Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 16 – Part One

Leighton Baines is handed his first start of the season for Everton’s trip to Norwich. Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson thrives in his first start under Jurgen Klopp, whilst Manuel Pellegrini’s rotation policy sees Aleksandar Kolarov and Kevin de Bruyne drop out of City’s starting XI.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Flamini; Campbell (Gibbs 64), Ozil (Chambers 86), Walcott (Oxlade-Chamberlain 64); Giroud.

• Arsene Wenger made just one change for the trip to Villa Park, with Theo Walcott coming in for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
• Walcott lined up on the left of the three attacking midfield positions in Wenger’s usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Joel Campbell stationed on the opposite flank.
• Campbell and Walcott were replaced by Kieran Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain shortly after the hour mark. Gibbs played on the left, with Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right. Calum Chambers was introduced to help see it out the match with less than five minutes remaining, coming on for Mesut Ozil.
• Alexis Sanchez looks poised to miss out against Man City a week on Monday, so Campbell’s run in the starting XI could continue in the short-term. Oxlade-Chamberlain could replace the Costa Rican, though, while Olivier Giroud’s goal scoring form should mean he remains the central striker ahead of Walcott for the clash against the Citizens.

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

Aston Villa

Starting XI: Guzan; Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna; Sanchez, Gueye (Grealish 78); Sinclair (Traore 87), Veretout, Ayew; Gestede (Carles Gil 57).

• Remi Garde named an unchanged team from the one that drew 1-1 against Southampton last time out.
• The former Lyon boss stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation used against the Saints, with Jordan Veretout positioned in the number ten role once more. Jordan Ayew (left) and Scott Sinclair (right) flanked the Frenchman in the three advanced midfield positions behind lone striker Rudy Gestede.
• With Gestede’s aerial threat failing to trouble the Arsenal defence, Garde took off the former Blackburn striker before the hour mark, with Carles Gil taking his place. Jack Grealish and Adama Traore also entered the fray late on, coming on for Idrissa Gueye and Sinclair respectively.
• Leandro Bacuna has started the last two matches at left-back, and appears likely to keep his place for Saturday’s trip to Newcastle. Should Micah Richards shake off a knee injury, he is expected to return in central defence, perhaps in place of Jores Okore. Following a disappointing attacking performance against the Gunners, changes look likely in attack, with Grealish and Traore possibilities to earn a place in the starting XI. Ayew could perhaps return to the lone striker role in place of Gestede, freeing up one place out wide. Sinclair’s starting berth could also be slightly vulnerable.

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

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Surman, Ritchie, Arter (O’Kane 86), Gosling, Stanislas, King (Murray 65).

• Eddie Howe unsurprisingly named an unchanged team from the one that triumphed 1-0 against Chelsea.
• Howe also continued with a 4-1-4-1 against Man United. Andrew Surman sat just behind Harry Arter and Dan Gosling in central midfield, with Matt Ritchie (right) and Junior Stanislas (left) flanking central striker Josh King in attack.
• King had to come off shortly after the hour mark after picking up a hamstring injury, with Glenn Murray taking his place in attack. Howe’s only other change saw Eunan O’Kane come on for Arter in a straight swap.
• It isn’t yet known how serious King’s hamstring injury is, but should the Norway international be ruled out of the trip to West Brom, Murray should be the one to deputise. Adam Smith has started the last two matches, and should keep his place at right-back, with Simon Francis remaining at centre-back.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Striker

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; McArthur, Cabaye; Zaha, Bolasie, Puncheon (Mutch 84); Wickham (Chamakh 90).

• Alan Pardew only made one adjustment for the home clash against Southampton, with Wilfried Zaha coming back into the starting XI after serving his one-match ban, with Mile Jedinak making way.
• Pardew rolled out his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation once again, with Zaha starting in his usual position out wide on the right. The former Newcastle boss did make some tactical changes, though, with Jason Puncheon moved to the left of the three attacking positions, while Yannick Bolasie played slightly behind lone striker Connor Wickham.
• Both of Pardew’s substitutions came in the latter stages, with Jordon Mutch and Marouane Chamakh providing fresh legs in place of Puncheon and Wickham.
• The Palace side has a pretty familiar look to it now, with changes for the trip to Stoke appearing unlikely. He could change the positions of the front four though, with Bolasie perhaps returning to the left and Puncheon to the number ten role, allowing Wickham to start as the lone striker.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Central Striker

Everton

Starting XI: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines; Barry, Cleverley; Deulofeu (Mirallas 69), Barkley (Gibson 76), Kone; Lukaku.

• Roberto Martinez only made one change for the trip to Carrow Road, with Leighton Baines making his first league start of the season in place of Brendan Galloway.
• Having played with a 4-2-3-1 formation for most of the season, Martinez switched to more of a 4-3-3 against the Canaries, with Ross Barkley stationed alongside Gareth Barry and Tom Cleverley in a three-man midfield. Baines slotted in at left-back.
• Gerard Deulofeu struggled to make much of an impact at the start of the second-half, and was replaced by Kevin Mirallas with 20 minutes to go. Barkley was quiet for much of the match, and was withdrawn for Darron Gibson in Martinez’ final change.
• While Cleverley has filled in well over the past few matches, James McCarthy should come straight back into the starting line-up against Leicester if he’s recovered from a groin injury. Mirallas may also come into contention for a starting berth out wide, although Deulofeu and Kone probably did enough against Norwich to keep their starting spots. After getting through 90 minutes, Baines is expected to keep his starting position at left-back against the Foxes ahead of Galloway.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left Back, Central Midfield, Flanks

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet: Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren (Origi 76), Moreno: Emre Can, Henderson: Milner, Coutinho (Ibe 71), Lallana (Roberto Firmino 86): Benteke.

• Jurgen Klopp made four alterations from the side that slumped to a surprise 2-0 defeat against Newcastle, with Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho replacing Lucas Leiva, Joe Allen, Jordon Ibe and Roberto Firmino.
• Can and Henderson formed the midfield partnership in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with the German international sat in front of the back four and Henderson much more advanced in the middle of the park. James Milner (left), Coutinho (number ten) and Lallana (right) formed the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Christian Benteke.
• Coutinho was making his first start since going off injured against Man City in Gameweek 13 with a hamstring injury, and only played 70 minutes on his return, with Ibe taking his place. Ibe was stationed on the right, with Lallana moving centrally. Dejan Lovren then suffered a nasty looking knee injury, and was replaced by Divock Origi, with Klopp throwing caution to the wind with the Reds trailing 2-1 at Anfield. In the final substitution, Firmino was introduced in place of Lallana.
• The knee injury suffered by Lovren looked fairly serious, though Mamadou Sakho has stepped up his injury recovery and could yet be fit for the trip to Watford. Lucas may come into the equation for a recall in central midfield, while Ibe and Firmino could push for starting berths in the advanced midfield positions. Firmino could also put pressure on Benteke for the lone striker role, having impressed in that position in previous away matches against Chelsea and Man City. Goalscorer Origi also provides an alternative in attack.

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

Man City

Starting XI: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Mangala, Clichy; Fernandinho, Toure; Navas, Silva (De Bruyne 68) , Sterling (Delph 45); Bony (Iheanacho 82).

• Manuel Pellegrini made four changes from the team that lost 2-0 at Stoke, with Eliaquim Mangala, Gael Clichy, Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas coming in for Martin Demichelis, Aleksandar Kolarov, Fernando and Kevin de Bruyne.
• City lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Toure alongside Fernandinho in the double-pivot. Navas come back in on the right wing, with Raheem Sterling on the opposite flank. David Silva was stationed “in the hole” behind lone striker Wilfried Bony. In defence, Clichy started at left-back, with Mangala alongside Nicolas Otamendi in central defence.
• Sterling was withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Fabian Delph, with City moving to a 4-3-3 formation. Silva was then replaced by De Bruyne in a straight swap, with Kelechi Iheanacho coming on for Bony in what proved to be a decisive final move.
• With a trip to the Emirates up next for City, Pellegrini will be expected to name his strongest possible side. With Vincent Kompany still struggling with a calf injury, Mangala and Otamendi appear likely to continue at the heart of the defence, then, with Clichy’s extra pace up against the likes of Walcott, Campbell or Oxlade-Chamberlain perhaps looking more suited to this fixture than Kolarov’s attacking qualities. Fernandinho and Toure could keep their places, with Sterling, Silva and de Bruyne likely to form the attacking midfield trio. Should he recover from injury in time. Sergio Aguero is likely to take the place of Bony in attack.

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

Man United

Starting XI: De Gea, Varela, McNair (Jones 91), Blind, Borthwick-Jackson, Fellaini (Powell 74), Carrick, Mata, Depay, Lingard (Pereira 31), Martial.

• Louis van Gaal made four alterations from the side that drew 0-0 against West Ham for the trip to Bournemouth, with Guillermo Varela, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Michael Carrick and Memphis Depay coming in for Matteo Damian, Chris Smalling, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin.
• Van Gaal rolled out his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Varela slotting in at right-back, and Borthwick-Jackson at left-back. Paddy McNair partnered Daley Blind at the heart of the defence. Marouane Fellaini started alongside Carrick at the base of midfield, with Jesse Lingard (right), Juan Mata (number ten) and Depay (left) filling the three attacking midfield positions behind lone striker Anthony Martial.
• Lingard had to be replaced in the first-half after picking up a hamstring injury, with Andreas Pereira taking his place. Nick Powell made his first league appearance of the season, coming on in place of Fellaini, while Phil Jones took the field late on for the first time since Gameweek 13 as McNair was suffering from cramp.
• Much of Van Gaal’s selection for Saturday’s home encounter against Norwich will depend on who is available. Jones could well come back into the starting X, either at centre-back or right-back. Should Smalling or Darmian be fit, they also look certain to slot straight back in. Schneiderlin also appears likely to earn a recall in central midfield, but having been an unused substitute in United’s last two matches in all competitions, Ashley Young looks out of favour. Should Lingard be ruled out and Wayne Rooney remain on the sidelines, though, van Gaal may have few other options than to turn to Young.

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

Newcastle

Starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita (Gouffran 90), Colback, Wijnaldum; Cisse (Mitrovic 72), De Jong (Perez 63).

• Following the impressive 2-0 victory against Liverpool, it was little surprise to see Steve McClaren name an unchanged side for the trip to White Hart Lane.
• That meant it was Siem de Jong providing support for lone striker Papiss Cisse once more in the familiar 4-2-3-1 formation.
• With Newcastle a goal down, McClaren turned to Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic for inspiration, and the duo duly delivered by scoring a goal apiece as the Magpies claimed all three points.
• Given the impact made by Mitrovic and Perez, both will be pushing for a return to the starting XI for the home fixture against Villa on Saturday in place of De Jong and Cisse. Providing there are no new injury concerns, the rest of the starting XI is expected to remain unchanged.

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

Norwich

Starting XI: Rudd; Wisdom (R Bennett 46), Martin, Bassong, Olsson; O’Neil, Tettey; Redmond, Hoolahan (Howson 84), Brady; Jerome.

• Alex Neil made four changes from the side that lost 2-0 at Watford, with Russell Martin, Gary O’Neil, Wes Hoolahan and Cameron Jerome replacing Ryan Bennett, Graham Dorrans, Jonny Howson and Lewis Grabban.
• Having gone with a 4-1-4-1 formation against the Hornets, Neil went with a 4-2-3-1 system against Everton. Alex Tettey and O’Neil played at the base of midfield, with Nathan Redmond (right), Hoolahan (number ten) and Robbie Brady (left) in the three advanced midfield positions behind lone striker Jerome. Martin slotted in alongside Sebastian Bassong in central defence.
• After a poor first-half display, Neil made one change at the break, with Bennett coming on in place of Andre Wisdom. The on-loan Liverpool defender did have a slight hamstring injury, though. Martin moved to right-back to allow Bennett to take up his usual position at centre-back. Hoolahan rarely completes 90 minutes, and was replaced by Howson in the closing stages.
• With a trip to Old Trafford up next for Norwich, Hoolahan could be sacrificed as he has been for many of the Canaries’ tougher away matches. Neil could switch back to the 4-1-4-1 formation, then, with Howson possibly returning to the starting XI. The back four that ended the match on Saturday could start against United, meaning Wisdom may miss out. After missing a golden chance to secure all three points against Everton, Jerome will come under pressure from Grabban and Dieumerci Mbokani for the central striker role.

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

Part two of Lineup Lessons, covering the remaining ten teams, will be published later tomorrow.