Wayne Rooney returns to the lone striker role as United fall to defeat against Norwich. Roberto Firmino starts as a “false nine” for Liverpool’s trip to Watford, whilst Cesc Fabregas is re-installed to the Chelsea XI in the first match since Jose Mourinho’s departure.
Aston Villa
Starting XI: Guzan; Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna; Westwood, Sanchez, Gueye; Veretout, Ayew, Sinclair (Gestede 60).
- Remi Garde only made one alteration from the side that lost 2-0 to Arsenal, with Ashley Westwood coming in for Rudy Gestede.
- The former Lyon boss rolled out a 4-3-2-1 formation against Newcastle, with Westwood lining up alongside Carlos Sanchez and Idrissa Gueye in a three-man midfield. Jordan Veretout (right) and Scott Sinclair (left) played narrowly behind lone striker Jordan Ayew.
- Garde only made one substitution at St James’ Park, with Gestede replacing Sinclair on the hour mark. The introduction of the former Blackburn striker saw him operate as the central striker, with Ayew coming off the left-hand side in attack.
- Following an encouraging second-half performance, Garde is likely to pick a similar team to face West Ham on Boxing Day. His main dilemma will be whether to hand a recall to Gestede after a strong showing as a substitute on Saturday. One of the midfielders could make way in such a scenario, with Westwood perhaps the most likely to be dropped if Garde reverts to back a 4-2-3-1 system, with Ayew starting out wide for the Villans. Micah Richards is likely to miss out again due to a knee injury, so the back four may remain unchanged.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Central Striker
Bournemouth
Starting XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Surman, Arter (Rantie 82); Stanislas (Pugh 70), Gosling, Ritchie; Murray (Kermorgant 76).
- Eddie Howe had initially named an unchanged team for the trip to the Hawthorns but, after feeling his hamstring in the warm-up, Josh King was replaced by Glenn Murray.
- Murray took King’s place as the lone striker, with Howe sticking with the 4-1-4-1 formation that triumphed against Man United a week earlier.
- Junior Stanislas also suffered a hamstring injury with 20 minutes remaining, so Marc Pugh made his first appearance since Gameweek 11 for the Cherries in a straight swap. Yann Kermorgant provided fresh legs in place of Murray up front, while Howe’s final change saw Tokelo Rantie introduced for only his second appearance of the season in place of Harry Arter, with Bournemouth looking to take all three points with the Baggies reduced to 10-men.
- On the back of three consecutive wins, Howe won’t want to change a winning side. The injuries to King and Stanislas could well rule them out of the match against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day, though, so Murray could be selected to start against his former club, while Pugh may start on the left-hand side in place of Stanislas.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Central Striker
Chelsea
Starting XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas (Mikel 71), Matic; Willian, Oscar (Ramires 82), Pedro; Costa (Remy 75).
- Steve Holland made two changes for the visit of Sunderland to Stamford Bridge, with Cesc Fabregas replacing Ramires, while Pedro started in place of the injured Eden Hazard.
- The Blues lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Fabregas alongside Nemanja Matic in the double-pivot, while Pedro slotted in on the left of the three attacking midfield positions.
- Fabregas made way for John Obi Mikel in a straight swap, with Loic Remy entering the fray for Diego Costa soon after. The final substitution saw Ramires replace his Brazilian counterpart Oscar.
- While Guus Hiddink will take charge for the home clash against Watford, the Dutchman won’t be expected to make many changes following the 3-1 win against the Black Cats. Hazard could come back into contention should the Belgian recover from a hip injury, but with Pedro, Oscar and Willian all impressing on Saturday, he won’t necessarily walk straight back into the starting XI. Rotation can’t be fully ruled ou,t though, with Gary Cahill and Ramires strong options in central defence and central midfield respectively.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Left Flank
Crystal Palace
Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; McArthur, Ledley; Zaha (Chung-Yong 81), Puncheon (Mutch 79), Bolasie; Wickham (Chamakh 64).
- Alan Pardew was forced into making one change from the side that beat Southampton 1-0, with Joe Ledley replacing the injured Yohan Cabaye.
- Ledley started alongside James McArthur at the base of midfield in Pardew’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.
- Connor Wickham had to be withdrawn shortly after the hour mark, having picked up a hamstring problem. The striker was replaced by Marouane Chamakh in a straight swap. Jordon Mutch came on for Jason Puncheon, while, in what turned out to be an inspired move, Pardew bought on Lee Chung-Yong for Wilfried Zaha out wide.
- Pardew’s team selection for the trip to Bournemouth on Boxing Day will largely be decided by the fitness of Cabaye and Wickham. Ledley should deputise for the Frenchman once again should he fail to recover in time, while Chamakh may step in for Wickham, although Yannick Bolasie could also be handed the central striker role, with Lee Chung-Yong or Mutch perhaps earning a rare start.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Central Striker
Everton
Starting XI: Howard: Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Baines: Cleverley, Barry: Deulofeu (Lennon 73), Barkley, Kone (Mirallas 73): Lukaku.
- Roberto Martinez named an unchanged starting XI from the one that drew 1-1 at Norwich, with Leighton Baines keeping his place at left-back.
- The Toffees returned to their usual 4-2-3-1 formation after going with a 4-3-3 against Norwich, with Tom Cleverley continuing to fill in for the injured James McCarthy at the base of midfield.
- Martinez made a double change with just under 20 minutes to go, with Aaron Lennon and Kevin Mirallas coming on out wide in place of Gerard Deulofeu and Arouna Kone.
- With McCarthy still uncertain to make the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle, Cleverley could continue in the middle of the park, with Darron Gibson and Muhamed Besic perhaps unlikely to force their way into the starting line-up. Martinez could make a change out wide, with Mirallas a strong option after netting his first goal of the season against the Foxes. Kone perhaps looks the one likely to make way.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield
Leicester
Starting XI: Schmeichel: Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Fuchs: Mahrez (de Laet 83), King, Kante, Albrighton (Dyer 71): Okazaki, Vardy (Ulloa 87).
- Claudio Ranieri made three changes from the side that beat Chelsea 2-1, with Andy King coming in for the injured Danny Drinkwater, while Shinji Okazaki started in place of Leonardo Ulloa. Robert Huth was serving a one-match ban, so Marcin Wasilewski filled in at the back.
- King started alongside N’Golo Kante in central midfield, while with Okazaki getting the nod in attack, the Japan international operated just behind lone striker Jamie Vardy in a 4-4-1-1 formation at Goodison Park.
- Leicester’s first change saw Nathan Dyer come on for Marc Albrighton in a straight swap. Riyad Mahrez was then withdrawn in a defensive change in the closing minutes, with Ritchie de Laet taking the Algerian’s place. Vardy was replaced by Ulloa in the dying minutes, with the England international suffering with a minor hamstring problem.
- Huth will be available to face Liverpool after serving his one-match suspension, and should come back in at the expense of Wasilewski. Drinkwater is unlikely to be fit to face the Reds, so King should continue in central midfield. Okazaki may keep his place in the starting XI ahead of Ulloa, with Vardy’s injury not thought to be serious.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Support Striker
Liverpool
Starting XI: Bogdan; Clyne, Skrtel (Origi 40), Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Lucas Leiva, Emre Can; Lallana (Ibe 74), Firmino (Benteke 74), Coutinho.
- Jurgen Klopp made three alterations for the trip to Vicarage Road. Mamadou Sakho returned in place of the injured Dejan Lovren, while Lucas Leiva and Roberto Firmino came in for James Milner and Christian Benteke.
- Klopp started with a 4-3-3 formation, with Lucas alongside Emre Can and Jordan Henderson in central midfield. Firmino played as a “false nine”, flanked by Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho.
- Martin Skrtel picked up a hamstring injury in the first-half, and with Liverpool 2-0 down, was replaced by Divock Origi in an attacking change that saw Klopp switch to a 4-2-3-1 system, with Can dropping back to centre-half, and Firmino playing in the number ten role behind the Belgian. The final two substitutions saw Jordon Ibe and Benteke come on in place of Lallana and Firmino, with Liverpool then lining up in more of a traditional 4-4-2, with Ibe and Coutinho out wide.
- After a disappointing display, Klopp could make several changes for the home encounter against table toppers Leicester on Boxing Day. Skrtel is a major doubt, so should Lovren remain out, Kolo Toure could deputise at centre-back, or Emre Can may have to play out of position in defence. That could mean Joe Allen earning a recall in central midfield if Can starts in defence, while Ibe could challenge Lallana for a place out wide. Benteke or Origi may also return in attack, so Firmino’s place in the starting XI could also be in doubt. It remains to be seen whether Mignolet will return in time to oust Bogdan between the posts.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Keeper, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker
Man United
Starting XI: De Gea; Young, Jones, Smalling, Blind; Fellaini (Herrera 60), Carrick; Martial, Mata, Depay; Rooney.
- Louis van Gaal made four alterations from the side that 2-1 at Bournemouth for the visit of Norwich to Old Trafford, with Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Wayne Rooney replacing Guillermo Varela, Paddy McNair, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Jesse Lingard.
- Van Gaal stuck with his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 system, with Rooney returning as the lone striker. Anthony Martial was stationed on the right of the three advanced midfield positions, with Memphis Depay on the left and Juan Mata in the number ten role. At the back, Young started at right-back, with Daley Blind at left-back and Jones partnering Smalling at the heart of the defence.
- Ander Herrera made his comeback from injury on the hour mark, replacing Marouane Fellaini in central midfield.
- Should Matteo Darmian fail to recover from a hamstring injury, the back four could remain unchanged, with McNair, Varela and Borthwick-Jackson not providing real alternatives in defence. Herrera’s return to fitness could cause a reshuffle in midfield, with Depay the favourite to miss out. Morgan Schneiderlin is another who could come into contention, with Fellaini’s place in the starting XI perhaps vulnerable.
Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Striker
Newcastle
Starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Anita (Thauvin 71), Colback, Wijnaldum; De Jong (Perez 59); Cisse (Mitrovic 33).
- Steve McClaren once again named an unchanged team for the home encounter against Aston Villa, so last week’s goal scoring heroes Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez started on the bench once more.
- The Magpies lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Siem de Jong operating in the number ten role behind lone striker Papiss Cisse.
- Cisse had to be replaced in the first-half, however, after picking up a groin injury. That saw Mitrovic enter the fray in a straight swap. De Jong was then replaced by Perez on the hour mark, with McClaren’s final change seeing Florian Thauvin come on in place of Vurnon Anita.
- With Cisse a doubt for the home encounter against Everton on Boxing Day, Mitrovic could start as the central striker against the Toffees. Perez could also earn a recall in place of De Jong in the number ten role.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Support Striker, Central Striker
Norwich
Starting XI: Rudd; Martin, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Hoolahan (Howson 66), Tettey, O’Neil (Mulumbu 81), Brady; Jerome (Mblokani 81).
- Alex Neil only made one change for the trip to Old Trafford, with Ryan Bennett coming in for the injured Andre Wisdom.
- Bennett started at centre-back alongside Sebastian Bassong, with captain Russell Martin shifting across to right-back. Neil went with A 4-4-1-1 formation against Man United, with Nathan Redmond providing much more of an attacking threat down the right than Robbie Brady on the opposite flank. Wes Hoolahan also provided support from a central area for lone striker Cameron Jerome.
- Hoolahan was replaced shortly after the hour mark, with the industrious Jonny Howson taking his place in midfield as the visitors switched to 4-5-1. Youssouf Mulumbu and Dieumerci Mbokani provided fresh legs during the latter stages.
- After an impressive 2-1 victory, Neil will likely keep faith in the majority of the starting XI for the equally tough trip to White Hart Lane on Boxing Day. Jerome’s goal should see him lead the line once more, while the fact Hoolahan only played 66 minutes may mean he keeps his starting berth ahead of Howson. Mulumbu and Graham Dorrans provide different options in the middle of the park, but Gary O’Neil may keep his place alongside Alex Tettey.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Lone Striker
