Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 28 – Part Two

Chris Brunt is utilised off the bench as Tony Pulis rings the changes for West Brom’s trip to Goodison. Chelsea’s Pedro is rested for the FA Cup clash against Manchester United, while an injury to Harry Kane allows Son Heung-min to flourish as Spurs’ lone striker in an FA Cup hammering of Millwall.

After publishing Part One yesterday, we now scour the remaining teamsheets and tactics on show as we look for signs of likely line-ups ahead of Gameweek 29.

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses (Zouma 89), Kante, Matic, Alonso, Willian (Fabregas 80), Costa (Batshuayi 90), Hazard.

• Antonio Conte made two changes from the side that beat West Ham United 2-1 in Chelsea’s last Premier League match for the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, with Nemanja Matic and Willian recalled in place of Cesc Fabregas and Pedro.
• Matic started next to N’Golo Kante in central midfield, while Willian was stationed on the right of the front three, alongside Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.
• With 10 minutes remaining, Conte introduced Fabregas in place of Willian, with the Spaniard playing slightly narrower down the right than the Brazilian had. Kurt Zouma and Michy Batshuayi were then handed brief run-outs late on in place of Victor Moses and Costa.
• While Willian got the nod to start last night, Pedro is expected to come back into the side for Saturday’s trip to Stoke City, having started seven of the last eight league matches. However, he could be utilised as a right wing-back if Moses fails to recover from the knock that forced him off late on. The selection in central midfield between Matic and Fabregas looks a closer call, although a trip to the bet365 Stadium may be more suited for the physicality of the Serbian.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Manchester United

Starting XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Darmian, Herrera, Pogba, Young (Lingard 80), Mkhitaryan (Fellaini 37), Rashford.

• Jose Mourinho made six changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Bournemouth in United’s last Premier League match for the trip to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup quarter-final, with Chris Smalling, Matteo Darmian, Ander Herrera, Ashley Young, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford replacing Luke Shaw, Michael Carrick, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
• United lined up in a four-man defence, with Phil Jones stationed as a defensive midfielder. Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling were fielded as central defenders, Antonio Valencia and Darmian operated as full-backs, with Herrera joining Paul Pogba in central midfield. Young and Mkhitaryan flanked central striker Rashford, although Young played considerably deeper than Mkhitaryan, with the Armenian at times playing alongside Rashford in attack.
• Immediately following Herrera’s sending off for two bookable offences, Mourinho brought on Fellaini in place of Mkhitaryan, leaving Rashford as the lone striker. Mourinho only made one other substitution, with Jesse Lingard replacing Young for the final 10 minutes.
• Martial and Rooney missed out with knocks last night, but may return to contention for Sunday’s trip to Middlesbrough. If Rashford keeps his place as the lone striker, the likes of Martial, Lingard and Mata, along with Mkhitaryan, are likely to push for starts in the attacking midfield positions, with Mourinho perhaps likely to revert back to a 4-2-3-1. Herrera will miss the match at the Riverside Stadium due to suspension, so Carrick could partner Pogba in central midfield. Mourinho has options to chose from in defence, with Blind an alternative at left-back, while Eric Bailly may push for a recall at centre-back. Mourinho’s team selection for Thursday night’s Europa League clash against FC Rostov should provide us with some clues regarding the likely line-up on Sunday.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Left-Back, Flanks, Lone Striker

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Guzan; Barragan, Bernardo (Fry 50), Gibson, Fabio; Leadbitter (Ramirez 66); Traore, Clayton, de Roon, Stuani; Gestede (Negredo 26).

• Aitor Karanka made four changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Stoke City in Boro’s last Premier League match for the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City, with Brad Guzan, Antonio Barragan, Bernardo Espinosa and Cristhian Stuani replacing Victor Valdes, George Friend, Daniel Ayala and Gaston Ramirez.
• Barragan and Bernardo returned at right-back and centre-back respectively, while Stuani played out wide for ‘Boro in the 4-3-3 formation.
• Karanka was forced into making an early change, though, with Rudy Gestede making way for Alvaro Negredo in a straight swap after picking up a hamstring injury. Bernardo was then forced off with a knock five minutes into the second half, with Dael Fry taking his place at centre-back. Karanka’s final substitution saw Ramirez replace Grant Leadbitter, seeing ‘Boro switch to a more attacking 4-2-3-1.
• Defenders Friend, Ayala, Bernardo and Calum Chambers are all doubts ahead of Sunday’s home clash against Manchester United then. If Friend remains sidelined with a calf injury, Barragan and Fabio should continue in the full-back positions, while Fry may be needed to partner Ben Gibson in central defence if Ayala, Bernardo and Chambers are all unavailable. Gestede will also need to be assessed, with Negredo the obvious alternative in attack. The likes of Ramirez, Adam Forshaw and Viktor Fischer may push for recalls if Karanka considers making further changes. Valdes should return in goal, with Guzan generally only starting in the cup for ‘Boro

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

Swansea City

Starting XI: Fabianski; Rangel (Amat 33), Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson; Fer, Cork, Carroll, Routledge (Narsingh 71), Sigurdsson; Llorente (Ayew 45).

• Paul Clement only made two changes from the side that beat Burnley 3-2 for the trip to Hull City, with Angel Rangel replacing the injured Kyle Naughton, while Wayne Routledge was recalled in place of Luciano Narsingh.
• Routledge returned on the right of the front three in the 4-3-3 formation, then, alongside Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson in attack. Rangel slotted into his usual position at right-back.
• Rangel’s afternoon only lasted 33 minutes, though, after suffering a foot injury. He was replaced by Jordi Amat, but the Swans suffered a second injury blow shortly after, with a dead leg forcing Llorente to make way for Jordan Ayew in a straight swap. After falling a goal behind, Clement decided to bring on Narsingh in place of Routledge on the right flank.
• Rangel suffered a broken metatarsal at the KCOM Stadium, and now faces a spell of between eight and 12 weeks
  on the sidelines. The Swans hope Naughton will be able to return to training this week after he missed out due to a slight hamstring problem. But if he is also ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth, the likes of Stephen Kingsley, along with Amat, and perhaps even a defensive-minded midfield player may be considered for the right-back berth. Martin Olsson is also a doubt, though, after picking up an ankle injury on Saturday. The left-back suffered the problem after the Swans had made all three of their substitutions, forcing the Swede to play on. But if he was to be ruled out of the Bournemouth clash, Kingsley will be needed to fill in at left-back. Llorente was forced off with a dead leg and will need to be assessed. Ayew and Borja Baston provide alternatives as the central striker. Routledge endured a difficult afternoon against the Tigers, so Narsingh or Ayew could push for a start on the right wing for the south coast trip.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Right Wing, Central Striker

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Vorm, Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Trippier, Wanyama (Sissoko 78), Winks, Davies, Son Heung-min, Alli (Janssen 74), Kane (Eriksen 10).

• Mauricio Pochettino made four changes from the side that beat Everton 3-2 for the FA Cup quarter-final against Millwall, with Michel Vorm, Kieran Trippier, Harry Winks and Son Heung-min starting in place of Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Mousa Dembele and Christian Eriksen.
• Tripper slotted in at right wing-back for Spurs, while Winks partnered Victor Wanyama in central midfield in the 3-4-2-1 formation. Son started alongside Dele Alli in the two central attacking midfield positions behind lone striker Harry Kane.
• Pochettino was forced into making an early change after Kane suffered an ankle injury. He made way for Eriksen, with Son moving into the lone striker role. With the tie won, Pochettino then introduced Vincent Janssen and Moussa Sissoko in place of Alli and Wanyama. Janssen played as the lone striker, with Son dropping back alongside Eriksen in the attacking midfield spots.
• Rested for the Millwall match, Lloris, Walker, Dembele and Eriksen should all come back into the starting XI for Sunday’s home fixture against Southampton. Dembele does have an ankle problem, though, so Winks could retain his starting spot if the Belgian is unavailable. Kane is due to undergo a scan on his ankle injury today. He looks almost certain to miss out on Sunday, so Son is expected to start up front, with Alli and Eriksen operating in the attacking midfield positions. Janssen offers another alternative as the lone striker.

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

West Bromwich Albion

Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Yacob (Morrison 79); Chadli, Livermore, Fletcher, McClean (Brunt 75); Robson-Kanu (Rondon 76).

• Tony Pulis made three alterations for the trip to Goodison Park, with Claudio Yacob, James McClean and Hal Robson-Kanu replacing James Morrison, Chris Brunt and Salomon Rondon.
• Yacob played as the holding midfielder in the 4-1-4-1 formation used by Pulis, with McClean stationed on the left wing. Nacer Chadli operated on the opposite flank, with Robson-Kanu chosen as the lone striker.
• Despite being 2-0 behind at half-time, Pulis only made his first change with 15 minutes remaining, when he brought on Brunt in place of McClean. Brunt played on the right wing, with Chadli moving over to the left flank. Rondon then took over from Robson-Kanu as the lone striker, while Morrison replaced Yacob for the final 11 minutes, seeing Albion switch to a 4-2-3-1. Morrison played in the No 10 role, leaving Darren Fletcher and Jake Livermore at the base of midfield.
• Ahead of the match, Pulis revealed some players were in need of a rest and it was Brunt, Morrison and Rondon who dropped to the bench on Merseyside. But given the poor performance, all three may come straight back into the side for Saturday’s home clash against Arsenal. Yacob, McClean and Robson-Kanu could all drop out of the side once again, then, although Livermore may perhaps face more of a battle to keep his place ahead of Yacob in the middle of the park. Matt Phillips would also be an option out wide if he can recover from a hamstring injury.

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

West Ham United

Starting XI: Randolph; Kouyate (Byram 78), Fonte, Reid, Cresswell; Noble (Snodgrass 58), Obiang; Feghouli (Ayew 58), Antonio, Lanzini; Carroll.

• Slaven Bilic only made one adjustment from the side that lost 2-1 to Chelsea for the trip to Bournemouth, with Michail Antonio returning from his one-match ban to replace Robert Snodgrass, who was struggling with a knee injury suffered against the leaders.
• Antonio played centrally alongside Andy Carroll, with Manuel Lanzini and Sofiane Feghouli afforded the roles out wide.
• But with his side trailing 2-1, Bilic made a double substitution just before the hour mark, with Snodgrass and Andre Ayew introduced in place of Mark Noble and Feghouli. Snodgrass took over on the right wing, with Ayew stationed in the No 10 role, seeing Lanzini drop into central midfield alongside Pedro Obiang. Bilic’s final change saw Sam Byram take over from Cheikhou Kouyate at right-back for the final 12 minutes.
• With two goals and an assist in three substitute appearances over the last three Gameweeks, Ayew is likely to come under strong consideration for a start against Leicester City on Saturday. Feghouli’s place is probably the most under threat, with both the Ghanaian and Lanzini able to operate either on the right or in the No 10 position. Lanzini could also play in a deeper midfield role as he did on Saturday, perhaps putting the starting places of Noble and Obiang at slight risk. Snodgrass also suffered an ankle sprain during his cameo appearance on Saturday and is a doubt for the Foxes clash. Antonio and Carroll appear likely to keep their starting roles in the front four positions.

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