Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 33 – Part One

Absence for Chelsea duo Marcos Alonso and Thibaut Courtois force Antonio Conte’s hand, Jose Mourinho goes bold to thwart the Italian and Pep Guardiola rotates again. But other managers, most notably Sam Allardyce and Roald Koeman, prefer to stick more than twist.

Here’s the first instalment of our Gameweek 33 teamsheet summary, outlining the trends and tactics on show and offering early insight into the likely line-ups to come next weekend.

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; A.Smith, Francis, S.Cook, Daniels; Stanislas (Fraser 69), Arter, Wilshere (L.Cook 56), Pugh; King, Afobe (Mousset 76).

• Cherries boss Eddie Howe made one change for the trip to Tottenham Hotspur, with the fit-again Junior Stanislas recalled in place of Ryan Fraser.
• Stanislas returned on the right wing for Bournemouth in the 4-4-2 formation favoured by the Bournemouth manager in recent weeks. With Dan Gosling missing out once again with a knock, Jack Wilshere kept his place in central midfield alongside Harry Arter.
• Wilshere’s afternoon was cut short though, after suffering an ankle injury. He was replaced by Lewis Cook in a straight swap shortly before the hour mark. Fraser then took over from Stanislas on the right wing, with the final substitution seeing Lys Mousset come on for Benik Afobe in attack.
• Howe may now consider starting both Stanislas and Fraser out wide, with Marc Pugh’s starting place perhaps at risk. Wilshere looks a major doubt for Saturday’s home encounter with Middlesbrough, so Howe will be keen to have Gosling available to face Boro. If he remains out, Lewis Cook could earn a rare start in the middle of the park.

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

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Boyd, Barton, Hendrick (Westwood 86), Brady; Vokes (Gray 74), Barnes (Agyei 83).

• Sean Dyche made only one adjustment for the trip to Everton, with Sam Vokes handed a recall in place of Andre Gray.
• Vokes played as the lone striker for the Clarets, with Ashley Barnes operating in a support role in the 4-4-1-1 formation.
• Dyche’s first substitution saw that change reversed, with Gray replacing Vokes for the final 16 minutes after the Welshman suffered a hamstring problem. Youngster Daniel Agyei then came on for Barnes in a straight swap, while Ashley Westwood took over from Jeff Hendrick in central midfield for the last four minutes.
• Robbie Brady was handed a second successive start on the left wing at Goodison Park and may well retain his starting spot for the home clash against Manchester United on Sunday. But Steven Defour does offer a possible alternative, as does Scott Arfield, providing he can recover from a knee injury. If Vokes is ruled out, Gray appears certain to come back into the side.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left Wing, Forwards

Chelsea

Starting XI: Begovic; Zouma (Loftus-Cheek 83), Luiz, Cahill; Moses (Fabregas 54), Kante, Matic (Willian 66), Azpilicueta; Pedro, Hazard, Costa.

• Blues boss Antonio Conte was forced into making two changes from the side that beat Bournemouth 3-1 for the trip to Manchester United. Asmir Begovic replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois in goal, while Marcos Alonso pulled out during the warm-up due to illness, with Kurt Zouma called into the starting XI.
• Zouma played on the right of the three-man backline, with Cesar Azpilicueta shifting over to left wing-back. Nemanja Matic kept his place in central midfield ahead of Cesc Fabregas. Pedro and Eden Hazard played more centrally in the attacking midfield positions to form more of a 3-4-2-1 formation.
• After his side fell 2-0 behind, Conte decided to bring on Fabregas in place of Victor Moses nine minutes into the second half. The Spaniard joined N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic in midfield, with Zouma and Azpilicueta playing at right-back and left-back respectively in a 4-3-2-1 formation. Shortly afterwards, Matic made way for Willian as the leaders switched to a 4-2-3-1. Ruben Loftus-Cheek entered the fray late on for Zouma, with the youngster operating in the advanced midfield positions and Pedro becoming an attack-minded right-back.
• Courtois missed out with an ankle injury and while the Blues’ next league match is against Southampton in eight days time, he is a doubt. Alonso should be fit to return at left wing-back, with Azpilicueta the primary back-up option in that position. Providing Alonso is fit, Zouma will probably drop back to the bench while Azpilicueta returns to central defence. Fabregas may push for a start in central midfield in place of Matic.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Left Wing-Back, Central Midfield

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Kelly, Sakho, Schlupp (Van Aanholt 69); Milivojevic; Zaha (McArthur 84), Cabaye, Townsend; Benteke.

• Following the 3-0 win over Arsenal, Sam Allardyce unsurprisingly kept faith in the same starting XI for the visit of Leicester City to Selhurst Park.
• Jeffrey Schlupp kept his starting spot at left-back, although Patrick van Aanholt was named among the substitutes after recovering from an ankle injury.
• With his side trailing 2-1, it was the Dutch left-back who was the first player summoned from the bench, taking over from Schlupp for the final 21 minutes. The only other change saw James McArthur brought on for Wilfried Zaha. The Scotland international joined Luka Milivojevic and Yohan Cabaye in central midfield, while Jason Puncheon moved into a slightly more advanced position alongside Christian Benteke and Andros Townsend in attack.
• After getting some minutes under his belt on Saturday, Van Aanholt will surely push for a recall in place of Schlupp when the Eagles travel to Liverpool on Sunday. Mamadou Sakho will be ineligible to face his parent club, so if James Tomkins (calf) remains out, Damien Delaney looks set to start alongside Martin Kelly in central defence.

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

Everton

Starting XI: Robles; Holgate, Jagielka, Williams, Baines; Gueye (Valencia 46), Schneiderlin; Barkley (Lookman 90), Davies, Mirallas (Barry 76); Lukaku.

• Toffees boss Ronald Koeman only made one change from the side that beat Leicester City 4-2 for the visit of Burnley to Goodison Park, with Ashley Williams, who was available again following his one-match ban, replacing Matthew Pennington.
• Williams returned alongside Phil Jagielka in central defence, while Ross Barkley (right), Tom Davies (No 10) and Kevin Mirallas (left) again formed the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Romelu Lukaku in the 4-2-3-1 system.
• With the match goalless at half-time, the Everton manager decided to make an attacking first substitution, sending on Enner Valencia in place of Idrissa Gueye. The Ecuadorian played on the right wing, with Barkley moving into the No 10 role and Davies dropping into the double-pivot next to Morgan Schneiderlin. After racing into a 3-1 lead, Koeman brought on Gareth Barry for Mirallas as his side switched to a 4-3-3, with the substitute joining Schneiderlin and Davies in midfield. Ademola Lookman was handed a few minutes late on in place of Barkley in a straight swap.
• Following another strong performance, Koeman is unlikely to make many changes for Saturday’s trip to West Ham United. Although Gueye was only replaced for tactical reasons, Barry does offer an alternative in central midfield. Valencia provides options out wide, but the Toffees boss might struggle to drop one of Barkley, Davies or Mirallas based on their current form.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks

Hull City

Starting XI: Jakupovic; Maguire, Dawson, Ranocchia, Robertson; Huddlestone (Hernandez 70), N’Diaye; Clucas, Markovic (Elmohamady 86), Grosicki; Niasse (Mbokani 86).

• Tigers head coach Marco Silva made two changes for the trip to Stoke City, with the fit-again Harry Maguire replacing Ahmed Elmohamady and Tom Huddlestone returning from suspension to start in place of Evandro.
• Maguire was stationed at right-back, with Michael Dawson and Andrea Ranocchia favoured in central defence. Huddlestone started alongside Alfred N’Diaye at the base of midfield in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sam Clucas positioned in the No 10 role.
• Silva decided to make an attacking first change with his side trailing 2-1. Abel Hernandez was sent on in place of Huddlestone as Hull switched to a 4-4-2. The Uruguayan joined Oumar Niasse in attack, while Clucas dropped back into central midfield. As a final roll of the dice, the Tigers boss chose to bring on Elmohamady and the returning Dieumerci Mbokani for Lazar Markovic and Niasse in straight swaps.
• While Silva decided to use Maguire at right-back on Saturday, he could look to hand a recall to Elmohamady in that position for Saturday’s crucial home fixture with Watford. Maguire is likely to remain in the starting XI, though, so he may replace Dawson in central defence. Silva also has options in attack. He could consider starting with a 4-4-2, or choose one from Niasse, Hernandez and Mbokani to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1.

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

Leicester City

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Benalouane (Chilwell 76), Fuchs; Mahrez (Gray 75), Ndidi, King (Drinkwater 64), Albrighton; Ulloa, Vardy.

• Craig Shakespeare made five changes from the side that lost 4-2 to Everton for the trip to Crystal Palace, with Danny Simpson, Christian Fuchs, Wilfred Ndidi, Riyad Mahrez and Leonardo Ulloa starting at the expense of Daniel Amartey, Ben Chilwell, Danny Drinkwater, Demarai Gray and the injured Islam Slimani.
• Simpson and Fuchs returned at right-back and left-back respectively, while Ndidi partnered Andy King at the base of midfield in the 4-4-2 formation. Mahrez was stationed on the right of the midfield, with Ulloa operating just behind lone striker Jamie Vardy.
• Shakespeare’s first change saw Drinkwater come on for King in a straight swap for the final 26 minutes. Then with 15 minutes remaining, he introduced Gray in place of Mahrez, while Chilwell was swapped Yohan Benalouane, who had picked up a thigh problem. Gray played on the left wing, with Marc Albrighton moving over to the opposite flank.
• With Leicester’s Gameweek 34 fixture not taking place until a week on Wednesday, Shakespeare’s squad will have plenty of time to recover from tomorrow night’s UEFA Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid. They will face West Bromwich Albion three days after their trip to north London though. Shakespeare should be able to name a strong side then, with Wes Morgan perhaps able to return following a back injury. King provides the main back-up to first-choice central midfield pairing Ndidi and Drinkwater, while Shinji Okazaki may start at the Emirates behind lone striker Vardy. Ulloa, and if he’s fit, Slimani, provide alternative options in attack.

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

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner; Wijnaldum, Lucas, Can; Firmino, Origi (Sturridge 82), Coutinho (Moreno 90).

• Reds boss Jurgen Klopp made three alterations from the side that started in the 2-1 win over Stoke City, with Lucas Leiva, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho replacing Ragnar Klavan, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn.
• Those changes saw Liverpool switch back to 4-3-3, with Lucas playing in the holding midfield role and Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum operating slightly further forward in central midfield. Firmino (right) and Coutinho (left) flanked central striker Divock Origi.
• With eight minutes remaining, Klopp decided to introduce Daniel Sturridge in place of Origi in a straight swap. The only other change involved Alberto Moreno being handed a brief run-out late on for Coutinho down the left flank.
• Klopp may well stick with the same starting XI for the visit of Crystal Palace to Anfield on Sunday. Klavan missed the match at the Hawthorns due to a knee injury, but is, in any case, the third choice centre-half behind Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren. But if he is available, he does provide the option to switch to a 3-4-3, replacing Lucas in the side. Sturridge provides an alternative to Origi in attack, but he may still lack the match fitness to be considered for a start.

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

Manchester City

Starting XI: Bravo; Navas, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho; De Bruyne, Silva (Zabaleta 81), Sane (Sterling 86); Aguero (Iheanacho 89).

• City boss Pep Guardiola made four changes for the trip to Southampton, with Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otemendi, Fernandinho and Kevin De Bruyne starting in place of John Stones, Aleksandar Kolarov, Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling.
• Kompany and Otamendi formed a new-look centre-back partnership, while Fernandinho joined Yaya Toure at the base of midfield in the 4-2-3-1 formation. De Bruyne returned on the right of the attacking midfield trio, with David Silva stationed in the No 10 role.
• After taking a 3-0 lead at St Mary’s, Guardiola made all three of his substitutions in the final 10 minutes. Pablo Zabaleta replaced Silva, with the Argentine playing at right-back, allowing Jesus Navas to move onto the right wing and De Bruyne to take over the No 10 role. Sterling then replaced Leroy Sane on the left wing, while Kelechi Iheanacho came on for Sergio Aguero as the lone striker for the last few minutes.
• City face Arsenal in their FA Cup semi-final on Sunday before hosting Manchester United on Thursday night, ahead of a trip to Middlesbrough on Sunday, April 30. Guardiola will probably look to rotate his side, as usual, over the next three matches, with Zabaleta, Kolarov, Stones and Bacary Sagna all possible alternatives in defence, providing the latter pair recover from knocks. Navas and Gael Clichy have emerged as the first-choice full-backs over the past month or so, however. Delph and Sterling are the main alternatives in midfield, while unless Gabriel Jesus is able to return following his foot injury, Aguero should start all the matches as the lone striker.

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

Manchester United

Starting XI: De Gea; Darmian, Rojo, Bailly; Young (Fosu-Mensah 90), Valencia, Fellaini, Herrera, Pogba; Lingard (Carrick 60), Rashford (Ibrahimovic 83).

• Jose Mourinho made four changes from the side that beat Sunderland for the home clash against Chelsea, with David de Gea, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Marcus Rashford replacing Sergio Romero, Luke Shaw, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
• Those changes saw Mourinho switch to a flexible 3-5-2 system, with Eric Bailly, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian forming the three-man defence. Valencia and Young operated as wing-backs, leaving Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini in central midfield. Jesse Lingard joined Marcus Rashford in attack.
• Just before the hour-mark, Mourinho decided to introduce Michael Carrick in place of Lingard, seeing United switch to more of a 3-3-3-1 formation. Carrick played in front of the back three, with Fellaini, Pogba and Young further forward in midfield behind lone striker Rashford. The youngster then made way for Ibrahimovic in a straight swap, while Timothy Fosu-Mensah was handed a few minutes late on in place of Young.
• United face Anderlecht in the Europa League on Thursday night before their double Gameweek 34 matches against Burnley and Manchester City, so Mourinho looks set to continue rotating his side. Given the lack of available alternatives, it’s perhaps Bailly and Rojo who look to have the best chance of starting both league matches. Valencia, Darmian, Shaw, Young and Daley Blind provide plenty of options in the full-back positions, with the United boss more likely to switch to a four-man defence against the Clarets. Carrick provides another option to Herrera, Pogba and Fellaini in central midfield, while after being rested yesterday, Ibrahimovic may be able to start both matches in Gameweek 34. In the attacking midfield positions, Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial could push for recalls, with Rashford and Lingard perhaps unlikely to earn back-to-back starts. Mourinho’s team selection on Thursday night should provide some clues as to who may start at Turf Moor on Sunday. After De Gea was rested against Sunderland, there’s also the small possibility that Romero could see some playing time over the coming weeks.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: All Positions