After rolling out Part One of our Lineup Lessons yesterday, we turn to our second installment this lunchtime. Ronald Koeman changes both of his full-backs for the visit of Swansea, Gerard Deulofeu impresses on his first start for Everton, whilst Bafetimbi Gomis is hauled off at half-time for the Swans.
Everton
Starting XI: Howard; Browning (Gibson 72), Jagielka, Funes Mori, Galloway; McCarthy, Barry; Deulofeu, Naismith (Kone 72), Barkley; Lukaku (Lennon 89).
Roberto Martinez made two alterations for the away clash at West Brom. Ramiro Funes Mori made his first Premier League start in place of the injured John Stones, while Gerard Deulofeu came in for Arouna Kone on the right of the three attacking midfield positions in Martinez’ preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Tyias Browning continued at right-back, with Seamus Coleman still struggling with a hamstring injury. Darron Gibson made his first league appearance of the season as a late substitute, while Arouna Kone made an impact off the bench, scoring the second goal, and may challenge Naismith or Deulofeu for a starting berth against Liverpool. After the match, Martinez said Stones and Coleman were very close to playing, so the pair appear likely to return to the starting XI for the Merseyside derby on Sunday.
Norwich
Starting XI: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Olsson; Howson, Tettey, Dorrans (Redmond 69), Brady; Hoolahan (O’Neil 85); Jerome (Mbokani 64).
Alex Neil made two changes for the trip to Upton Park, with Martin Olsson and Wes Hoolahan replacing Nathan Redmond and the ineligible Matt Jarvis. With Olsson starting at left-back, Robbie Brady shifted forward to the left side of midfield in Neil’s 4-4-1-1 formation, with Hoolahan operating “in the hole” behind Cameron Jerome. Jonny Howson played narrowly down the right side of midfield. Jerome was again hauled off this week, this time for Dieumerci Mbokani, and having only scored once so far this season, could slowly be losing his grip on a starting spot. Redmond came off the bench to find the back of the net for the Canaries, and may well come back into the starting line-up for the home encounter against Leicester on Saturday. Either Howson or Graham Dorrans appear the most likely to make way. Neil will face some selection dilemmas though, with Jarvis also available to face the Foxes, having enjoyed a strong start to life at Carrow Road.
Southampton
Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Cedric Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Wanyama; Mane (Juanmi 86), Steven Davis (Romeu 63), Tadic (Rodriguez 74); Pelle.
Ronald Koeman made three alterations from the side which lost 3-2 to Man United. Cedric Soares came back in at right-back for Maya Yoshida, while Ryan Bertrand made his first league start of the campaign at left-back, with Matt Targett missing out. The other change saw Steven Davis start in place of Oriol Romeu alongside Victor Wanyama at the base of midfield in Koeman’s usual 4-2-3-1 system. Sadio Mane operated on the right of the three advanced midfield positions, although there was plenty of fluidity between himself and James Ward-Prowse, who started in the number ten role. Ward-Prowse and Davis seemed to also interchange pretty frequently for the Saints. Davis was replaced by Romeu, and the two appear to be battling it out to partner Wanyama in Koeman’s first choice midfield pairing. Jay Rodriguez and Juanmi made late substitute appearances, but both may struggle to oust any of the current front four ahead of the trip to Chelsea on Saturday. Bertrand got through his first 90 minutes of the season, meaning Targett’s time in the starting XI now appears to be over.
Stoke
Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Cameron, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Adam (Van Ginkel 75); Shaqiri (Afellay 46), Bojan (Diouf 62), Arnautovic; Walters.
Mark Hughes brought in Philipp Wollscheid and Charlie Adam for the home clash against Bournemouth, with the injured Marc Wilson (calf) and Marco van Ginkel missing out. Adam was back after his suspension, and started alongside Glenn Whelan at the base of midfield in Hughes’ usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Wollscheid made his first league start of the season in central defence alongside Geoff Cameron. Bojan continued in the number ten role, with Jon Walters the lone striker once again. Xherdan Shaqiri was forced off at half-time with a hamstring problem, with Ibrahim Afellay coming on in his place out wide. Bojan was then hauled off just after the hour mark, with Mame Biram Diouf entering the fray. Stoke’s final change saw Van Ginkel replace Adam, but after picking up their first win of the season, the Scotland international could well keep his place for the trip to Aston Villa this weekend. Diouf grabbed the winner, and could also come back into the starting XI, with Walters perhaps competing with Afellay for a spot on the right should Shaqiri fail to recover.
Sunderland
Starting XI: Pantilimon; Jones, O’Shea, Kaboul, van Aanholt; Cattermole, M’Vila; Johnson (Fletcher 45), Toivonen (Larsson 70), Lens; Borini.
Dick Advocaat made three changes for the trip to Old Trafford, with John O’Shea replacing Sebastian Coates at centre-back, Lee Cattermole coming in for Jordi Gomez in midfield, and Adam Johnson taking the place of Jermain Defoe. The Black Cats lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation once again, with Cattermole alongside Yann M’Vila in the double-pivot. Johnson was stationed on the right of the three advanced midfield positions, with Jeremain Lens on the left, and Ola Toivonen playing behind lone striker Fabio Borini. Advocaat changed things at half-time though, with Steven Fletcher coming on for Johnson, while Sebastian Larsson came on for Toivonen later on, with the Dutch boss opting for a 4-4-2 formation. Defoe was an unused substitute, so Fletcher could perhaps come into the reckoning for a start against West Ham on Saturday.
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Ki, Shelvey (Britton 80), Cork (Montero 46); Ayew, Sigurdsson, Gomis (Eder 46).
Having failed to score in their last three matches in all competitions, Garry Monk opted for a midfield diamond for the trip to Southampton. Ki Sung-yeung came in for Jefferson Montero in the only change from the team which drew 0-0 against Everton, with the South Korean playing on the right of the diamond, with Jonjo Shelvey on the left and Jack Cork at the base. Gylfi Sigurdsson played at the tip behind Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis. With the Swans 1-0 down after a lacklustre first-half, Monk made a double substitution, with Eder and Montero replacing Gomis and Cork. He reverted back to the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Montero in his usual position down the left flank, and Ayew stationed on the right, with Ki and Shelvey operating in the double-pivot. With the diamond formation being ditched so early at St Mary’s, Monk may revert back to the 4-2-3-1 system from the off against Spurs, so Cork and Ki could be battling for one spot alongside Shelvey in the engine room.
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Alli, Lamela (Carroll 87), Heung-Min Son (N’Jie 75), Eriksen (Chadli 68), Kane.
Mauricio Pochettino only made one change from the side that beat Crystal Palace 1-0, with Christian Eriksen coming in for Nacer Chadli. The Dane played on the left of the three attacking midfield positions in the Argentine’s 4-2-3-1 system, with Heung-Min Son in the number ten role and Erik Lamela on the right. Dele Alli once again impressed alongside Eric Dier in the double-pivot, while Ben Davies again started at left-back ahead of Danny Rose, with the back four selection remaining very settled. With Ryan Mason and Mousa Dembele also closing in on returns, Chadli’s pitch time now looks a concern, with Son and Eriksen looking the most secure starters behind Harry Kane.
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Nyom (Ake 75), Prodl, Cathcart, Anya; Capoue, Watson (Ibarbo 82); Abdi (Berghuis 63), Deeney, Jurado; Ighalo.
Quique Sanchez Flores named an unchanged team from the one which won 2-1 at Newcastle for the visit of Crystal Palace. Ben Watson continued alongside Etienne Capoue in the double-pivot in midfield, while Troy Deeney tucked in just behind lone striker Odion Ighalo. Steven Berghuis and Nathan Ake came on a second-half substitutes for the second match running, but it would be a slight surprise if either forced their way into the starting XI for the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday. Victor Ibarbo made his first league appearance for the Hornets late on, with perhaps a longer outing off the bench a possibility against the Cherries.
West Brom
Starting XI: Myhill; Dawson, Olsson (Chester 27), Evans, Brunt; McClean, Fletcher, Yacob (Lambert 85), Morrison, Berahino; Rondon (Gardner 68).
Tony Pulis stuck with the 4-1-4-1 formation which produced a 1-0 win at Aston Villa last time out, and only made one enforced change to his starting XI, with Jonas Olsson coming in for Gareth McAuley, who missed out because of a calf injury. Saido Berahino again started on the left, but effectively played as an inside forward, giving support to lone forward Salomon Rondon. Olsson himself picked up a groin injury in the first-half, with James Chester stepping in as a replacement. Craig Gardner replaced Rondon in the second-half, with Berahino then taking over the lone striker role, while he was joined up front late on by Rickie Lambert as the Baggies chased an equaliser.
West Ham
Starting XI: Adrian; Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Kouyate, Noble (Zarate 85); Lanzini (Carroll 72), Payet, Moses (Obiang 57), Sakho.
After winning at the Etihad last week, Slaven Bilic only made one change for the home clash against Norwich, with fit-again Cheikhou Kouyate starting in place of Pedro Obiang. Dimitri Payet was stationed in the number ten role once more in the Croatian’s 4-2-3-1 formation. Victor Moses was hauled off just before the hour mark for the second match running, with Obiang replacing the Nigerian, allowing Kouyate to push forward from midfield. Andy Carroll continued his comeback with 23 minutes off the bench, although he still appears unlikely to start until after the international break as he looks to build his match fitness. Mauro Zarate was brought on as the Hammers chased a late equaliser, which Kouyate eventually delivered. With a trip to Sunderland up next, Bilic is expected to stick with a similar side, with Obiang the most likely to earn a recall in midfield.
