Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 29 – Part Two

Antonio Valencia and Jesse Lingard are the key beneficiaries as Jose Mourinho rings the changes for United’s trip to the Riverside Stadium. Son Heung-Min leads the line in the absence of Harry Kane as Spurs see off Southampton, while Chris Brunt is handed a central midfield role in West Brom’s win over Arsenal.

After rolling out Part One yesterday, we assess the remaining teamsheets from Gameweek 29, looking at the trends and tactics on show to offer an early insight into the likely line-ups to follow the international break.

Manchester United

Starting XI: De Gea; Bailly, Smalling, Jones; Valencia, Carrick, Fellaini, Young; Mata (Rojo 69), Lingard (Martial 80); Rashford (Darmian 90).

• Jose Mourinho made seven changes from the side that beat FC Rostov 1-0 in the Europa League for the trip to Middlesbrough, with David de Gea, Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford replacing Sergio Romero, Marcos Rojo, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ander Herrera, along with the injured Daley Blind and Paul Pogba.
• United lined up in a very flexible 3-4-2-1 formation, which often turned to a 4-5-1 when out of possession. Eric Bailly played both as the right centre-back and at right-back, then, with Valencia switching between the wing-back role, and a position on the right side of midfield. Young was used more conservatively on the left, operating more as a left-back. Carrick and Fellaini were stationed in central midfield, while Lingard and Juan Mata played centrally behind lone striker Rashford.
• Mourinho’s first change was a very defensive-minded one, with Rojo brought on for Mata. That resulted in United switching to more of a 6-3-1, with Rojo joining Bailly, Chris Smalling, Jones and Bailly in central defence, in order to deal with the aerial threat of Alvaro Negredo and substitute Rudy Gestede. Anthony Martial replaced Lingard, who suffered an ankle problem, in a straight swap with 10 minutes to go, while Matteo Darmian came on at the death for Rashford, leaving Martial as the lone striker, while the Italian provided another body at the back.
• Mourinho will again be without the suspended Herrera and Ibrahimovic when United entertain West Bromwich Albion after the international break. Pogba faces a race against time to prove his fitness, while there are doubts over Blind, Rooney and Lingard, although they do now have time to fully recover. If Pogba isn’t fit, Carrick and Fellaini look set to start in the middle of the park once again. Mkhitaryan is likely to earn a recall against the Baggies, with Mourinho perhaps more likely to return to a more conventional 4-2-3-1. Martial may push for a start in place of Lingard, with Mata and Rashford appearing slightly more secure. Only Valencia looks an assured starter at the back, with Rojo perhaps in with a chance of returning at left-back. Shaw and Blind, providing he’s fit, provide alternatives, though. Bailly, Smalling and Jones are likely to battle it out for the two centre-back spots.

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

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Valdes; Barragan, Bernardo Espinosa, Gibson, Fabio; Clayton; Downing, Leadbitter (Gestede 68), De Roon, Ramirez (Traore 68); Negredo.

• Caretaker manager Steve Agnew made four alterations from the side that lost 2-0 to Manchester City in Aitor Karanka’s final match in charge for the home clash against Manchester United, with Victor Valdes, Stewart Downing, Gaston Ramirez and Alvaro Negredo replacing Brad Guzan, Adama Traore, Cristhian Stuani and Rudy Gestede.
• ’Boro lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Downing (right) and Ramirez (left) starting out wide. Grant Leadbitter and Marten de Roon operated just in front of holding midfielder Adam Clayton. Negredo was stationed as the hosts’ lone striker.
• With his side trailing 2-0, Agnew made a double substitution, with Traore and Gestede brought on in place of Leadbitter and Ramirez. Gestede joined Negredo up front, while Traore played on the right wing, with Downing moving to the left, seeing ‘Boro switch to a 4-4-2.
• Calum Chambers (foot), George Friend (calf) and Daniel Ayala (hamstring) all missed Sunday’s match, but the international break may allow one or two of them to fully recover ahead of the crunch trip to Swansea on April 2. Chambers or Ayala would likely come into contention to start in place of Bernardo if they are passed fit, while Friend could replace either Fabio or Antonio Barragan. Agnew may consider starting with a 4-4-2, pairing Negredo and Gestede in attack, though the latter looked to be struggling with an ongoing hamstring injury. Leadbitter could be the midfield player most likely to miss out if Agnew goes in that direction, although he may equally keep faith in the 4-1-4-1, and choose between Gestede and Negredo. Traore provides a viable alternative to Downing and Ramirez out wide.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Forwards

Southampton

Starting XI: Forster; Soares, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand; Davis, Romeu; Ward-Prowse, Tadic (Boufal 69), Redmond (Rodriguez 80); Gabbiadini (Long 31).

• Claude Puel named the same side that beat Watford 4-3 in Southampton’s last league match for the trip to White Hart Lane.
• The Saints boss kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 formation, then, with James Ward-Prowse (right), Dusan Tadic (No 10) and Nathan Redmond (left) forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Manolo Gabbiadini.
• Gabbiadini’s afternoon was cut short after picking up a groin injury, with Shane Long replacing the Italian in a straight swap. Dusan Tadic then made way for Sofiane Boufal, while Puel’s final substitution saw Jay Rodriguez sent on in place of Redmond. Rodriguez played on the right wing, with Ward-Prowse moving more centrally and Boufal drifting over to the left of the attacking midfield trio.
• Gabbiadini has been ruled out of the Italy squad for their upcoming matches, and will need to be assessed further ahead of Southampton’s next match, at home to Bournemouth after the international break. Long and Rodriguez provide alternatives in the lone striker role, as does Redmond, should Gabbiadini not be available. Elsewhere, the likes of Martin Caceres and Boufal may struggle to displace Jack Stephens and Tadic in the side.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Lone Striker

Stoke City

Starting XI: Grant; Bardsley, Martins Indi, Shawcross, Pieters; Cameron; Arnautovic, Allen, Sobhi (Crouch 90); Berahino (Diouf 61), Walters.

• Stoke City boss Mark Hughes only made one adjustment from the side that drew 0-0 against Manchester City for the visit of Chelsea to the bet365 Stadium, with the fit-again Marko Arnautovic replacing Mame Biram Diouf.
• Arnautovic returned on the right side of midfield in what was more of a 4-4-2 formation used by Hughes. Joe Allen joined Geoff Cameron in central midfield, while Saido Berahino and Jon Walters combined up front.
• Hughes made his first change just after the hour mark, with Diouf taking over from Berahino in attack. As a final roll of the dice after Chelsea took a 2-1 lead, Hughes brought on Crouch in place of Ramadan Sobhi. Crouch joined Walters up front, with Diouf and Arnautovic lining up on the right and left flanks respectively.
• Hughes will be without the suspended Phil Bardsley for the Gameweek 30 trip to Leicester, so he’ll hope Glen Johnson can recover from a shoulder injury to start at right-back. If Johnson fails to recover in time, either Marc Muniesa or Cameron look likely to fill in. Glenn Whelan and Charlie Adam provide options in central midfield if Cameron is needed in the back four. In attack, Crouch could push for a recall in place of either Berahino or Walters.

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

Sunderland

Starting XI: Pickford; Jones, O’Shea, Denayer, Oviedo; Larsson (Khazri 78), Rodwell, Gibson (Ndong 74); Januzaj, Borini, Defoe.

• David Moyes made two alterations from the side that lost 2-0 to Manchester City for the visit of Burnley to the Stadium of Light, with Jason Denayer replacing the injured Lamine Kone, while Jack Rodwell earned a recall at the expense of Didier Ndong.
• Denayer started alongside John O’Shea in central defence for the Black Cats, while Rodwell joined Darron Gibson and Sebastian Larsson in midfield in the 4-3-3 formation.
• With the match goalless, Moyes firstly decided to bring on Ndong in place of Gibson in a straight swap, while shortly after he introduced Wahbi Khazri for Larsson.
• Kone was ruled out against the Clarets due to a knee problem, but with the international break now upon us, he is expected to recover ahead of the Gameweek 30 match away to Watford. He could potentially return in place of Denayer, then, unless Moyes switches to three at the back, in which case O’Shea, Kone and Denayer could all start at Vicarage Road. Ndong may push for a recall in central midfield, while Khazri provides another alternative. He’s not started a match since Gameweek 10, though, so appears unlikely to earn a starting berth. Steven Pienaar has been sidelined with a calf injury of late, but he may now have chance to fully recover and put himself back in the frame for the Hornets clash.

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

Swansea City

Starting XI: Fabianski; Fer, Fernandez, Mawson, Kingsley; Ki Sung-yeung (Routledge 67), Cork, Carroll; Ayew (Narsingh 56), Llorente (Borja Baston 83), Sigurdsson.

• Paul Clement made three changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Hull City for the trip to Bournemouth, with Stephen Kingsley and Ki Sung-yeung coming in for the injured Martin Olsson and Angel Rangel, while Jordan Ayew started in place of Wayne Routledge.
• Kingsley took up the left-back role for the Swans, while Leroy Fer filled in at right-back. Ki joined Jack Cork and Tom Carroll in the three-man midfield, while Ayew started on the right of the front three. Fernando Llorente recovered from a dead leg to start as the central striker.
• Clement’s first change saw Luciano Narsingh take over from Ayew on the right wing 11 minutes into the second half. Routledge was then brought on in place of Ki, as the Swans switched to a 4-2-3-1. Routledge played on the left wing, with Gylfi Sigurdsson moving into the No 10 position, leaving Cork and Carroll in central midfield. Clement’s last substitution allowed Borja Baston to take over from Llorente as the lone striker for the final seven minutes.
• If Kyle Naughton and Olsson recover from hamstring and ankle injuries respectively over the international break, they should both return in the full-back positions when Swansea host Middlesbrough. Fer will likely return in central midfield if Naughton is passed fit, although Ki could be a viable alternative to both the Dutchman and Carroll. The starting berth on the right wing still looks up for grabs, with Ayew, Narsingh and Routledge all vying for the one spot.

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

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Walker (Trippier 78), Dembele, Wanyama, Davies; Eriksen (Janssen 86), Alli; Son Heung-min (Winks 75).

• Mauricio Pochettino made four changes from the side that beat Millwall 6-0 in the FA Cup for the home clash against Southampton, with Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Mousa Dembele and Christian Eriksen coming in for Michel Vorm, Kieran Trippier, Harry Winks and the injured Harry Kane.
• Walker shrugged off an ankle problem to start at right wing-back for Spurs, while Dembele partnered Victor Wanyama in central midfield. Son Heung-min played as the lone striker, with Eriksen and Alli occupying central attacking midfield positions in the 3-4-2-1 formation.
• With Tottenham holding a slender 2-1 lead with 15 minutes remaining, Pochettino decided to bring on Winks in place of Son. Winks joined Wanyama and Dembele in central midfield, with Eriksen then playing just behind lone striker Alli in a 3-5-1-1 system. Shortly after, Trippier came on for Walker in a straight swap, while Vincent Janssen replaced Eriksen with four minutes left. Janssen took over as the lone striker, with Alli dropping back into the No 10 role.
• While Walker recovered from an ankle injury to start, the defender also suffered a thumb injury against Southampton. The issue isn’t a serious one, though, with Walker able to join up with the England squad this week. So with Spurs not playing again until April 1, when they travel to Burnley, he looks in line to start against the Clarets. Trippier will be on standby just in case he’s needed to fill in against his former club. Danny Rose may still not be available for that match due to a knee injury, so Ben Davies looks set to continue at left wing-back. Son Heung-min will travel with South Korea so his minutes and starting role will be in question with Janssen’s physicality perhaps preferred at Burnley.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing-Back

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes; Cathcart, Prodl, Kaboul, Britos; Capoue, Cleverley (Success 80), Behrami (Doucoure 46); Janmaat (Amrabat 63), Niang; Deeney.

• Walter Mazzarri made two changes for the trip to Selhurst Park, with Craig Cathcart and Daryl Janmaat replacing Jose Holebas and Stefano Okaka.
• The Watford boss opted for more of a 4-5-1 formation last weekend, with Janmaat and M’Baye Niang starting out wide in support of lone striker Troy Deeney. Cathcart played at right-back for the Hornets, with Miguel Britos at left-back. Etienne Capoue recovered from illness to start in central midfield.
• Mazzarri was forced into making a change at half-time, after Valon Behrami picked up a knock. He was replaced by Abdoulaye Doucoure in a straight swap. Shortly after the hour mark, the fit-again Nordin Amrabat replaced Janmaat on the right side of midfield, while Mazzarri’s final substitution saw Isaac Success introduced at the expense of Tom Cleverley. Success played wide on the left, seeing Watford finish the match in a more attacking 4-3-3 as they looked to find a late equaliser.
• Holebas was surprisingly dropped to the bench against Palace, but after going down to a 1-0 defeat, he may stand a reasonable chance of earning a recall when Watford host Sunderland after the international break. Mazzarri is likely to opt for a more attacking line-up against the Black Cats, so Okaka may push for a starting berth, perhaps in place of Janmaat. The Dutchman could equally move to right-back in place of Cathcart, though, while Amrabat provides another option down the right flank. Behrami’s injury isn’t thought to be serious, but Doucoure looks the obvious replacement should the Swiss international not be fit for Gameweek 30.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Right Wing

West Bromwich Albion

Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Livermore, Fletcher; Chadli (Field 90), Brunt (Yacob 72), McClean; Rondon (Robson-Kanu 54).

• Tony Pulis made two changes for the visit of Arsenal to the Hawthorns, with Chris Brunt and Salomon Rondon recalled in place of Claudio Yacob and Hal Robson-Kanu.
• Brunt returned for the Baggies in central midfield alongside Darren Fletcher, with Jake Livermore sat in front of the back four in the 4-1-4-1 system. Nacer Chadli (right) and James McClean (left) operated out wide, with Rondon occupying the lone striker role for the home side.
• But after enduring another tough afternoon, Rondon made way for Robson-Kanu in a straight swap just nine minutes into the second half. Yacob then entered the fray in place of Brunt, with Yacob taking over the defensive midfield role, allowing Livermore to play alongside Fletcher. Youngster Sam Field was handed a few minutes late on in place of Chadli.
• After an impressive victory over Arsenal, Pulis could name a similar side for the trip to Old Trafford in Gameweek 30. Even if Matt Phillips does recover from his hamstring injury, he may well be eased back into action from the bench. James Morrison missed out against the Gunners due to an ankle injury, but if he does prove his fitness, he would come into contention for a recall. McClean’s starting place would be the most under threat, with Brunt an option to revert to a wide role. After scoring off the bench, Robson-Kanu might have done enough to earn a start in place of Rondon up front.

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

West Ham United

Starting XI: Randolph; Byram, Fonte, Reid (Snodgrass 18), Cresswell (Masuaku 73); Kouyate, Obiang (Fernandes 67), Antonio, Lanzini, Ayew; Carroll.

• Slaven Bilic made two changes for the home encounter against Leicester City, with Sam Byram and Andre Ayew replacing Sofiane Feghouli and the injured Mark Noble.
• Byram returned at right-back for the Hammers, allowing Cheikhou Kouyate to partner Pedro Obiang at the base of midfield in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Ayew started on the right of the attacking midfield trio, with Manuel Lanzini continuing in the No 10 role.
• Bilic was forced into making an early change, though, after Winston Reid was forced off with a leg injury. He was replaced by Robert Snodgrass, which forced several changes elsewhere in the side. Kouyate dropped back into central defence alongside Jose Fonte, with Lanzini then joining Obiang in central midfield. Ayew took up the No 10 role, with Snodgrass stationed on the right wing for the Hammers. Obiang then suffered an ankle injury, so Edimilson Fernandes was brought on in a straight swap shortly after the hour mark. Bilic’s final substitution saw Arthur Masuaku take over from Aaron Cresswell at left-back for the final 17 minutes.
• While West Ham don’t play again until April 1, when they travel to Hull City, they do have some injury concerns heading into that match. Noble missed out on Saturday due to a dead leg, although he should have a good chance of being fit to face the Tigers. He could come in for Obiang, amid reports that the latter could be out for the season. Reid and Michail Antonio, who picked up a hamstring injury last weekend, will have to be monitored over the next week or so. James Collins provides an alternative if Reid is ruled out, allowing Kouyate to shift back into central midfield if Obiang is indeed sidelined for the season. If Antonio isn’t fit, Snodgrass could earn a recall, with Feghouli the other obvious option out wide.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks