Line-Up Lessons – Gameweek 34 – Part One

Arsene Wenger continues his wing-back experiment, Antonio Conte rests some of his big names and Ronald Koeman swaps goalkeepers. Elsewhere, change is kept to a minimum on a busy weekend of matches across two competitions.

Here’s the first instalment of our Gameweek 34 teamsheet summary, outlining the trends and tactics on show and offering early insight into the likely line-ups to come next weekend.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech; Gabriel, Koscielny, Holding; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Bellerin 115), Ramsey, Xhaka, Monreal; Ozil (Coquelin 118), Sanchez; Giroud (Welbeck 83).

• Gunners boss Arsene Wenger named the same side that beat Middlesbrough 2-1 for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
• Wenger rolled out the 3-4-2-1 formation once more, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Nacho Monreal operating as wing-backs. Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez were stationed in attacking midfield positions behind lone striker Olivier Giroud.
• Wenger’s first substitution involved Danny Welbeck replacing Giroud in a straight swap with seven minutes of normal time remaining. Hector Bellerin then took over from Oxlade-Chamberlain at right wing-back during extra time, with Francis Coquelin brought on during the final few minutes in place of Ozil to help shore up the midfield as Arsenal finished the match in a 3-5-1-1 formation.
• Given that the Gunners have won their last two matches using three centre-halves, Wenger looks likely to stick with the same formation for the home clash against Leicester City on Wednesday – and probably for Sunday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur. So unless Shkodran Mustafi recovers from a thigh injury, the back three of Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny and Rob Holding could remain unchanged. Bellerin might see some minutes at right wing-back, while Kieran Gibbs is a possible alternative to Monreal at left wing-back for the Foxes clash, with the Spaniard set to start against Spurs. Welbeck could come in for the Leicester fixture, with Giroud perhaps more likely to get the nod in the north London derby. In central midfield, Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny are options to provide fresh legs on Wednesday night in place of Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Wing-Backs, Central Midfield, Lone Striker

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; A Smith, Francis, S Cook, Daniels; Fraser (Stanislas 72), Arter, Gosling (L Cook 44), Pugh; King (Moussett 84), Afobe.

• Eddie Howe made two changes for the visit of Middlesbrough to the Vitality Stadium, with the fit-again Dan Gosling replacing the injured Jack Wilshere, while Ryan Fraser was recalled in place of Junior Stanislas.
• Gosling partnered Harry Arter in central midfield in the 4-4-2 formation, with Fraser returning on the right wing.
• Gosling’s afternoon only lasted 44 minutes, as he suffered a further setback. He was replaced by Lewis Cook in a straight swap. With 18 minutes remaining, Stanislas took over from Fraser on the right wing, while Lys Mousset came on for Joshua King for the final six minutes.
• Gosling is now a major doubt for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland, so Lewis Cook looks to have a good chance of earning a starting spot in the middle of the park. Fraser is the favourite to start on the right wing, although Stanislas does provide a viable alternative.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Right Wing

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee (Tarkowski 46), Ward; Boyd (Gudmundsson 62), Hendrick, Barton, Brady; Barnes (Agjei 75), Gray.

• Clarets boss Sean Dyche only made one alteration for the home encounter against Manchester United, with Andre Gray recalled in place of the injured Sam Vokes.
• Gray was stationed as the lone striker, with Ashley Barnes operating in the support striker role in a 4-4-1-1 formation.
• Dyche was forced into making a change at half-time, with James Tarkowski replacing Ben Mee, who had to come off due to an ankle injury. Shortly after the hour mark, Johann Berg Gudmundsson was introduced for George Boyd. The Iceland international played on the right wing and Robbie Brady moved over to the opposite flank. Dyche’s final substitution saw youngster Daniel Agyei replace Barnes as Burnley switched to a 4-4-2.
• Mee will need to be assessed after picking up that injury, with Tarkowski set to deputise for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace if he is ruled out. Vokes missed yesterday’s match with a hamstring problem, so the Welshman could struggle to be fit for the weekend. Barnes and Gray look set to keep their places in attack then, with another change most likely to occur in the wide positions, where Gudmundsson and Steven Defour provide alternatives to Boyd and Brady.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Forwards

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Ake; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Willian (Hazard 61), Pedro (Fabregas 74); Batshuayi (Costa 61).

• Antonio Conte made five changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Manchester United for the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, with the fit-again Thibaut Courtois and Marcos Alonso starting at the expense of Asmir Begovic and Kurt Zouma. Elsewhere, Nathan Ake came in for Gary Cahill, who missed out having been struck down by gastroenteritis, while Willian and Michy Batshuayi were surprise starters in place of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.
• Ake started on the left of the three-man defence, with Alonso returning at left wing-back. Willian was stationed on the right of the front three, with Batshauyi operating as the central striker.
• With the match level at 2-2, Conte decided to bring on Hazard and Costa in place of Willian and Batshuayi shortly after the hour mark. The final change involved Cesc Fabregas coming on for Pedro, with the Spaniard playing just in front of N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic as Hazard moved next to Costa to form more of a 3-4-1-2 system.
• Up next for Chelsea is a home clash with Southampton on Tuesday night before a trip to Everton on Sunday. Hazard and Costa will be fresh for the Saints clash, so they should return in attack. Fabregas could be an option to start at the expense of Matic in central midfield, while Cahill looks set to be in contention having returned to training with Ake likely to make way. For the trip to Goodison Park, Matic is still probably the favourite to partner Kante in the middle of the park. Willian could also start one of the next two matches, perhaps sharing pitch time with Pedro.

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

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Kelly, Tomkins, Schlupp; Zaha (Van Aanholt 78), Cabaye (Delaney 83), Milivojevic, Puncheon, Townsend; Benteke (Campbell 88).

• Eagles boss Sam Allardyce was forced into making one adjustment for the trip to Anfield, with the fit-again James Tomkins starting in place of Mamadou Sakho, who was ineligible to face his parent club Liverpool.
• Tomkins partnered Martin Kelly in central defence, while Allardyce opted for more of a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Yohan Cabaye pushed forward into the No 10 role.
• After taking a 2-1 lead, Allardyce made a slightly defensive first change, bringing on Patrick van Aanholt for Wilfried Zaha. The Dutchman played at left-back, with Jeffrey Schlupp stationed just in front of him on the left side of midfield. That was followed by another defensive move, with Damien Delaney entering the fray for Cabaye. That saw Palace switch to a 5-4-1 system, with Delaney joining Kelly and Tomkins in central defence. Fraizer Campbell replaced Christian Benteke late on to provide some fresh legs up front.
• Up next for Palace in a home meeting with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night, before they host Burnley in Gamweek 35. Allardyce has stated that he may have to make “huge changes” for Spurs’ visit. He will almost certainly recall Sakho in central defence against Spurs, with Tomkins likely to make way after suffering an ankle problem late on at Anfield. Van Aanholt will be expected to start at least one of the next two matches at left-back, but providing the front six are fit enough to start both of the next two fixtures, that could be it in terms of changes. James McArthur provides an alternative in central midfield, with Bakary Sako an option in the wide positions – Yohan Cabaye or Jason Puncheon would seem the most likely to make way should Allardyce freshen up his midfield.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Left-Back

Everton

Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Holgate, Jagielka, Williams, Baines; Gueye (Lookman 45), Schneiderlin, Davies (Barry 46), Barkley, Mirallas (Calvert-Lewin 72); Lukaku.

• Ronald Koeman only made one change for the trip to West Ham United, with Maarten Stekelenburg recalled in goal at the expense of Joel Robles.
• The Everton boss kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 formation, so Ross Barkley, Tom Davies and Kevin Mirallas were again selected in the attacking midfield positions behind lone striker Romelu Lukaku.
• Following a lacklustre first-half performance, Koeman decided to make a double substitution, with Gareth Barry and Ademola Lookman brought on for Idrissa Gueye and Davies. Barry played alongside Morgan Schneiderlin at the base of midfield, while Lookman was stationed on the right wing, with Barkley taking over the No 10 role. The last change involved Dominic Calvert-Lewin replacing Kevin Mirallas on the left wing for the final 18 minutes.
• After a disappointing performance at the London Stadium, Koeman may consider making changes for Sunday’s home clash with Chelsea. Lookman, Calvert-Lewis and Enner Valencia, who will be available again after being ineligible to face his parent club, all provide alternatives to Davies and Mirallas. Barry provides another option in central midfield, while the Everton boss could consider switching to a three-man backline to match Chelsea. If so, that would probably see Matthew Pennington earning a start in central defence. Stekelenburg earned a surprise recall at the weekend and, after keeping a clean sheet, may keep his place in goal.

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

Hull City

Starting XI: Jakupovic; Elmohamady, Maguire, Ranocchia, Robertson; Markovic (Huddlestone 82), N’Diaye, Clucas, Evandro (Hernandez 46), Grosicki (Dawson 89); Niasse.

• Hull head coach Marco Silva made two changes for the home fixture against Watford, with Ahmed Elmohamady and Evandro recalled at the expense of Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone.
• Elmohamady returned at right-back as Harry Maguire shifted across to centre-back. Evandro played in the No 10 role in the 4-2-3-1 system, with Sam Clucas dropping back alongside Alfred N’Diaye at the base of midfield.
• After going down to 10-men following the sending off of Oumar Niasse, Silva decided to introduce Abel Hernandez for Evandro at half-time. That change saw the Tigers line up in a 4-2-3 formation, with Lazar Markovic (right) and Kamil Grosicki (left) flanking the Uruguayan in the central striker role.
• Pending any appeal, Silva will be without the suspended Niasse for Saturday’s trip to Southampton, so Hernandez is expected to lead the Hull attack at St Mary’s. Dieumerci Mbokani provides the other option up front. The Tigers boss could consider recalling Dawson at centre-back, with Maguire perhaps moving to right-back at the expense of Elmohamady. N’Diaye and Clucas look set to keep their places in midfield, although Huddlestone does provide a viable alternative and Clucas is also an option to start in the No 10 role in place of Evandro.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Centre-Back, Central Midfield, Lone Striker

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne (Grujic 84), Matip, Lovren (Alexander-Arnold 79), Milner (Moreno 82); Wijnaldum, Lucas Leiva, Emre Can; Firmino, Origi, Coutinho.

• Jurgen Klopp was able to name the same side that beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 for the home clash against Crystal Palace after Joel Matip and Lucas Leiva recovered from knocks.
• The Liverpool manager stuck with his preferred 4-3-3 formation, with Lucas used in the defensive midfield role, leaving Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum slightly further forward in central midfield.
• Klopp only began to make changes late on after Liverpool fell 2-1 behind, firstly introducing Trent Alexander-Arnold in place of Dejan Lovren. The substitute played at right wing-back, with Nathaniel Clyne and Lucas moving into central defence alongside Matip as the Reds switched to a 3-4-3 system. Alberto Moreno then took over from James Milner at left wing-back, with the final change seeing Marko Grujic replace Clyne. Grujic operated in central midfield, leaving only Matip and Lucas at the back as the Reds pushed for a late equaliser.
• Adam Lallana looks to have a chance of returning from a thigh injury for Liverpool’s trip to Watford a week today, so he could replace Lucas in the three-man midfield, with Can moving into the holding midfield role. Other changes appear unlikely, although Klopp will hope Daniel Sturridge, who missed yesterday’s match due to a hip problem, is available to offer an attacking option from the bench.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Part Two of Lineup Lessons, covering the remaining eight teams, will be published tomorrow.