Line-Up Lessons – Gameweek 37 – Part One

Arsenal and Liverpool changes deliver goals, while Manchester United rotation in preparation for their Europa League final begins in earnest.

Here’s the first instalment of our Gameweek 37 teamsheet summary, outlining the trends and tactics on show and offering early insight into the final day line-ups.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech; Koscielny, Mustafi, Holding; Bellerin, Coquelin, Xhaka, Monreal; Sanchez (Ramsey 77), Ozil (Welbeck 83); Giroud (Walcott 84).

• Arsene Wenger made four alterations from the side that beat Southampton 2-0 for the trip to Stoke City, with Laurent Koscielny, Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin and Olivier Giroud replacing Aaron Ramsey, Danny Welbeck and the injured duo Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs.
• Koscielny returned in the three-man defence alongside Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding, while Bellerin slotted in at right wing-back. Coquelin joined Granit Xhaka in central midfield, and Giroud operated as the lone striker in the 3-4-2-1 formation.
• After picking up a knock to his thigh, Alexis Sanchez made way for Ramsey with 13 minutes remaining. Welbeck and Theo Walcott then entered the fray for Mesut Ozil and Welbeck. Walcott played wide on the right, while Welbeck took over as the lone striker for the Gunners.
• Arsenal entertain Sunderland on Tuesday night before ending their season with a home fixture against Everton. Wenger’s side need to win both matches to have any chance of finishing in the top four, so the Gunners boss should name his strongest possible side in both matches. Sanchez will undergo a fitness test today to decide whether he’s fit to face the Black Cats, with Wenger intimating the Chilean is as always “keen to play.” Koscielny is again a doubt due to a calf problem, while Gibbs is back in contention following his own injury in that area. So if Wenger doesn’t risk Koscielny, Gibbs may come in at left wing-back, with Nacho Monreal returning to the three-man defence. Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring) is expected to miss the rest of the league campaign, but is rated as “80/20” to be fit for the FA Cup final. While Giroud scored a brace against the Potters, he and Welbeck look set to share playing time over the final two fixtures. Ramsey will probably be on standby to replace Sanchez, but a return in central midfield in place of Coquelin seems more likely.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Left Wing-Back, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; A Smith, Francis, S Cook, Daniels; Stanislas (Ibe 87), Arter (Gosling 81), L Cook, Pugh; King, Mousset (Fraser 66).

• Eddie Howe named an unchanged side for the visit of Burnley to the Vitality Stadium.
• Lys Mousset kept his place in the No 10 role in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with the Frenchman flanked by Junior Stanislas (right) and Marc Pugh (left) in the advanced midfield positions behind lone striker Joshua King.
• Mousset was the first player replaced by Howe, making way for Ryan Fraser in a straight swap shortly after the hour mark. Dan Gosling and Jordon Ibe were handed run-outs late on in place of Harry Arter and Stanislas.
• Fraser has been carrying a slight Achilles problem of late, so he may continue to be used from the bench, with the front four perhaps set to stay unchanged for the trip to Leicester City. Lewis Cook will miss the clash at the King Power Stadium due to international duty with the England U20s, so Gosling looks set to earn a recall in central midfield. Squad players such as Ibe, Max Gradel, Brad Smith and Tyrone Mings may see some playing time if Howe considers handing them one last chance to impress.

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

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Long, Tarkowski, Ward; Boyd (Brady 55), Westwood, Hendrick, Arfield (Gudmundsson 75); Vokes, Barnes (Gray 46).

• Clarets boss Sean Dyche named an unchanged side for the trip to Bournemouth, with defenders Ben Mee and Michael Keane missing out once again due to injury.
• Kevin Long and James Tarkowski formed the central defensive partnership, while Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes were favoured in attack in the 4-4-2 formation, at the expense of Andre Gray.
• But with his side trailing 1-0 at half-time, Dyche decided to bring on Gray for Barnes in a straight swap. Shortly after, Robbie Brady replaced George Boyd on the right side of midfield, while the final substitution saw Johann Berg Gudmundsson come on for Scott Arfield. The Iceland international operated on the right side of midfield, with Brady shifting over to the opposite flank.
• Premier League safety is now assured for the Clarets, so Dyche may not feel the need to risk either Mee (ankle) or Keane (knock) for the final day home meeting with West Ham United. Brady and Gudmundsson could push for starts out wide, while Gray may well replace Barnes alongside the in-form Vokes in attack.

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

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Kelly, Tomkins (Delaney 86), Schlupp; Milivojevic, Puncheon; Zaha, Cabaye (McArthur 62), Townsend (Van Aanholt 75); Benteke.

• Eagles boss Sam Allardyce made two changes for the home encounter against Hull City, with the fit-again James Tomkins and Yohan Cabaye replacing Patrick van Aanholt and James McArthur.
• After experimenting with a three-man defence in the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City, Big Sam reverted to a 4-3-3 formation against the Tigers, with Tomkins returning in central defence and Jeffrey Schlupp shifting over to left-back. Andros Townsend shook off an Achilles problem to start on the left of the front three.
• Cabaye lasted 62 minutes before being replaced by McArthur in a straight swap. Van Aanholt took over from the injured Townsend on the left wing for the final 15 minutes, while Damien Delaney came on for Tomkins in a straight swap late on.
• With Premier League safety now confirmed, Allardyce will probably rest any players who have been carrying injuries over the last few weeks for the trip to Manchester United. Tomkins, Cabaye and Townsend could all be omitted then, while Joel Ward played yesterday despite a broken nose. The likes of Delaney, McArthur and van Aanholt may all push for starts, with squad players such as Mathieu Flamini, Lee Chung-yong, Fraizer Campbell and Loic Remy other possibilities.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Left Wing

Everton

Starting XI: Robles: Holgate (Valencia 46), Williams, Jagielka, Baines: Schneiderlin, Gueye: Mirallas (Kone 86), Barkley (Barry 80), Davies, Lukaku.

• Toffees boss Ronald Koeman made three changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Swansea City for the home clash against Watford, with Joel Robles coming in for the injured Maarten Stekelenburg in goal, while Ross Barkley and the fit-again Morgan Schneiderlin replaced Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was away on international duty with the England U20s, and Gareth Barry.
• Barkley returned in the No 10 role in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Tom Davies this time asked to play on the right of the attacking midfield trio. Schneiderlin partnered Idrissa Gueye at the base of midfield for the home side.
• Following a poor first-half display, Koeman made a tactical change at the break, with Enner Valencia brought on for Mason Holgate. The Ecuadorian joined Romelu Lukaku in attack as Davies was asked to operate as an attack-minded right wing-back and Schneiderlin to drop back into more of a three-man defence. Barry and Arouna Kone were handed brief run-outs late on, replacing Barkley and Kevin Mirallas.
• After returning to winning ways, Koeman isn’t expected to make many changes for the final day trip to Arsenal. It’s unlikely he’ll look to start with a three-man defence at the Emirates, so Holgate should keep his starting spot at right-back. Barry offers an alternative option in the middle of the park, as does Valencia both in the attacking midfield positions and as a partner for Lukaku in attack. Stekelenburg (groin) is a doubt, so Robles may retain his place in goal.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Right-back, Central Defence, Flanks, Attacking Midfield

Hull City

Starting XI: Jakupovic; Maguire (Davies 50), Dawson, Ranocchia (Bowen 46), Robertson (Maloney 46); Elmohamady, N’Diaye, Clucas, Grosicki; Evandro; Niasse.

• Head coach Marco Silva was forced into making two changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Sunderland for the trip to Crystal Palace, with Michael Dawson and Evandro starting at the expense of the injured Lazar Markovic and Abel Hernandez.
• Dawson started alongside Andrea Ranocchia in central defence for the Tigers as Harry Maguire shifted over to right-back. Ahmed Elmohamady started on the right side of a five-man midfield in a 4-5-1 formation, with Evandro slotting into central midfield alongside Alfred N’Diaye and Sam Clucas. Oumar Niasse operated as the lone striker.
• With his side trailing 2-0, Silva decided to make a double substitution at half-time. Jarrod Bowen and Shaun Maloney were sent on in place of Ranocchia and Andrew Robertson. Then five minutes into the second-half, the Hull boss was forced to use his final substitution, with Curtis Davies replacing the injured Maguire. Those changes left Elmohamady and Clucas as attack-minded full-backs while Dawson and Davies combined in central defence. Evandro partnered N’Diaye in central midfield, with Bowen, Maloney and Kamil Grosicki stationed behind lone striker Niasse in a 4-2-3-1 system.
• Silva could make a few changes for the home fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on the final day now that the Tigers’ relegation is confirmed. Maguire is a doubt due to an ankle injury, while Hernandez (knock) will need to be assessed. Elmohamady could return to right-back, with Davies and Omar Elabdellaoui the other alternatives to start in defence. Bowen may push for a role in the attacking midfield positions, particularly if Hernandez is ruled out, while Maloney and Tom Huddlestone provide other options.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Forwards

Leicester City

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Benalouane, Fuchs, Chilwell; Mahrez, King (Amartey 68), Ndidi, Albrighton (Gray 80); Okazaki (Slimani 73); Vardy.

• Craig Shakespeare was forced into making two changes from the side that saw off Watford 3-0 for the trip to the Etihad, with Ben Chilwell and Andy King starting in place of the injured Robert Huth and Danny Drinkwater.
• Chilwell slotted in at left-back for the Foxes, and Christian Fuchs moved into central defence next to Yohan Benalouane. King operated alongside Wilfred Ndidi in central midfield in the 4-4-1-1 formation.
• Shakespeare made his first substitution shortly after the hour mark when a hamstring injury forced King to make way for Daniel Amartey in a straight swap. During the final 20 minutes, Islam Slimani replaced Shinji Okazaki before Demarai Gray took over from Marc Albrighton on the flank.
• If King is ruled out of Thursday night’s home clash against Tottenham Hotspur, Amartey is likely to start alongside Ndidi in central midfield. Huth (foot) and Wes Morgan (hamstring) remain doubtful, so the back four could remain unchanged. Gray and Slimani offer viable alternatives to Albrighton and Okazaki in attack for both the Spurs clash and the home fixture against Bournemouth on the final day.

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

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner; Emre Can, Wijnaldum, Coutinho (Woodburn 89), Lallana (Grujic 89); Origi, Sturridge (Lucas Leiva 87).

• Jurgen Klopp made two changes for the trip to West Ham United, with Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge replacing Lucas Leiva and the injured Roberto Firmino.
• Those alterations saw the Liverpool boss switch from his favored 4-3-3 system to a midfield diamond in a 4-1-2-1-2 formation. Emre Can was stationed at the base, with Georginio Wijnaldum and Philippe Coutinho on the sides, leaving Lallana at the tip of the diamond behind the front two of Sturridge and Origi.
• With the match won, Klopp handed brief run-outs to Lucas, Marko Grujic and Ben Woodburn late on, Sturridge, Lallana and Coutinho making way.
• Following the impressive 4-0 win at the London Stadium, Klopp may consider using the same formation for the home meeting with Middlesbrough – even if Firmino recovers from a muscle problem. But if he looks to find a starting spot for the Brazilian, he could omit one of Origi or Sturridge, switching back to the 4-3-3, with Firmino on the right and Coutinho on the left of the front three. The rest of the starting XI looks set to stay unchanged.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing, Forwards

Manchester City

Starting XI: Caballero; Fernandinho, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure, Silva, De Bruyne (Zabaleta 82); Sterling (Aguero 78), Jesus (Navas 90), Sane.

• Pep Guardiola named the same side that beat Crystal Palace for the home meeting with Leicester City – the first time he’s selected the same XI in successive matches. Sergio Aguero was fit to return to the bench.
• The City boss kept faith in the 4-1-4-1 system, with Yaya Toure continuing in the defensive midfield role. Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Leroy Sane completed the four-man midfield behind lone striker Gabriel Jesus.
• The first substitution saw Aguero replace Sterling for the final 12 minutes, with Pablo Zabaleta then sent on for De Bruyne shortly after. Zabaleta played at right-back, and Fernandinho moved into central midfield alongside Toure. Aguero joined Jesus in attack, with Silva moving slightly out to the right. Jesus Navas appeared late on in place of Gabriel Jesus. The Spaniard was stationed out wide on the right, with Silva moving back in-field.
• Guardiola may limit his rotation over the final two matches. City host West Bromwich Albion tomorrow night before travelling to Watford on the final day. With confirmation that he’s leaving the club, Zabaleta could get one last start at the Etihad tomorrow night in place of Fernandinho, although the Brazilian could then be an option to replace Toure in the defensive midfield role. Navas provides an option either at right-back or on the right side of midfield, while Aguero is the most likely to earn a recall, possibly alongside Jesus in attack. Sterling’s role is probably the most at risk among City’s attackers. Aleksandar Kolarov is likely to get at least one start in defence, offering cover at both left-back and centre-back

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

Manchester United

Starting XI: De Gea; Bailly, Smalling, Jones, Blind; Carrick, Tuanzebe (Herrera 60); Lingard (Mkhitaryan 60), Mata (Rashford 78), Rooney; Martial.

• Jose Mourinho made three changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Arsenal in United’s last league match for the trip to Spurs, with Eric Bailly, Daley Blind and Jesse Lingard replacing Matteo Darmian, Ander Herrera and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
• Those changes saw United line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Bailly started in an unfamiliar position at right-back, Blind was stationed at left-back, and Axel Tuanzebe was used out-of-position at the base of midfield alongside Michael Carrick. Lingard played on the right of the attacking midfield trio, with Juan Mata on the left, although they did rotate throughout the match in a fluid front four alongside Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial.
• With his side trailing 2-0, Mourinho decided to introduce Herrera and Mkhitaryan in place of Tuanzebe and Lingard. Herrera took over in central midfield, while Mkhitaryan operated more down the left and Mata moved to the right flank. The final change saw Marcus Rashford brought on for Mata, with the Englishman taking over as the lone striker. Martial moved to the left wing and Mkhitaryan to the right.
•  United are no longer able to finish in the top four, leaving the UEFA Europa League final against Ajax on May 24 as their priority. As a result, Mourinho is expected to make wholesale changes for the remaining two league matches, against Southampton and Crystal Palace. With the Saints clash coming a week before the final, he may opt to field a fairly strong side at St Mary’s as preparation, so the likes of Rashford, Mkhitaryan and Herrera could all see some playing time. The Palace encounter appears almost certain to see a weakened United line-up, so the likes of Tuanzebe, Carrick, Rooney and Martial are probable starters. Joel Pereira could replace David De Gea in goal, even though Sergio Romero will start the Europa League final, while other youngsters such as Demetri Mitchell, Scott McTominay and Matthew Willock may also be considered. Paul Pogba’s father passed away at the weekend, so his status appears very uncertain, given that he is unlikely to be required until the final, while Ashley Young will probably feature if he recovers from a hamstring problem. Marouane Fellaini could see some minutes as he’s available again following suspension.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: All Positions

Part Two of Line-up Lessons, covering the remaining teams, will be published tomorrow.