Line-Up Lessons – Gameweek 29 – Part One

Arsene Wenger turns to Danny Welbeck as his central striker. Marco Silva opts for three centre-backs at Everton, while Antonio Conte shifts shape to mastermind a hard-fought victory at Stoke City.

Here’s the first instalment of our Gameweek 29 teamsheet summary outlining the trends and tactics on show and offer early insight into the likely lineups to follow the international break.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech (Ospina 38); Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny; Monreal; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xhaka; Walcott (Giroud 65), Ramsey, Sanchez (Iwobi 78); Welbeck.

• Arsene Wenger made two changes from the side that beat Lincoln City 5-0 in the FA Cup for the trip to The Hawthorns, with Nacho Monreal and Danny Welbeck starting in place of Kieran Gibbs and Olivier Giroud.
• Monreal slotted in at left-back for the Gunners, while Welbeck operated as the lone striker in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Alexis Sanchez played on the left wing, then, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the No 10 role, leaving Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka at the base of midfield.
• Petr Cech suffered a calf injury during the first half, and had to be replaced by David Ospina. Then shortly after the hour mark, Wenger decided to bring on Giroud for Theo Walcott. Giroud played as the lone striker, with Welbeck moving out onto the right wing. Then having played much of the match with an ankle injury, Sanchez was eventually replaced by Alex Iwobi in a straight swap for the final 12 minutes.
• Following another abject performance, along with some fresh injury blows, Wenger looks set to make some changes for Arsenal’s next match against Manchester City. Gibbs could come into contention to replace Monreal at left-back if he recovers from a knock, while Ospina will be expected to start in goal if Cech is ruled out. Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin could push for recalls in central midfield, while Mesut Ozil and Lucas Perez may come into the equation if they recover from hamstring and thigh injuries respectively. Sanchez’ availability is uncertain, so the likes of Iwobi and Giroud could also be considered for starting berths in attack.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; A. Smith, Francis, S. Cook, Daniels; Fraser (Wilshere 74), Surman, Gosling, Pugh (Ibe 90); King (Gradel 90), Afobe.

• Cherries boss Eddie Howe made one change for the visit of Swansea City to the Vitality Stadium, with Andrew Surman returning from a one-match ban to replace the injured Harry Arter.
• Surman started next to Dan Gosling in central midfield, then, in what was more of a 4-4-2 used by Howe, with King playing alongside Benik Afobe in attack.
• Shortly after taking a 2-0 lead, Howe decided to bring on Jack Wilshere in place of Ryan Fraser. Wilshere played in the No 10 role behind lone striker Afobe, with King moving out onto the right wing. Max Gradel and Jordon Ibe were handed brief run-outs late on in place of King and Marc Pugh.
• Following back-to-back wins, Howe won’t be expected to make many changes for Bournemouth’s derby trip to Southampton after the international break. Arter may well return to contention if he can recover from a calf injury, so he could push for a recall in place of Gosling. Given the form of King and Afobe, Wilshere may have to again settle for a place among the substitutes.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Boyd (Brady 74), Barton, Hendrick, Arfield; Barnes (Vokes 63), Gray.

• Sean Dyche named an unchanged starting XI for Burnley’s trip to the Stadium of Light.
• The Clarets did line up in more of a 4-2-3-1 formation, though, with Ashley Barnes playing in a slightly deeper No 10 role behind lone striker Andre Gray.
• Shortly after the hour mark, Dyche decided to bring on Sam Vokes for Barnes in a straight swap. His only other change saw Robbie Brady come on in place of George Boyd. Brady played on the left wing, with Scott Arfield switching over to the opposite flank.
• Dyche has favoured Arfield on the left wing over Brady for the last two matches, but the Republic of Ireland international could push for a recall when Burnley entertain Tottenham Hotspur after the international break. Vokes appears unlikely to replace Barnes in the starting XI, but Steven Defour was fit to be named among the substitutes, so he may be an option in central midfield against Spurs.

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

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois; Azpilucueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Fabregas 70), Kante, Matic (Loftus-Cheek 82), Alonso; Willian (Zouma 88), Costa, Pedro.

• Antonio Conte was forced into making one change from the side that beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup, with Pedro coming in for the injured Eden Hazard.
• Pedro started on the left of the front three, then, with Willian keeping his place on the right in the usual 3-4-3 formation. Nemanja Matic was again favoured over Cesc Fabregas in central midfield.
• Conte’s first substitution saw Victor Moses, who was a slight doubt pre-match, make way for Fabregas with 20 minutes remaining. The Spaniard played in a more central attacking midfield position, as Conte moved to a 4-3-3 set-up. Cesar Azpilicueta shifted to right-back before the introduction of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kurt Zouma late on saw the Blues adopt a 3-4-1-2 formation. Zouma was stationed on the right of the three-man defence, allowing Azpilicueta to see out the match at right wing-back. Loftus-Cheek provided support to Costa up front.
• The severity of Hazard’s calf injury was played down by Conte and, with the Blues now not playing for two weeks, he is expected to recover to face Crystal Palace. Conte has strong options out wide in Pedro and Willian though, in any case. The Palace home fixture could be more suited for Fabregas to start in central midfield, so Matic’s role could be under threat in that one.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Tomkins (Dann 83), Sakho, Schlupp; Milivojevic, Cabaye (Sako 87), Puncheon; Zaha, Townsend (Delaney 87); Benteke.

• Sam Allardyce was forced into making one adjustment from the side that beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in Palace’s last match, with Jeffrey Schlupp starting in place of the injured Patrick van Aanholt.
• Schlupp slotted in at left-back for the Eagles, then, who lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Andros Townsend, Yohan Cabaye, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha formed the four-man midfield behind lone striker Christian Benteke.
• Allardyce’s first substitution saw Scott Dann take over from James Tomkins in central defence for the final seven minutes. Damien Delaney and Bakary Sako then entered the fray for Townsend and Cabaye. Delaney joined Dann and Mamadou Sakho to form a five-man defence, with Sako stationed on the right side of midfield in what was more of a 5-4-1 formation as Palace looked to hold on for the 1-0 win.
• Following a third successive victory, Allardyce will be expected to name a similar side for their trip to leaders Chelsea after the international break. Van Aanholt remains a doubt for that match due to his ankle injury, but if he is passed fit, he could replace Schlupp at left-back. Other changes in personnel appear unlikely unless the Eagles boss considers a change in formation. If he looks at starting with three at the back, for example, Dann could push for a starting spot alongside Tomkins and Sakho.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Centre-Back

Everton

Starting XI: Robles: Coleman, Williams, Jagielka, Baines; Schneiderlin (Barry 30), Gueye: Davies (Valencia 76), Barkley, Calvert-Lewin (Funes Mori 56); Lukaku .

• Everton manager Ronald Koeman made two alterations from the side that beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 for the home encounter against Hull City, with Idrissa Gueye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin starting in place of Gareth Barry and Kevin Mirallas.
• Gueye played alongside Morgan Schneiderlin at the base of midfield in the 4-2-3-1 formation, while Calvert-Lewin operated on the left of the attacking midfield trio, with Tom Davies (No 10) and Ross Barkley (right) occupying the other two spots.
• Koeman was forced into making an early change, though, after Schneiderlin picked up a calf injury. He was replaced by Barry in a straight swap. The Everton boss then decided to make a defensive-minded substitution with the Toffees holding a slender 1-0 lead, with Ramiro Funes Mori brought on for goalscorer Calvert-Lewin. That saw Everton switch to a 3-4-2-1, with Funes Mori joining Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka in the three-man defence. With 14 minutes remaining, Koeman turned to Enner Valencia, who replaced Davies in a straight swap.
• Schneiderlin will need to be assessed ahead of the Merseyside derby after the international break, but if the Frenchman isn’t available, one of Barry or James McCarthy, should he recover from a hamstring injury, look the obvious replacements. Koeman could perhaps consider starting with a 3-4-2-1 at Anfield, so Funes Mori may be an option in the Everton boss changes system. The likes of Mirallas – who was absent due to the birth of his child – and Valencia could push for recalls in the attacking midfield positions, most likely in place of Calvert-Lewin.

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

Hull City

Starting XI: Jakupovic: Elabdelloui, Davies (Grosicki 64), Maguire, Ranocchia, Robertson: Markovic (Elmohamady 86), Huddlestone, N’Diaye, Clucas: Hernandez (Diomande 82).

• Marco Silva made one change from the team that beat Swansea City 2-1 for the trip to Goodison Park, with Curtis Davies earning a recall in place of Kamil Grosicki.
• That saw Hull switch from the 4-3-3 initially used against the Swans to a 5-4-1, with Davies starting alongside Harry Maguire and Andrea Ranocchia in central defence. Lazar Markovic and Sam Clucas started out wide for the Tigers, behind lone striker Abel Hernandez.
• With his side only trailing 1-0, Silva decided to make an attacking first substitution, with Grosicki introduced in place of Davies, seeing Hull move back to a 4-3-3, with Grosicki and Markovic flanking central striker Hernandez. The Uruguayan striker made way for Adama Diomande in a straight swap with eight minutes to go, while Ahmed Elmohamady replaced Markovic late on down the right flank to offer some protection in front of Omar Elabdelloui, with the visitors now down to 10-men at this point following the sending off of Tom Huddlestone.
• With Hull hosting West Ham United after the international break, it’s likely Silva with revert back to either a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 system. He will be without the suspended Huddlestone, so David Meyler may earn a recall if the Hull boss opts for a three-man midfield. Grosicki should come back into the starting XI in either system, while Oumar Niasse will be available again after being ineligible to face his parent club. He could start either in place or alongside Hernandez in attack then. Davies appears likely to drop back to the bench, unless he starts in place of either Ranocchia or Maguire.

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

Leicester City

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Benalouane, Fuchs; Mahrez (Chilwell 87), Ndidi, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Okazaki (Musa 76), Vardy (Slimani 76).

• Craig Shakespeare made one change from the side that beat Sevilla 2-0 in the Champions League for the trip to the London Stadium, with Yohan Benalouane earning a rare start in place of the injured Wes Morgan.
• Benalouane started alongside Robert Huth in central defence for the Foxes, then, in what was more of a 4-2-3-1 formation used by Shakespeare. Riyad Mahrez (right) and Marc Albrighton (left) played either side of Shinji Okazaki in the No 10 role behind lone striker Jamie Vardy.
• With 14 minutes remaining, Shakespeare decided to make a double substitution, with Ahmed Musa and Islam Slimani replacing Okazaki and Vardy. Those changes saw Leicester switch to more of a 4-4-2, although with West Ham pushing for a late equaliser, they were forced to play in fairly deep positions. Ben Chilwell then replaced Mahrez late on, offering protection in front of left-back Christian Fuchs, seeing Albrighton switch to the right side of midfield.
• Morgan missed out due to a back injury but with the champions not playing again for two weeks, he looks to stand a good chance of recovering in time to face Stoke City after the international break. Providing Shakespeare has the same players to choose from, it appears unlikely he’ll make any other changes, having won all four matches he’s been in charge for with a very settled side.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Milner; Lallana, Emre Can, Wijnaldum; Mane, Firmino (Lucas Leiva 89), Coutinho (Origi 73).

• Jurgen Klopp made one change for the trip to the Etihad Stadium, with the fit-again Roberto Firmino replacing Divock Origi.
• The Brazilian returned to the “false nine” role for the Reds in the 4-3-3 system, flanked by Sadio Mane (right) and Philippe Coutinho (left) in attack. Ragnar Klavan kept his place in central defence, with the fit-again Dejan Lovren having to settle for a place among the substitutes.
• Klopp’s first substitution saw Origi brought on for Coutinho in a straight swap for the final 17 minutes. The Belgian did switch over to the right flank soon after entering the action, though, with Mane moving over to the left. With Liverpool appearing happy to take a point, Klopp brought on Lucas Leiva for Firmino late on, seeing Liverpool switch to a 4-5-1. Lucas joined Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum, Adam Lallana and Origi in midfield, with Mane moved to a lone striker role.
• Following a good performance, Klopp may well consider naming an unchanged starting XI for the Merseyside derby after the international break if Jordan Henderson remains out with a foot injury. Klavan has now started the last three matches, and may have done enough to keep his place ahead of Lovren in central defence.

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

Manchester City

Starting XI: Caballero; Fernandinho, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure (Sagna 65); Sterling, De Bruyne; Silva, Sane (Fernando 83), Aguero.

• Pep Guardiola made just two changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with Nicolas Otamendi and Yaya Toure starting at the expense of Bacary Sagna and Aleksandar Kolarov.
• Otamendi partnered John Stones in central defence, with Fernandinho moving to right-back for City. Toure was stationed in the defensive midfield role, with David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne playing just in front of the Ivorian in the 4-1-4-1 system.
• Guardiola’s first change saw Sagna brought on for the tiring Toure just after the hour mark. The Frenchman played at right-back, with Fernandinho moving into the defensive midfield role vacated by Toure. The City boss also made a tactical switch, with De Bruyne moving out to the right wing, seeing Raheem Sterling drift into a more central position. Guardiola then introduced Fernando for Leroy Sane late on, seeing City switch to a 4-2-3-1.
• Guardiola continues to make changes in defence, with John Stones probably appearing the most likely to retain his place for the trip to Arsenal after the international break. The likes of Kolarov, Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta could all push for recalls elsewhere in the back four. Toure may keep his berth in the defensive midfield role, although Fernandinho could push for a start in that position.

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