Gerrard and Ronaldo on the bench. Just two clean sheets. Man City lose at home. This wasn’t your average gameweek by any means.
Here’s the regular report on the weekend lineups with some thoughts on team selections going forward, plus the latest on injuries both old and new…
Liverpool 4 Blackburn 0
We’d spent a good 24 hours speculating on the Gerrard situation and it wasn’t until the last hour that we got our answer. Gerrard was benched and with Liverpool taking complete control of this game early, he never saw action. The skippers absence saw Kuyt shift to a central role and Benayoun come in on the right. Elsewhere, Mascherano returned to some effect in midfield with Lucas making way. Insua, ineligible for the Champions League, came in for Aurellio at left-back and again impressed. Agger also made the most of his opportunity as he replaced Skrtel alongside Carragher.
As for Blackburn, they were ravaged by injuries to Santa Cruz, Roberts and Gamst-Pedersen, while Diouf was taken ill. That saw Treacy line up on the left of midfield, while Allardyce preferred the physical presence of Samba up front to the benched McCarthy. A clear indication of where he sits in the pecking order. Dunn and Tugay claimed midfield slots, with Andrews kept at right-back.
The Liverpool rotation situation is the major concern here. Liverpool looked odds on to get knocked out by Chelsea on Tuesday and, if that’s the case, it should smooth passage for us fantasy managers when it comes to Rafa’s lineup. However, both Insua and Agger are pushing hard for inclusion which to my mind, will still cast significant doubt over the starting roles of Skrtel and Aurellio for the remaining games. Arbeloa, Carragher and Reina look by far the safest bets in that defence.
Middlesbrough 3 Hull 1
Southgate was without injured skipper Pogatetz, O’Neil was serving the first of a two-match ban and Hoyte was dropped to the bench. That meant a recall for McMahon at right-back, Taylor started on the left, while King came in up front as Boro shifted to an attacking 4-4-2. Phil Brown kept an unchanged lineup, although Boateng was fit enough for the bench.
There’s little to interest fantasy managers from either of these sides. As points of interest, Tuncay – who scored the opener here – was played in a central midfield role with Downing back on the left. Obviously Southgate is now going on the attack with his lineup, which might see Alves and King promoted as high-risk differentials.
The Hull lineup as dried up as a source of fantasy points – although Barmby is still offering a cut-price midfield option and Mendy is still a decent bench defender for home games at least. Both look set to keep their starting roles to the end.
Injuries and Bans
Hull will lose skipper Ashbee for the next two matches after he picked up his tenth booking of the season in this game. Boateng, who came off the bench and was at fault for the third Boro goal, will likely come into the side as a result
Tottenham 1 West Ham 0
Redknapp chose to bring Huddlestone in for the suspended Palacios in the only change to his starting lineup. With Parker and Kovac both still sidelined, Zola also made just one change – bringing in Collins to replace head injury victim, Spector. That saw Tompkins move to right-back, with Neill shifting to a midfield role.
Going forward, Pavlyuchenko will now surely be restored to the Spurs starting lineup for Bent. Other than that, and the return of Palacios from his suspension, this Spurs lineup looks settled. Similarly, Zola has his strongest side in mind but is currently hampered by injury. The only point of interest appears to be the role played out by Tompkins. There’s still some doubt as to whether he can hold off the challenge of Collins to claim that defensive role alongside Upson.
Portsmouth 2 West Brom 2
Paul Hart made just one change, restoring Pennant to his midfield after injury to replace the suspended Johnson. Mowbray tinkered again, bringing Meite back into his defence for Martis, while Dorrans earned another start in midfield as the Baggies shifted to a 4-5-1. Koren also made a return, with Valero back on the bench.
There’s not too much to dwell on here. Johnson is back for Portsmouth next weekened and seems likely to start at right-back for Kaboul against Bolton. I can’t see too many changes for Portsmouth to come, other than that.
As for West Brom, they will take heart from their performance, although they needed the win here. It’s perhaps interesting that Mowbray went back to 4-5-1 – that saw Greening shift to a role up in support of the lone striker and it brought him his second Premier League goal of the season.
Injuries and Bans
The Baggies lost both Morrison and Zuiverloon to injury on 76 minutes.
Wigan 1 Arsenal 4
Steve Bruce started with a 4-4-2, recalling Rodallega alongside Mido up front. N’Zogbia, still suffering from the knee injury sustained against Hull a fortnight ago, made way with Watson drifting out to the left of midfield and Scharner and Brown keeping their central roles. Zaki wasn’t included in the squad.
Fabianski started for the injured Almunia in goal, while Wenger brought in Djourou and Gibbs to replace the sidelined Gallas and Clichy. Arshavin returned from being cup-tied in Europe – he was again out on the left, while Fabregas supported Bendtner, the lone striker, in a fluid 4-5-1. Van Persie was only fit enough for the bench, while Eduardo was ruled out.
Two more assists for Fabregas then, while Arshavin continues to contribute major returns from a wide left role. They both appear to be flourishing in the current 4-5-1 system that Wenger has used for the last three games. However, with Van Persie now available to him, it will be interesting to see if this shifts over the next two fixtures against Villarreal on Wednesday and Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday. You would have to think that Van Persie and Adebayor would start that one. If that is the case we are likely to see Fabregas drop to a more familiar, deeper role with Arshavin remaining wide left.
Injuries and Bans
Djourou stretchered off with knee injury on 34 minutes. There’s a suggestion that he has suffered knee ligament damage, although at this stage the extent of the injury is unknown and Wenger has just cautiously ruled him out of the Champions League second leg with Villarreal on Wednesday.
Mido picked up a knock for the home side and he was replaced on 58 minutes.
Chelsea 4 Bolton 3
Hiddink makde a couple of changes from the lineup that took the field at Anfield on Wednesday. Carvalho came in for Alex alongside Terry in defence, while Mikel replaced the rested Essien. Drogba started up front once again, with Anelka left on the bench. Megson named an unchanged lineup once again.
Hiddink continues to start with both Malouda and Kalou either side of either Drogba or Anelka up front. It appears that he is beginning to settle on this, which will severely hamper the number of starts that the Premier League’s leading scorer will get from this point on. Certainly Hiddink suggests in his post-match reaction that he will continue to play two wide players, for home games at least. That system allows Lampard more freedom to bomb on and join Lampard in the box so while Malouda and Kalou remain in place, Lampard’s returns should profit.
There’s still little information on the Bosingwa injury – we should hear more on this before the second leg of the Champions League with Liverpool. Ivanovic has taken his opportunity, however, the three goals conceded against Bolton won’t have pleased Hiddink and to my mind, Bosingwa is still likely to return once fit.
The Alex/Carvalho situation also remains cloudy. In short then, there remains a big degree of uncertainty in the Chelsea defence which acutally makes Cech, Ashley Cole and the expensive Terry, the most reliable fantasy options right now.
Injuries and Bans
Shittu picked up an injury in the first-half and was replaced by Andy O’Brien at the break.
Sunderland 1 Man United 2
Sbragia made a string of changes to his lineup. He was without club skipper Whitehead and ex-United man Richardson, who both failed fitness tests prior to the game. That loss was compensated by the return of Tainio in midfield, while Edwards returned to the starting lineup after being benched last time out. Jones also returned up front; that saw the formation shift to 4-4-2 and Malbranque drop to the bench. Elsewhere, Davenport was handed his first start for the Black Cats, with Ben Haim dropping out of the eleven.
Ferguson sprang some major and unpleasant surprises with his lineup, resting Ronaldo and Evra to the bench. Evans and Berbatov made surprise returns from injury, despite claims that they would not make this weekend. That meant that O’Shea shifted to left-back, while Rooney started on the left of midfield leaving Berbatov to partner Tevez up front. Anderson also made a return to fitness a lot quicker than expected – he was back on the bench.
United’s next league action is on Wednesday 22 against Portsmouth at Old Trafford. They have the FA Cup semi-final with Everton to come four days after their second leg in Porto this Wednesday. We’re pretty sure to see rotation in the United lineup come the Portsmouth game, although it’s almost impossible to guess just how Ferguson is likely to tinker with his troops with three games in a week. Ferdinand looks as though he is set to come back into the equation for the Porto game, while Rafael is also thought to be available for the Everton semi.
Injuries and Bans
Davenport picked up an injury for the home side and he was replaced on 73 minutes.
Stoke 1 Newcastle 1
Pulis kept the same side that won at West Brom last weekend so with Amdy Faye and Diao both still sidelined, Etherington continued on the left with Delap starting in central midfield. Shearer lost Martins on the morning of the game to a groin injury which meant that a last minute change of shape for the Magpies.
Shearer started with three centre backs, Edgar lining up alongside Beye and Bassong, who returned from injury. Coloccini dropped to the bench to make way after his poor showing against Chelsea. Duff and Taylor were deployed as wing-backs with Guthrie, Butt and Nolan holding the central midfield roles. Shearer switched to 4-4-2 on the hour mark with Guitierrez replacing Guthrie.
The Martins injury remains the big mystery coming out of this one and, although Shearer obviously rates the striker, there appears to be every chance that Martins will lose his starting role in the side as a result of this. After scoring the equaliser in this game, Carroll looks odds on to start at Spurs next time out.
Aston Villa 3 Everton 3
O’Neill made just one forced change to his lineup – Knight recalled at the back to replace Cuellar who was sidelined with a back injury. As for Everton, they were unchanged with Fellaini again pushed right up with Jo in attack and Cahill in a deeper central midfield role.
Both these sides continue to keep consistent lineups, although for Villa, Agbonlahor’s injury (see below) could hand an opportunity to Delfouneso while Heskey’s hamstring keeps him out. Laursen looks unlikely to return to bolster the Villa defence this season, so O’Neill’s options here look limited despite his desire to plug the gaps in this area.
As for Everton, Moyes continues to give Fellaini the licence to bomb forward, with Cahill’s role somewhat more controlled. Both scored in this game, although Felliani’s goal was more typical of his current role in the side – tapping in from a few yards.
Injuries and Bans
Although Agbonlahor was fit enough to start this one, he picked up further problems with his hamstring injury and was duly replaced early in the second-half. The striker is due a scan this week and must be a doubt for next weekend.
Man City 1 Fulham 3
Mark Hughes made an array of changes to his ineup – some forced, some out of choice. Bridge, Bellamy, Wright-Phillips and Kompany were all sidelined through injury which handed starts to Garrido at left back and Etuhu and Bojinov up front. Surprisingly, Robinho was rested to the bench, enabling Petrov to come in on the left. I say surprisingly, in truth Hughes has been desperate to drop the ineffective Brazilian for some time.
It fell disastrously for Hughes however, City slipped to a home defeat after 6 straight Eastlands wins and, following the chants of the home crowd, Hughes spent much of his post match reaction to this defeat justifying the Robinho move.
Fulham, in contrast, were unchanged yet again as they continued to be the most consistent lineup in the Premier League. The likes of Hangeland, Pantsil and Murphy have been a gift to the budget concious fantasy manager all season and Dempsey will surely have raised his profile enormously with his two well taken goals here.
Going forward, the City lineup should settle down once again when the short-term injuries clear. Judging by his post match comments Hughes is hopeful that Wright-Phillips will return for the UEFA Cup second leg with Hamburg this week. Bridge and Kompany remain doubts, while, worryingly, Bellamy will apparently undergo a scan on his knee later this week.
The Bellamy situation is still unclear, with suggestions that his knee injury could keep him out for the remainder of the season. The club have yet to release any statement to that effect but we are sure to know more once the scan results come through early this week.