returned from suspension to replace John O’Shea. The other alteration saw the fit-again Victor Anichebe recalled in place of the injured Jan Kirchhoff.
- Those changes saw Sunderland return to a 4-2-3-1, with Ndong joining Jason Denayer at the base of midfield. Fabio Borini (right), Adnan Januzaj (No 10) and Anichebe (left) formed the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Jermain Defoe. In defence, Love slotted in at right-back.
- With the Black Cats holding onto a slender 1-0 lead, Moyes introduced O’Shea in place of Januzaj, seeing Sunderland revert to more of a 5-4-1, with O’Shea slotting into central defence. Sebastian Larsson and Wahbi Khazri then provided fresh legs late on in place of Love and Borini in straight swaps.
- With Sunderland travelling to Old Trafford on Boxing Day, Moyes may consider switching to a more defensive 5-4-1 formation. O’Shea could potentially earn a recall in central defence, then, with Januzaj making way due to the Belgian being ineligible to face his parent club. With the injury situation worsening at the Stadium of Light, Moyes looks to have few other senior players available to him. Javier Manquillo and Steven Pienaar could potentially return to contention if they recover from knocks.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks
Swansea City
Starting XI: Fabianski; Rangel, Mawson, Amat, Taylor; Fulton, Britton (Fer 70); Barrow (Borja Baston 59), Sigurdsson, Routledge (Montero 77); Llorente.
- Bob Bradley only made one tweak for the trip to the Riverside, with Modou Barrow recalled in place of Jefferson Montero.
- Barrow, who had been moved to the left flank in recent matches, started on the right against ‘Boro, with Wayne Routledge stationed on the opposite wing in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
- Barrow was hooked just before the hour mark, though, with Borja Baston brought on in his place. Borja joined Fernando Llorente, forming a 4-4-2, with Gylfi Sigurdsson then stationed on the left of midfield, although he generally drifted infield. Leroy Fer was then called upon to replace Leon Britton at the base of midfield, with Bradley’s final substitution seeing Jefferson Montero come on for Routledge. Montero took up his usual position on the left wing, with Sigurdsson playing centrally, with no width really being offered down the right.
- After another poor defensive display, there could be changes at the back for the Boxing Day clash against West Ham United. Jordi Amat’s spot appears the most at risk following a below-par performance against ‘Boro, while the Swans may also need the height of Mike van der Hoorn or Federico Fernandez, should he recover from a toe injury, to help deal with the aerial threat of Andy Carroll. Kyle Naughton may come into contention to replace Angel Rangel at right-back, while Montero could challenge Barrow and Routledge for the starting spots on the flanks. Changes are perhaps slightly less likely in midfield, although Fer and Jack Cork are viable alternatives to Britton and Jay Fulton.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Flanks
Tottenham Hotspur
Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose (Davies 77); Wanyama, Winks; Alli (Son Heung-min 73), Dembele (Sissoko 63), Eriksen; Kane.
- Mauricio Pochettino made two alterations for the visit of Burnley to White Hart Lane, with Harry Winks replacing the injured Toby Alderweireld, while the fit-again Mousa Dembele came in for Moussa Sissoko.
- Those changes saw Spurs line up in more of 4-3-2-1 formation, with Winks and Dembele playing slightly in front of holding midfielder Victor Wanyama, allowing Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli to play in central attacking midfield positions behind lone striker Harry Kane.
- Pochettino’s first substitution saw Sissoko replace Dembele just after the hour-mark, seeing Tottenham switch to a 4-2-3-1, with the France international stationed on the right of the attacking midfield trio. Son Heung-min then replaced Alli on the opposite flank 10 minutes later, while after Danny Rose picked up a slight knock, Ben Davies was brought on in his place at left-back for the final 13 minutes.
- Following back-to-back wins, Pochettino isn’t expected to make many changes for the trip to St Mary’s on Boxing Day. Alderweireld missed out with a minor back problem at the weekend, but should be fit to return against his former side. He could replace Eric Dier in central defence, then, unless Pochettino decides to go with a three-man backline. Winks may be in danger of dropping to the bench, with Sissoko a viable alternative in a 4-2-3-1. Son has come off the bench in both of the last two matches, though, and appears to have fallen down the pecking order somewhat. Rose picked up a knock to his thigh late on but will be expected to recover to face Southampton.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Kaboul (Janmaat 78), Prodl (Kabasele 31), Britos; Amrabat, Behrami, Capoue, Holebas; Ighalo, Deeney, Zuniga (Success 56).
- Hornets head coach Walter Mazzarri made three changes for the trip to the Stadium of Light, with Valon Behrami, Juan Zuniga and Troy Deeney coming in for Adlene Guedioura, Jerome Sinclair and the injured Roberto Pereyra.
- Behrami joined Etienne Capoue in central midfield in the 3-4-3 formation, with Zuniga and Odion Ighalo flanking central striker Deeney. Nordin Amrabat was stationed at right wing-back for the Hornets.
- Mazzarri was forced into making a first-half substitution, though, after Sebastian Prodl was forced off with a knock. He was replaced by Christian Kabasele in the three-man backline. Isaac Success was then introduced before the hour-mark in place of Zuniga on the left of the front three. The final change saw Daryl Janmaat replace Younes Kaboul, seeing Watford switch to more of a 4-2-4 in search of a late equaliser.
- Prodl is a doubt for the Boxing Day clash against Crystal Palace, so Kabasele could come into the side if Mazzarri sticks with a three-man backline. Likewise, Janmaat offers an alternative to Amrabat at right wing-back, although the Moroccan could also be used further forward. A switch to a four-man defence could see both Janmaat and Amrabat start, though. Success is another who could push for a recall on the opposite flank, while if Stefano Okaka recovers from a hamstring problem, he would also be in contention to start alongside Deeney in attack.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Right Wing-Back, Flanks
West Bromwich Albion
Starting XI: Foster; Dawson (Morrison 74), McAuley, Olsson, Nyom; Yacob, Fletcher; Brunt, Chadli (Leko 82), Phillips (Robson-Kanu 81); Rondon.
- Tony Pulis made one adjustment from the side that beat Swansea City 3-1 for the home encounter against Man United, with Craig Dawson returning from suspension to replace James Morrison.
- Dawson slotted into his usual position at right-back, with Allan Nyom switching over to left-back. That meant Chris Brunt returned to the position on the right of the attacking midfield trio in the 4-2-3-1, allowing Nacer Chadli to take up the No 10 role.
- With the Baggies trailing 2-0, Pulis introduced Morrison in place of Dawson for the final 16 minutes, with Brunt then returning to left-back, and Nyom to right-back. Matt Phillips and Chadli then made way for Hal Robson-Kanu and Jonathan Leko, with Robson-Kanu (left) and Leko (right) flanking Morrison in the No 10 position.
- Jonny Evans was thought to be close to a return last weekend, so he should have a good chance of being available for the Boxing Day trip to the Emirates following his calf problem. Should that be the case, he’d likely replace Jonas Olsson at centre-back, while Morrison may push for a recall in place of Chadli.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Attacking Midfield
West Ham United
Starting XI: Randolph; Kouyate, Reid, Ogbonna; Antonio, Noble, Obiang (Fernandes 46), Cresswell; Lanzini (Ayew 46), Carroll, Payet (Nordtveit 90).
- Hammers boss Slaven Bilic named the same side that beat Burnley 1-0 for the visit of Hull City to the London Stadium.
- Bilic rolled out the 3-4-2-1 once again, then, with Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini operating in the attacking midfield positions behind lone striker Andy Carroll.
- But with the match goalless at the break, Bilic decided to introduce Edimilson Fernandes and Andre Ayew in place of Pedro Obiang and Lanzini in straight swaps. Havard Nordtveit was called upon late on to help hold onto the 1-0 lead.
- Obiang picked up his fifth yellow card of the season on Saturday, so he’ll miss the trip to Swansea on Boxing Day due to suspension. Fernandes appears the obvious replacement, then, with Nordtveit and Lanzini perhaps other alternatives. Bilic may also consider handing Ayew a start against his former club, with Lanzini’s starting spot looking the most vulnerable.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
