Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 13 – Part Two

Sam Allardyce reverts to a 3-5-2 formation as Sunderland earn their first away win of the season. Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis are dropped for Swansea’s clash with Bournemouth, whilst the fit-again Diafra Sakho is handed the role on the right in West Ham’s first match without the inured Dimitri Payet.

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 14 lineups…

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey: Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, McArthur, Cabaye, Puncheon (Sako 45) (Bamford 69); Bolasie, Wickham (Chamakh 76).

• Alan Pardew made two changes from the team that won 2-1 at Liverpool, with Joel Ward and Connor Wickham coming in for Martin Kelly and Bakary Sako.
• It was the usual 4-2-3-1 system for the Eagles, with Wickham playing as the central striker, meaning Yannick Bolasie was back on the left of the three attacking midfield positions. Ward returned to the starting XI at right-back.
• Following a quiet first-half, Pardew looked to change things around at the break by bringing on Sako for Jason Puncheon. Sako unfortunately picked up a hamstring injury, though, so Patrick Bamford came on in his place. With Wickham short of match fitness, Pardew replaced the striker with 14 minutes to go – Marouane Chamakh took his place up front.
• After once again struggling at home, Pardew may look to freshen up his approach when Newcastle visit Selhurst Park on Saturday. Chamakh and Bamford could come into contention for a start, then, with Puncheon and Wickham looking the most vulnerable. Ward and Pape Souare do appear to be the first-choice full-backs, but Pardew has options in those areas, with Kelly able to play on both sides.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Flanks, Central Striker

Norwich

Starting XI: Ruddy, Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson, Redmond, O’Neil, Mulumbu (Dorrans 73), Brady, Howson (Hoolahan 73), Mbokani (Jerome 73).

• Alex Neil made three alterations for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with Youssouf Mulumbu, Nathan Redmond and Dieumerci Mbokani coming in for Alex Tettey, Wes Hoolahan and Cameron Jerome.
• Neil opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation at the Bridge. Mulumbu returned to central midfield alongside Gary O’Neil, whilst Jonny Howson and Robbie Brady were fielded on the flanks, allowing Redmond the role in “the hole” behind Mbokani.
• The Scottish boss opted to make a triple substitution with 17 minutes to go, introducing Graham Dorrans, Hoolahan and Jerome. Dorrans lined up alongside O’Neil at the base of midfield, Hoolahan took up the number ten role as Redmond shifted to the right, whilst Jerome came on as the lone striker.
• Captain Russell Martin missed out against Chelsea for personal reasons, but isn’t guaranteed to come straight back into the starting XI, with Andre Wisdom going reasonably well over the last two matches. The possibility of Brady switching back to left-back in place of Martin Olsson can’t be fully ruled out, while Hoolahan could earn a recall when Arsenal visit Carrow Road on Sunday. Tettey missed out against the Blues with a thigh injury, but should he be able to shake that off, he could come back in at the expense of O’Neil or Mulumbu. Neil also doesn’t seem to have decided who his first-choice striker is yet, with Mbokani and Jerome continuing to share pitch time.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-backs, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Central Striker

Southampton

Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Cedric (Juanmi 85), van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand; Clasie (Mane 64), Wanyama; Long, Davis (Ward-Prowse 72), Tadic; Pelle.

• Ronald Koeman decided to make three changes for the visit of Stoke to St Mary’s, with Cedric Soares, Victor Wanyama and Shane Long coming in for Maya Yoshida, James Ward-Prowse and Sadio Mane. The latter warmed the bench after a late return from international duties.
• The Saints lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Wanyama playing alongside Jordy Clasie in the double-pivot, while Long was stationed on the right of the three advanced midfield positions. Soares took up his usual position at right-back.
• With Stoke holding a 1-0 lead, Koeman brought on Mane for Clasie, with Steven Davis dropping back to the base of midfield. The Northern Ireland international was then replaced by Ward-Prowse in a straight swap, while Juanmi was thrown on in the dying stages as Southampton chased a late equaliser.
• Koeman will have to make at least one change for the away encounter against Man City on Saturday, with Graziano Pelle serving a one-match suspension. Long could play in that central striker role, while Mane could also be utilised there in much the same way Jurgen Klopp used Roberto Firmino against City. Juanmi may also come into contention for a rare start. Yoshida remains an option at right-back instead of Soares, while Ward-Prowse could also earn a recall.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Attacking Midfield, Central Striker

Stoke

Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Adam; Shaqiri (Afellay 64), Bojan (Cameron 71), Arnautovic; Walters (Diouf 87).

• With the Potters in splendid form, it wasn’t a huge surprise to see Mark Hughes once again name an unchanged starting XI.
• The Welshman stuck with his favoured 4-2-3-1 system then, with Jon Walters continuing as the lone striker.
• Xherdan Shaqiri picked up a hamstring problem, and was replaced by Ibrahim Afellay shortly after the hour mark in a straight swap. Bojan once again failed to see out the full 90 minutes, with Geoff Cameron coming on in a defensive change. Mame Biram Diouf was only given a short run-out in the final minutes.
• With five wins and as many clean sheets in their last seven matches, Hughes will be reluctant to make any unnecessary alterations. Should Shaqiri be ruled out for the trip to Sunderland on Saturday, Afellay and Diouf appear likely to be competing for that spot on the right of the three advanced midfield positions. At the moment, Diouf appears unlikely to usurp Walters for the lone striker role.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Central Striker

Sunderland

Starting XI: Pantilimon; Coates, Kaboul, O’Shea; Jones, Larsson (Watmore 60), M’Vila, Cattermole, van Aanholt; Fletcher (Lens 59), Defoe (Graham 86).

• Sam Allardyce made five changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Southampton, with John O’Shea, Patrick van Aanholt, Lee Cattermole, Sebastian Larsson and Jermain Defoe replacing DeAndre Yedlin, Jordi Gomez, Ola Toivonen, Adam Johnson and Duncan Watmore.
• Big Sam went back to a 3-5-2 formation, with Sebastian Coates, Younes Kaboul and O’Shea the three central defenders. Billy Jones and van Aanholt played as wing-backs, with Larsson, Cattermole and Yann M’Vila as the three central midfielders. That meant Defoe and Steven Fletcher started up front.
• Allardyce made a double change on the hour mark, with Jeremain Lens and Watmore coming on for Fletcher and Larsson. Defoe was forced off with an ankle injury late on, with Danny Graham entering the fray.
• Big Sam has already shown his ability to utilise different formations, and that may continue when the Black Cats entertain Stoke on Saturday. Kaboul looks a sure starter at the back, though Jones serves a one-match ban after earning his fifth yellow of the season, which should allow Yedlin to return to the XI against the Potters. In midfield, Cattermole and M’Vila also appear likely to keep their places, whatever formation he opts for. Defoe’s potential absence could mean a switch to a 4-3-3 formation, so Lens could come into consideration for a start out wide, along with Adam Johnson, Watmore or Fabio Borini, if he proves his fitness.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Back, Central Defence, Flanks, Attacking Midfield

Swansea

Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Bartley, Williams, Taylor; Ki Sung-yeung, Britton (Sigurdsson 70); Ayew, Shelvey, Routledge (Montero 70); Eder (Gomis 74).

• Garry Monk made four alterations from the team which lost 1-0 at Norwich, with Kyle Bartley, Leon Britton, Wayne Routledge and Eder taking the places of Federico Fernandez, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jefferson Montero and Bafetimbi Gomis.
• Monk did stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, with Britton playing alongside Ki Sung-yeung in the double-pivot, allowing Jonjo Shelvey to play further forward in the number ten role. Andre Ayew was switched to the left of the three attacking midfield positions, with Routledge coming in on the right. Eder started as the lone striker, while Bartley slotted in next to skipper Ashley Williams in central defence.
• With the score at 2-2, Monk looked to Sigurdsson and Montero for inspiration, with the pair replacing Britton and Routledge with 20 minutes to go. Eder was fairly ineffective for the home side, and made way for Gomis shortly after.
• With Monk struggling to find a winning formula, we could see more changes for the trip to Anfield on Sunday. Shelvey will miss the clash against his former side due to suspension, so Britton could continue alongside Ki at the base of midfield, or Jack Cork could earn a recall, with Britton the more likely to miss out. Sigurdsson and Montero appear likely to return to the starting XI, with it perhaps a possibility that Ayew could start as the lone striker if the Swans look to play on the counter-attack. Otherwise, those three could fill the attacking midfield positions as usual, with Gomis and Eder fighting it out for the central striker role. Angel Rangel could come into consideration at right-back in place of Kyle Naughton, while Bartley struggled against the Cherries, so Fernandez could come straight back into the team, or Jordi Amat may be handed an opportunity to start.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker

Tottenham

Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Heung-Min Son (Onomah 85), Alli (Mason 71), Eriksen; Kane (Carroll 90).

• Mauricio Pochettino was forced into one change for the home encounter against West Ham, with Heung-Min Son replacing the suspended Erik Lamela.
• The Argentine rolled out his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, with Son stationed on the right of the three attacking midfield slots. Dele Alli was pushed forward into the central attacking midfield role though, with Mousa Dembele playing alongside Eric Dier at the base of midfield.
• With Alli having picked up a yellow card, Pochettino decided to take off the England international, with Ryan Mason taking his place in a straight swap. Youngsters Joshua Onomah and Tom Carroll only came on in the dying minutes.
• Alli will be suspended for the visit of Chelsea to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, so Mason could earn a recall to the starting XI. Pochettino could also play Dembele alongside Dier once more, allowing Lamela, available again after serving his one-match ban, to return to the side in the three advanced midfield positions.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes, Nyom (Paredes 69), Cathcart, Britos, Anya, Capoue, Watson, Abdi, Deeney, Jurado (Ake 45), Ighalo.

• Quique Sanchez Flores only made one alteration for the home clash against Man United, with the fit-again Jurado taking the place of Nathan Ake.
• That change saw a slight reshuffle, with Ikechi Anya moving to left-back, with Jurado then lining up on the right of the three advanced midfield positions.
• The Spaniard looked rusty in the first-half though, and Flores replaced Jurado at the break for Ake. That saw the Dutch U21 international slot into his usual position at left-back, with Anya then stationed on the right side of the three attacking midfield positions. The Scotland international was then moved to right-back once Juan Carlos Paredes was brought on for Allan Nyom.
• Flores has altered little with his team bar the changes at left-back and on the right side of midfield. Anya has switched between the two positions, and given Jurado’s poor outing on Saturday, could start back on the right of midfield for the trip to Villa Park on Saturday, with Ake, who played 180 minutes during the international break, perhaps earning a recall at left-back.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Flanks

West Brom

Starting XI: Myhill; Dawson, Evans, Olsson, Brunt; Yacob, Fletcher; Sessegnon (Gardner 61), Morrison (Lambert 77), McClean; Rondon (Berahino 68).

• Tony Pulis was forced to make one change from the team which lost 2-0 to Man United, with the suspended Gareth McAuley being replaced by Jonas Olsson.
• The Baggies boss opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation against Arsenal, with Claudio Yacob sitting just in front of the back four. Olsson slotted in alongside Jonny Evans at the heart of the defence.
• Stephane Sessegnon was replaced by Craig Gardner in a defensive switch just after the hour mark with the Baggies holding a surprise 2-1 lead. Salomon Rondon arrived back to England late following his international duty for Venezuela, so was replaced by Saido Berahino shortly after. Pulis’ final substitution saw Rickie Lambert enter the fray for James Morrison, with Berahino dropping back into midfield.
• Pulis has had a settled side in recent weeks, and on the back of the impressive victory against the Gunners, that appears likely to remain the case moving forward. McAuley will be available for the trip to Upton Park on Sunday, though Chris Brunt now faces a one-match ban of his own, so it could be that Olsson has to start at left-back instead. Berahino may have to settle for a place on the bench once more, with James McClean and Sessegnon currently being favoured in the wide roles.

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

West Ham

Starting XI: Adrian; Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Sakho, Noble (Song 80), Kouyate, Moses (Zarate 63); Lanzini; Carroll (Jelavic 63).

• Slaven Bilic only made one adjustment from the side which drew 1-1 against Everton, with the fit-again Diafra Sakho replacing the injured Dimitri Payet.
• The Croatian stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has served him so well this season, with Sakho coming in on the right of the three attacking midfield positions. Manuel Lanzini moved to the number ten role vacated by Payet, while Andy Carroll continued as the lone striker for the Irons.
• Bilic opted to make a double change shortly after the hour mark with his side trailing 3-0, bringing on Mauro Zarate and Nikica Jelavic in place of Victor Moses and Carroll. Alex Song made his first appearance of the season with 10 minutes to go, replacing captain Mark Noble.
• The Hammers have only scored two goals in their last three matches, and in the absence of Payet, we could see Bilic make some changes in the front four. Zarate looks the most likely to be given a chance in the starting XI, with Moses appearing the most vulnerable. Jelavic offers another option in attack, while Sakho could also return to the central striker role, allowing both Moses and Zarate to start alongside Lanzini in the three attacking midfield positions. Noble will serve a one-match suspension against West Brom, so the former Croatia boss will hope Pedro Obiang can shake off the thigh injury that forced him to miss Sunday’s 4-1 defeat. Song may lack the match fitness to start against the Baggies, so Reece Oxford could also come into consideration at the base of midfield.

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