Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 21 – Part Two

Aitor Karanka trials a three-man defence for Middlesbrough’s match at Watford. Mark Hughes reverts to four at the back as Peter Crouch continues to impress up top for Stoke, while Jay Rodriguez drops back to the bench as Southampton lose at Burnley.

Having published Part One yesterday, we take a look at the remaining ten teams for signs of personnel changes and tactical tweaks with one eye already focused on Gameweek 22.

Manchester United

Starting XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian (Fellaini 76), Herrera, Carrick (Rooney 46), Pogba, Mkhitaryan, Ibrahimovic, Martial (Mata 65).

• Jose Mourinho only made one adjustment from the side that beat West Ham United 2-0 for the home encounter against Liverpool, with Anthony Martial starting in place of Jesse Lingard.
• Martial started on the left in the 4-1-4-1 formation favoured by Mourinho of late, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan keeping his spot on the opposite flank.
• But after heading into half-time 1-0 down, Mourinho decided to introduce Wayne Rooney in place of Michael Carrick. That change saw United switch to a 4-2-3-1, with Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba stationed in central midfield, while Rooney played in the No 10 role. Martial then made way for Juan Mata shortly after the hour mark, with the Spaniard playing on the right of the attacking midfield trio, and Mkhitaryan on the left. Then as a final roll of the dice, Marouane Fellaini came on in place of Matteo Darmian. That change saw Fellaini play in a support striker role behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Rooney moving to the left wing, while Mkhitaryan dropped to left-back.
• Mourinho has a wealth of options to choose from in the wide positions, and while Mkhitaryan looks to have moved himself to the top of the pecking order, the likes of Rooney, Lingard, Mata and Marcus Rashford could all challenge Martial for a starting berth. Unless Mourinho starts with a 4-2-3-1 against Stoke City on Saturday, Carrick appears likely to keep his place in the side, despite a sub-par performance on Sunday. United’s frailty at set-pieces may see Chris Smalling push for a start in central defence to help deal with the threat from the likes of Peter Crouch and Ryan Shawcross.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Valdes; Bernardo, Chambers, Gibson; Fabio, de Roon, Leadbitter, Forshaw, Friend; Stuani (Gestede 65), Negredo.

• Aitor Karanka made five changes for the trip to Vicarage Road, with Victor Valdes, Bernardo Espinosa, George Friend, Grant Leadbitter and Cristhian Stuani replacing Brad Guzan, Antonio Barragan, Adam Clayton, Adama Traore and Gaston Ramirez.
• Those alterations saw ‘Boro line-up in an unaccustomed 3-5-2 formation, with Bernardo, Calum Chambers and Ben Gibson forming the three-man defence. Fabio and Friend played as wing-backs, with Leadbitter and Adam Forshaw playing in advance of holding midfielder Marten de Roon. Stuani partnered Alvaro Negredo in attack.
• Karanka only made one change, handing a league debut to Rudy Gestede in place of Stuani for the final 25 minutes in a straight swap.
• ’Boro host West Ham on Saturday, so if Karanka does stick with the 3-5-2, he may consider handing a start to Gestede alongside Negredo in attack. Clayton may push for a recall, in either the 3-5-2 or a 4-1-4-1, while if the ‘Boro boss does revert to a four-man backline, Bernardo looks likely to be the obvious casualty. Traore and Ramirez, providing the latter recovers from a knee injury, could return to contention if Karanka reverts to 4-1-4-1.

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

Southampton

Starting XI: Forster; Cedric, Yoshida, van Dijk, Bertrand; Romeu, Ward-Prowse; Hojbjerg, Tadic (Rodriguez 68), Long, Redmond (Sims 80).

• Claude Puel made three alterations from the side that lost 3-0 at Everton for the trip to Turf Moor, with Ryan Bertrand, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Shane Long coming in for Sam McQueen, Jordy Clasie and Jay Rodriguez.
• Bertrand slotted into his usual position at left-back, while Hojbjerg joined Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse in the three-man midfield. Long operated as the central striker, flanked by Nathan Redmond and Dusan Tadic.
• Puel made his first change after 68 minutes, with Rodriguez brought on for Tadic. The substitute played as the central striker, with Long moving out to the left. With 10 minutes remaining, Puel introduced Josh Sims in place of Redmond on the right of the front three as Saints looked to find a late equaliser.
• Saints face a midweek FA Cup third round replay against Norwich City, and also have an EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool to consider over the next week or so. We could be set to see some rotation against Leicester City in the league on Sunday, then, with Cuco Martina and McQueen viable starters in the full-back positions. Ryan Bertrand and Virgil van Dijk are now both doubts to face the Canaries, which may even force a recall for want-away Jose Fonte. Meanwhile, Clasie, Harrison Reed and Steven Davis, providing he recovers from a knock, are alternatives in central midfield. Rodriguez is likely to return as the central striker against the Foxes, while Sims provides another option on the flanks.

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

Stoke City

Starting XI: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Adam (Afellay 68), Whelan; Shaqiri (Ngoy 88), Allen, Arnautovic; Crouch.

• Mark Hughes made two changes from the team that beat Watford 2-0 for the trip to the Stadium of Light, with Glenn Whelan and Xherdan Shaqiri replacing Mame Biram Diouf and the injured Jon Walters.
• Those changes saw Hughes switch from a 3-4-2-1 to a 4-2-3-1, with Shaqiri on the right of the attacking midfield trio. Whelan started alongside Charlie Adam at the base of midfield for the Potters.
• With 22 minutes remaining, Hughes brought on Ibrahim Afellay in place of Adam in a straight swap. The Stoke boss then handed Julien Ngoy a brief run-out late on in place of Shaqiri.
• If Hughes sticks with the 4-2-3-1 against Man United on Saturday, the only area where he may look to tweak his starting XI is in central midfield, with Afellay and Giannelli Imbula viable alternatives to Whelan and Adam. With Diouf away at the Africa Cup of Nations, it’s less likely he’ll switch back to a 3-4-2-1.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Sunderland

Starting XI: Mannone; Love, O’Shea, Djilobodji, Van Aanholt; Borini, Denayer, Rodwell, Larsson; Januzaj; Defoe.

• Sunderland manager David Moyes was forced into making one adjustment from the side that drew 2-2 against Liverpool for the home clash against Stoke City, with Jason Denayer coming in for Didier Ndong, who is participating in the AFCON.
• Denayer started alongside Jack Rodwell in central midfield for the Black Cats, in what was more of a 4-4-1-1 formation used by Moyes. Sebastian Larsson (left) and Fabio Borini (right) started out wide, with Adnan Januzaj playing “in the hole” behind lone striker Jermain Defoe.
• Perhaps due to the long list of absentees, Moyes decided not to make a substitution, despite going into half-time 3-1 behind.
• Unless either Steven Pienaar (calf) or Victor Anichebe (hamstring) are passed fit for Saturday’s trip to the Hawthorns, Moyes doesn’t look to have too many options to freshen up his starting XI unless he turns to youth. If either player is available, it could be either Larsson or Januzaj that drop to the bench. Billy Jones and Javier Manquillo are viable alternatives to Donald Love at right-back.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Left Wing, Forwards

Swansea City

Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Kingsley; Cork (McBurnie 70), Ki Sung-yeung; Dyer (Fer 55), Sigurdsson, Routledge; Llorente (Borja Baston 70).

• New Swansea head coach Paul Clement made two changes from the side that beat Crystal Palace 2-1 for the home encounter against Arsenal, with Stephen Kingsley replacing the injured Neil Taylor, while Nathan Dyer earned a recall in place of Jay Fulton.
• Those changes saw the Swans switch from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1, with Gylfi Sigurdsson restored to the No 10 role. Kingsley slotted in at left-back, while Dyer operated on the right of the attacking midfield trio.
• Clement made a tweak 10 minutes into the second-half, with Leroy Fer introduced in place of Dyer. The Dutchman initially moved into the No 10 role, forcing Sigurdsson onto the right wing. Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Clement brought on forwards Borja Baston and Oliver McBurnie in place of Jack Cork and Fernando Llorente. That saw the Swans move to a 4-4-2, with Ki Sung-yeung and Fer combining in central midfield.
• With the Swans facing a trip to Anfield on Saturday, Clement may adopt a more defensive approach. He could revert to a 4-3-3, with Dyer the most likely to drop to the bench. One of Fulton, Leon Britton or Fer may then be brought in to bolster the midfield, with Sigurdsson and Wayne Routledge perhaps flanking Llorente. New signing Luciano Narsingh may recover from a calf problem to come into contention, though, while Clement is likely to hand new boy Martin Olsson a spot at left-back. There may also be a small chance of Sigurdsson playing as a “false nine,” as he has done in a couple of away matches already this season.

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

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen (Davies 64); Walker, Wanyama, Dembele (Winks 82), Rose; Eriksen, Kane (Son Heung-min 88), Alli.

• Mauricio Pochettino unsurprisingly named an unchanged starting XI from the one that beat Chelsea 2-0 for the home fixture against West Bromwich Albion.
• The Tottenham boss stuck with the 3-4-2-1 formation, then, with Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli starting in central attacking midfield roles behind lone striker Harry Kane.
• Pochettino’s first substitution was an enforced one, after Jan Vertonghen picked up an ankle injury, forcing him to be replaced by Ben Davies in a straight swap. Harry Winks and Son Heung-min then came on during the final 10 minutes in place of Mousa Dembele and Kane in straight swaps.
• Vertonghen is expected to be ruled out for Saturday’s trip to the Etihad, and perhaps for an extended period of time, so Davies or Kevin Wimmer may slot in alongside Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier in the three-man backline. Pochettino could also consider switching back to a 4-2-3-1, with Son perhaps the most likely to force his way into the side.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes (Pantilimon 66); Kaboul, Prodl, Britos; Kabasele, Capoue, Behrami (Cleverley 76), Holebas (Zuniga 89), Doucoure; Deeney, Okaka.

• Hornets head coach Walter Mazzarri only made one alteration for the home clash against Middlesbrough, with the fit-again Stefano Okaka replacing Adlene Guedioura, who’s gone to the AFCON.
• Okaka joined Troy Deeney in attack for Watford, with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue operating slightly in advance of holding midfielder Valon Behrami in the 3-5-2 formation. Christian Kabasele played at right wing-back for the Hornets.
• Mazzarri’s first substitution was an enforced one, with a knock picked up by Heurelho Gomes meaning he had to be replaced by Costel Pantilimon. Tom Cleverley was then handed his second Watford debut, following a previous loan spell, replacing Behrami in a straight swap, before Juan Zuniga was handed a brief run-out late on in place of Jose Holebas at left wing-back.
• While Watford did keep a clean sheet at the weekend, there still might be a chance that Zuniga pushes for a recall at right wing-back in place of Kabasele for the trip to Bournemouth. Cleverley could be afforded a start in central midfield, while Odion Ighalo and Jerome Sinclair provide alternatives in attack.

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

West Bromwich Albion

Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt (McClean 53); Chadli (Robson-Kanu 61), Yacob, Fletcher, Morrison, Phillips (Field 90); Rondon.

• Tony Pulis was forced into making once change for the trip to White Hart Lane, with Jonas Olsson coming in for the injured Jonny Evans.
• Olsson partnered Gareth McAuley in central defence, while Chris Brunt shrugged off a back problem to start at left-back for the Baggies in what was more of a 4-5-1 on the day, primarily due to Tottenham’s dominance.
• Pulis had made a slight tactical tweak at half-time, switching to a 3-5-2 and replaced Brunt with James McClean on 53 minutes. The latter took over at left wing-back, then, with Nacer Chadli, and then Matt Phillips playing at right wing-back following the introduction of Hal Robson-Kanu, who played alongside Salomon Rondon in attack. Sam Field was handed a few minutes late on in place of Phillips.
• If Pulis sticks with his favoured 4-2-3-1 against Sunderland on Saturday, he appears unlikely to make many changes to his starting XI. Evans remains a doubt due to a calf problem, while the Baggies are still waiting for international clearance for Allan Nyom to be available to play. Brunt will have to be checked due to an ongoing back issue, so Brendan Galloway may be on standby to fill in at left-back. Robson-Kanu has impressed in recent weeks, and could push for a starting place either out wide in the 4-2-3-1, or alongside Rondon if Pulis considers changing to a 3-5-2 or perhaps a 4-4-2.

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

West Ham United

Starting XI: Randolph; Collins, Reid, Ogbonna (Byram 46); Antonio (Fletcher 89), Noble, Obiang, Cresswell; Feghouli, Lanzini (Fernandes 87); Carroll.

• Slaven Bilic made three alterations for the London derby against Crystal Palace, with James Collins, Mark Noble and Andy Carroll returning in place of Havard Nordtveit, Cheikhou Kouyate and Dimitri Payet.
• Collins slotted in alongside Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna in the three-man defence, while Noble partnered Pedro Obiang in central midfield in the 3-4-2-1 formation. Carroll played as the lone striker, supported by Manuel Lanzini and Sofiane Feghouli in the central attacking midfield positions, while Michail Antonio started at right wing-back.
• But with the match goalless at half-time, Bilic made a tactical change, with Sam Byram introduced in place of Ogbonna, seeing the Hammers switch to a 4-2-3-1, with Antonio joining Feghouli and Lanzini in the advanced midfield positions. With the match won, Bilic handed brief run-outs to Edimilson Fernandes and Ashley Fletcher in place of Lanzini and Antonio.
• After winning 3-0 following the formation change, Bilic may look to start with the 4-2-3-1 against Middlesbrough on Saturday. Byram could start at right-back, then, with one of either Collins or Ogbonna partnering Reid in central defence. Antonio would then start in an advanced midfield position alongside Lanzini and Feghouli.

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