Cedric Soares is dropped for Southampton’s trip to Sunderland. Saido Berahino moves to the bench for West Brom’s visit to Old Trafford, whilst Big Sam switches back to a 4-2-3-1 in light of Sunderland’s Gameweek 11 thrashing at Goodison.
After rolling out Part One yesterday, we now turn our attentions to the remaining ten Premier League sides to review the personal, formations and changes made, whilst speculating on the likely Gameweek 13 lineups…
Newcastle
Starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita (Mbabu 93), Tiote, Wijnaldum; Mitrovic (Cisse 63), Perez (Thauvin 78).
- Steve McClaren named an unchanged team for the trip to Bournemouth, with Rob Elliot passed fit to start in goal.
- McClaren kept faith with the 4-4-2 formation that has seen a gradual upturn in the Magpies performances in recent weeks.
- Aleksandar Mitrovic was replaced by Papiss Cisse in a straight swap shortly after the hour mark. Florian Thauvin came on for Ayoze Perez, with McClaren switching to a 4-5-1 system in order to hang on to their 1-0 lead.
- After grinding out an unlikely 1-0 win, McClaren could keep faith with the same team for the home clash against Leicester in 11 days time. The likes of Thauvin and Cisse are pushing for starting places, but don’t seem to have put forward strong enough cases for inclusion quite yet, while the solidity in midfield offered by Vurnon Anita and Cheick Tiote means Moussa Sissoko is likely to remain of the right flank for the time being.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks
Norwich
Starting XI: Ruddy; Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Howson, Tettey, O’Neil, Brady; Hoolahan (Mulumbu 89); Jerome (Mbokani 68).
- Alex Neil made three alterations for the visit of Swansea to Carrow Road, with Andre Wisdom coming in for the suspended Russell Martin, while Gary O’Neil and Wes Hoolahan replaced Youssouf Mulumbu and the injured Matt Jarvis.
- Having played with a 5-4-1 formation against Man City a week earlier, Neil reverted back to the 4-4-1-1 system against the Swans. Hoolahan operated in the number ten role, while O’Neil was positioned alongside Alex Tettey in the middle of the park. Wisdom played at right-back for the Canaries with Steven Whittaker left on the bench.
- Dieumerci Mbokani took the place of Cameron Jerome as the lone striker, with the DR Congo international back in action following illness.
- Mbokani laid on the assist for Jonny Howson’s winner, and providing he’s fit following the international break, should start at Chelsea next time around. Neil could opt for a more defensive set-up at Stamford Bridge, so Hoolahan could be sacrificed for the likes of Mulumbu or Graham Dorrans, with a return to the 5-4-1 formation used at City possible. Nathan Redmond could be available if he shakes off a thigh problem, but may find it difficult to find a spot in the starting XI. Martin will be back from suspension, but given Wisdom’s impressive outing in Norwich’s first clean sheet of the campaign, Neil could even name an unchanged back four or shift Martin back to a central defensive role, with Ryan Bennett under threat.
Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-backs, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Central Striker
Southampton
Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Yoshida, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Clasie (Romeu 77), Mane (Juanmi 82), S Davis, Tadic (Caulker 90); Pelle.
- Ronald Koeman only made two adjustments for the trip to Sunderland, with Maya Yoshida taking the place of Cedric Soares, while James Ward-Prowse came in for the suspended Victor Wanyama.
- Saints were in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation at the Stadium of Light, with Yoshida lining up at right-back, while Ward-Prowse played alongside Jordy Clasie in the double-pivot.
- Oriol Romeu replaced Clasie, with the Dutchman continuing to build up his match fitness. Juanmi made just his fourth league appearance of the season as a late substitute.
- Having started the previous five matches, it was something of a surprise that Yoshida started ahead of Soares, although the Portugal international had been a rotation risk earlier in the season; that now appears the case once again. Wanyama is likely to return from his suspension against Stoke in Gameweek 13, with Ward-Prowse expected to drop out. Steven Davis has been a regular in the three attacking midfield positions of late and looks to have nailed down a spot in the starting XI.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield
Stoke
Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Adam (Afellay 79), Whelan; Shaqiri (Diouf 82), Bojan (Cameron 71), Arnautovic; Walters.
- Mark Hughes named an unchanged team from the one that drew 0-0 at Newcastle, with Jon Walters continuing as the lone striker for the Potters.
- There was no change in system for Stoke, with Hughes again rolling out the 4-2-3-1 formation.
- Bojan made way for Geoff Cameron in a defensive change with twenty minutes to go as Chelsea pushed forward for an equaliser. Ibrahim Afellay replaced Charlie Adam to provide a threat on the counter-attack, while Mame Biram Diouf made his first appearance since Gameweek 8 with a late cameo off the bench.
- Providing there are no injuries over the international break, Hughes may well name an unchanged side once more for the trip to Southampton following such a strong performance. The only adjustment could see Diouf earn a recall as the central striker, but even that appears fairly unlikely at this point.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Central Striker
Sunderland
Starting XI: Pantilimon; Yedlin, Coates, Kaboul, Jones; M’Vila, Gomez (Defoe 74); Johnson, Toivonen (Borini 46), Watmore; Fletcher (Rodwell 71).
- Sam Allardyce made three changes for the home clash against Southampton, with Jordi Gomez, Ola Toivonen and Duncan Watmore coming in for Patrick van Aanholt, Lee Cattermole and Jermain Defoe.
- Having gone for a 3-4-1-2 formation in the 6-2 loss at Everton, Big Sam switched back to a 4-3-3 system against the Saints. Toivonen and Gomez played either side of the deeper Yann M’Vila in central midfield, while Watmore was stationed on the left wing. Adam Johnson started on the opposite flank, with Steven Fletcher the lone striker.
- Toivonen was ineffective in a deeper midfield role, and was replaced by Fabio Borini at half-time. The Italian’s introduction saw Allardyce switch to more of a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Johnson in the number ten role and Borini playing out wide on the right. Jack Rodwell and Defoe came on in the final two changes, with the former playing in central midfield, allowing Gomez to push forward, while Defoe was utilised as the central striker.
- John O’Shea was again ruled out with a hamstring injury, but if fit for the trip to Crystal Palace, he looks likely to replace Sebastian Coates at centre-back. M’Vila appears the most sure starter in midfield: Gomez, Toivonen and Rodwell are all jostling for the other spot, while Watmore’s inclusion suggests Big Sam has somewhat frozen out Jeremain Lens. Borini could be one to force his way into the starting XI at Palace in support of Fletcher in attack.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Ki Sung-yeung, Shelvey (Eder 87); Ayew, Sigurdsson (Britton 78) Montero (Routledge 64); Gomis.
- Garry Monk named an unchanged team for the trip to Norwich, despite going down to a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in Gameweek 11.
- The Swans lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 system, with Andre Ayew continuing down the right-hand side.
- Jefferson Montero struggled against the Canaries, and was replaced by Wayne Routledge shortly after the hour mark. Leon Britton and Eder were introduced late on, but neither could help muster an equaliser as Monk’s men crashed to a 1-0 defeat.
- While Monk’s selection has been settled in recent weeks, there are clearly a number of players in the team that are currently performing some way short of their best. Federico Fernandez, Montero and Bafetimbi Gomis appear the most vulnerable of being axed, with Kyle Bartley, Routledge and Eder respectively the most likely alternatives in those positions. Britton and Jack Cork could also come into contention in midfield, with Angel Rangel, Franck Tabanou and Modou Barrow are others who may be called upon ahead of the key home encounter against Bournemouth in Gameweek 13.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Alli (Mason 82); Lamela (Heung-Min Son 75), Dembele, Eriksen (Onomah 90); Kane.
- Mauricio Pochettino again decided to name an unchanged team ahead of the north London derby.
- The Argentine stuck with his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 formation at the Emirates, with the in-form Mousa Dembele again stationed behind lone striker Harry Kane, although he did at times dovetail with Dele Alli.
- Heung-Min Son made his first appearance since the 4-1 win over Man City after recovering from a foot injury, taking the place of Erik Lamela. Ryan Mason came on for Alli in a straight swap with the impressive youngster beginning to tire.
- While Danny Rose has started the last four matches, it’s sometimes hard to tell when Pochettino is going to change personnel at left-back, with Ben Davies often called upon. Given that Lamela is set to serve a one-match ban, Son will now push for a start against West Ham, but with the Argentine in such good form, it remains to be seen whether the new boy can re-establish himself as a regular.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Nyom (Diamanti 76), Cathcart, Britos, Ake; Anya, Watson, Capoue (Parades 70), Abdi; Deeney; Ighalo.
- Quique Sanchez Flores once again named an unchanged side for the Hornets trip to the King Power Stadium.
- The Spaniard continued with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has proved so successful this season.
- Juan Carlos Paredes came on as a substitute for the fifth successive match, this time in place of Almen Abdi. The other change saw Alessandro Diamanti introduced in an attacking substitution for Allan Nyom.
- Miguel Britos looks to have established himself alongside Craig Cathcart at centre-back, and while Abdi and Ikechi Anya have been regular starters, the likes of Paredes and Diamanti look the most likely to break into the starting XI. Meanwhile, Jurado’s return to fitness following a hamstring problem would likely prompt Flores to re-assess his attacking midfield setup with Anya the likely candidate to make way.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks
West Brom
Starting XI: Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt (McManaman 85); McClean, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison (Berahino 72), Sessegnon; Rondon (Lambert 72).
- Tony Pulis made just one alteration for the trip to Old Trafford, with James Morrison replacing Saido Berahino.
- Pulis switched back to 4-5-1 formation having favoured a 4-4-2 in recent weeks. Morrison played alongside Claudio Yacob and Daren Fletcher in central midfield, with Stephane Sessegnon and James McClean stationed out wide.
- With the Baggies a goal down, Pulis sent on Berahino and Rickie Lambert in search of an equaliser, going back to a 4-4-2 formation. Callum McManaman was once again handed a few minutes in the dying stages.
- With Arsenal up next for West Brom at the Hawthorns, Pulis may well look to the pack the midfield once again, sticking with the 4-5-1 system. Following Berahino’s glaring miss on Saturday, he could retain Sessegnon and McClean in the wide areas, with McManaman looking unlikely to earn a recall.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks
West Ham
Starting XI: Adrian; Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Kouyate, Noble; Lanzini, Payet (Valencia 50, (Zarate 70)), Moses; Carroll (Jelavic 87).
- Slaven Bilic made just one change from the team that lost 2-0 at Watford, with the fit-again Winston Reid replacing the suspended James Collins.
- The Croatian stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Reid slotting back alongside James Tomkins at the heart of the Hammers defence.
- Dimitri Payet was forced off with an ankle injury, and was withdrawn for Enner Valencia. The Ecuador international also picked up a similar complaint and had to be stretchered off the pitch – he was subsequently replaced by Mauro Zarate. Bilic’s final change saw Nikica Jelavic handed a few minutes at the death for Andy Carroll.
- The Hammers have been dealt a huge blow with the news that Payet is set to miss around three months with that ankle injury. Zarate looks the obvious replacement, although Diafra Sakho and Pedro Obiang offer alternatives, should either prove their fitness in time – either could be stationed on the right, allowing Carroll to retain the lone striker berth.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Central Striker
