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 21 lineups…
Newcastle
Starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Coloccini, Mbemba, Dummett; Tiote (De Jong 87), Colback (Thauvin 79); Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez; Mitrovic.
- Steve McClaren made two changes for the visit to Arsenal, with Rob Elliot replacing Karl Darlow, having recovered from a stomach bug, while Cheick Tiote came in for the injured Vurnon Anita.
- McClaren stuck with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, although he did make a slight personnel change, with Ayoze Perez moving to the left of the three attacking midfield positions, with Georginio Wijnaldum stationed in the number ten role. Tiote partnered Jack Colback in the double-pivot.
- With his side a goal down, McClaren brought on Florian Thauvin for Colback, with Moussa Sissoko moving to a more central position. His final substitution saw Siem de Jong come on for Tiote in a last roll of the dice.
- Anita may be fit to face Man United in seven days time, so the Dutchman could regain his place ahead of Tiote in central midfield. Should McClaren continue with Wijnaldum in the number ten role, Thauvin could challenge Perez for a start on the left, with Perez also an alternative instead of Aleksandar Mitrovic as the lone striker. Papas Cisse remains unavailable due to a groin injury – he is said to be sidelined for up to three months.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker
Norwich
Starting XI: Rudd; Martin, Bassong, Bennett, Brady; Redmond (Odjidja-Ofoe 63), Tettey, Howson, O’Neil; Hoolahan (Olsson 82); Mbokani (Jerome 81).
- Alex Neil only made one alteration from the side that beat Aston Villa 2-0, with Gary O’Neil coming in for Graham Dorrans.
- Neil kept faith in the 4-4-1-1 formation, with O’Neil stationed on the left of midfield, although playing narrowly, allowing left-back Robbie Brady to push forward.
- With the match goalless, Neil introduced Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe for Nathan Redmond in a straight swap. His final two changes came with the Canaries holding a 1-0 lead, and with Southampton down to 10-men following Victor Wanyama’s sending off, bringing on Martin Olsson and Cameron Jerome for Wes Hoolahan and Dieumerci Mbokani respectively.
- With three wins from their last four matches, Neil is likely to keep faith in the majority of the same side when Norwich travel to Stoke next week. The midfield areas still appear unsettled, however, with O’Neil and Dorrans currently sharing playing time in the double pivot. Odjidja-Ofoe is also a new factor – his impact in the Saints victory could now signal increased pitch time for the Belgian which will put both Nathan Redmond and even Wes Hoolahan under increased pressure. Up front, Mbokani has started the last two matches and currently seems slightly ahead of Jerome in the pecking order, but that can soon change with one poor performance.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker
Southampton
Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Wanyama, Clasie (Reed 80); Ward-Prowse (Ramirez 87), S Davis, Tadic (Mane 80); Long.
- Ronald Koeman made two changes for the trip to Carrow Road, with Jordy Clasie coming in for the suspended Oriol Romeu, while James Ward-Prowse started ahead of Sadio Mane.
- Koeman kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 system, with Clasie lining up next to Victor Wanyama at the base of midfield. Steven Davis, Ward-Prowse and Dusan Tadic formed the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Shane Long.
- Mane was brought on with 10 minutes remaining as the Saints searched for an equaliser, replacing Tadic. Harrison Reed made his first appearance of the season, swapping with Clasie in the middle of the park. Koeman’s final change saw Gaston Ramirez get a rare run-out, with Ward-Prowse making way.
- Cuco Martina has started the last three matches at right-back, but the possibility of Maya Yoshida replacing him remains. Romeu will be back in the mix in central midfield against Watford having served his one-match ban, and would seem favourite to replace the suspended Victor Wanyama. Mane was dropped having missed a pre-match team meeting, and with transfer speculation still surrounding the Senegal international, it’s uncertain as to whether he’ll come straight back into the starting XI. The selection in the FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace should provide some clues. Grazing Pelle could also have a chance of returning against the Hornets, having missed the last three matches due to a knee injury, that would cast doubt on Shane Long’s start, although he could feasibly be deployed wide should Mane find himself on the bench once again.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker
Stoke
Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Cameron, Whelan (Walters, 67); Afellay, Arnautovic, Shaqiri (Adam 84); Bojan (Joselu 64).
- Mark Hughes unsurprisingly named an unchanged side from the one that triumphed 4-3 against Everton.
- That meant the Welshman rolled out the usual 4-2-3-1 system that has proved so successful in recent months.
- Hughes’ first substitution saw Joselu come on for Bojan in a straight swap just after the hour mark, with his second change an attacking one, with Jon Walters replacing Glenn Whelan, with Ibrahim Afellay dropping into a slightly deeper position alongside Geoff Cameron. Following the sending off of Cameron, Hughes brought on the slightly more defensive minded Charlie Adam for Xherdan Shaqiri.
- The Potters have successfully appealed Cameron’s three-match suspension, so he’ll be available to face Norwich next week. Walters’ goal off the bench could move him into contention for a start, perhaps in place of Afellay. That would need a slight reshuffle in the front four, though, so the Republic of Ireland international may have to settle for a place among the substitutes once more. Bojan was again replaced on 63 minutes for the second consecutive match, underlining the fact that Hughes is intent on managing his minutes whilst the Spaniard is deployed in the central striker role. With Stoke facing a Capital One Cup semi-final with Liverpool on Wednesday, plus the FA Cup third round tie with Doncaster, Hughes’ teamsheets for those two matches will likely see Bojan and others rested ahead of the Britannia meet with the Canaries.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks
Sunderland
Starting XI: Mannone; Jones, O’Shea, Brown, Van Aanholt; Cattermole, M’Vila; Watmore (Graham 56), Johnson (Coates 88), Borini (Toivonen 80); Defoe.
- Sam Allardyce made two adjustments for the home clash against Aston Villa, with John O’Shea returning from injury in place of Sebastian Coates, while Duncan Watmore came in for the injured Jack Rodwell.
- Big Sam switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation having opted for a 4-3-3 in Sunderland’s previous match against Liverpool. Watmore started on the right of the three advanced midfield positions, with Adam Johnson in the number ten role and Fabio Borini on the left behind lone striker Jermain Defoe. O’Shea partnered Wes Brown at the heart of the defence.
- Watmore was substituted before the hour mark, with Danny Graham taking his place in a straight swap. Ola Toivonen and Coates were introduced late on, replacing Borini and Johnson respectively, with Coates brought on for extra defensive cover to help secure a vital victory.
- While the Black Cats performed well on Saturday, Allardyce has already shown during his brief tenure at the Stadium of Light that he is prepared to change systems on a game-by-game basis. Defoe should keep his starting berth, having scored twice against Villa, but Steven Fletcher or Danny Graham could provide a more physical presence at Swansea next Wednesday. O’Shea and Brown are likely to continue in central defence, with Coates is also another option in that position. Mid-term, the centre-back roles are in flux, with Allardyce intent on bringing at least one new face in at that position. Should Allardyce persevere two wide men, Watmore and Borini stand a good chance of being named in the starting XI, with Toivonen and particularly Jeremain Lens seemingly further down the pecking order.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Central Striker
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Ki Sung-yeung, Britton (Barrow 62), Cork, Routledge (Montero 82), Ayew (Gomis 82), Sigurdsson.
- Caretaker boss Alan Curtis made seven changes from the side that lined up at Crystal Palace, with Angel Rangel, Federico Fernandez, Ki Sung-yeung, Leon Britton, Wayne Routledge, Andre Ayew and Gylfi Sigurdsson coming in for Kyle Naughton, Jordi Amat, Jonjo Shelvey, Matt Grimes, Modou Barrow, Marvin Emnes and Bafetimbi Gomis.
- Curtis went back to the midfield diamond for the trip to Old Trafford, with Britton at the base, Jack Cork and Ki on either side and Sigurdsson at the tip behind forwards Ayew and Routledge.
- Barrow was brought on in place of Britton just after the hour mark, with Curtis reverting back to a 4-2-3-1 system, leaving Ayew as the lone striker. In search of a late equaliser, Curtis threw on Jefferson Montero and Gomis in place of Routledge and Ayew.
- If the Swans’ caretaker boss sticks with the midfield diamond at home to Sunderland a week tomorrow, the starting XI could remain pretty similar, with Gomis perhaps edging out Routledge for a starting spot in attack. Curtis could well start with the 4-2-3-1 formation, though, meaning one of Britton, Cork or Ki would drop out of the starting line-up. Routledge and Ayew would likely flank Sigurdsson in the attacking midfield positions, with Gomis leading the line, or Ayew may start as a “false nineâ€, allowing either Montero or perhaps Barrow to come into the side.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies: Dier, Carroll; Eriksen (Heung-Min Son 69): Alli (Chadli 83), Lamela (Onomah 89): Kane.
- Mauricio Pochettino made three changes for the trip to Goodison Park, with Kyle Walker and Ben Davies coming in for Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose respectively, while Christian Eriksen returned to the starting XI in place of the injured Mousa Dembele.
- Pochetino reverted back to his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, having opted for a 3-4-2-1 system against Watford due to the threat of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney. Walker and Davies lined up at right-back and left-back respectively, while Eriksen took up his usual position on the left of the attacking midfield trio. Tom Carroll partnered Eric Dier in the double-pivot.
- Eriksen was the first player to be replaced, with Heung-Min Son taking the Dane’s place in a straight swap. Nacer Chadli entered the fray for Dele Alli in the attacking midfield positions, while youngster Joshua Onomah got on the pitch for the final few minutes, with Erik Lamela making way.
- Davies got the nod at left-back this time around, but Danny Rose has mainly been Pochettino’s first-choice this season and could well return to the starting XI against Leicester in Gameweek 21. Should Dembele shake off an ankle injury, the Belgian would be expected to replace Carroll in central midfield.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Nyom, Cathcart, Britos, Holebas; Capoue, Watson, Abdi, Jurado (Guedioura 80); Deeney, Ighalo.
- Quique Sanchez Flores made two alterations from the side that lined up against Tottenham, with Jose Holebas coming in for the suspended Nathan Ake, while Allan Nyom returned in place of Ikechi Anya.
- With Man City asking more questions of Watford defensively, it was certainly more of a 4-2-3-1 formation for Flores than a 4-4-2 this week, with captain Troy Deeney having to diligently do his defensive work. Nyom took up his usual position at right-back, with Holebas starting at left-back.
- Flores only made one substitution, with Adlene Guedioura coming on in a straight swap for Jurado with the Hornets hoping to hold on for a 1-0 victory.
- Holebas was occasionally exposed defensively on Saturday, so with Nathan Ake still suspended, Anya could challenge the Greece international for the starting spot at left-back. Sebastian Prodl could also push for a start in central defence, while Anya could also be utilised out wide for either Almen Abdi or Jurado.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Defence.
West Brom
Starting XI: Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt; Yacob (Berahino 85); Sessegnon, Fletcher, Morrison, Gardner (McManaman 86); Lambert.
- Tony Pulis made two adjustments to the side that beat Newcastle 1-0, with Craig Gardner and Rickie Lambert coming in for the injured Jonas Olsson and Victor Anichebe.
- Olsson’s absence meant Pulis ditched the 3-4-2-1 formation he started with against the Magpies, opting instead for a 4-1-4-1 formation. Claudio Yacob was stationed as the defensive midfielder, with Darren Fletcher and James Morrison positioned further forward in central midfield. Stephane Sessegnon (right) and Craig Gardner (left) operated put wide, with Lambert the lone striker.
- Pulis only made two late substitutions, with Geoff Cameron’s red card prompting him to call for Saido Berahino in an attacking change, with Yacob making way. His other substitution saw Callum McManaman replace Gardner out wide.
- Following back-to-back victories, Pulis will be expected to keep faith in the majority of his starting XI for the trip to Chelsea next week. McManaman offers a different option out wide, while James McClean will be available again after serving a three-match ban, though Gardner and Sessegnon could well keep their places. Salomon Rondon is also back having completed his three-match suspension: he looks more likely to be thrust straight back into action in place of Lambert as the lone striker. A switch back to a three-man defence could be a possibility if Olsson recovers from a hamstring injury, which would put the starting positions of either Sessegnon or Gardner in doubt. Should Ben Foster get a run-out in the FA Cup against Bristol City, Boaz Myhill’s run as the first-choice goalkeeper could be about to come to an end.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Flanks, Central Striker
West Ham
Starting XI: Adrian; Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Noble, Kouyate; Antonio (Jenkinson 86), Lanzini (Obiang 39), Valencia (Payet 65); Carroll.
- Slaven Bilic made three changes for the home encounter against Liverpool, with Aaron Cresswell, Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll coming in for Carl Jenkinson, Alex Song and Mauro Zarate.
- Bilic went for a slightly different formation against the Reds, opting for a 4-4-2, with Carroll partnering Enner Valencia up front. Michail Antonio (right) and Lanzini (left) started out wide in midfield, with Cresswell coming in at left-back.
- Lanzini’s comeback only lasted 39 minutes, however, with a groin injury forcing the Argentine off. Pedro Obiang took his place, with Bilic switching to a 4-3-3 formation. Valencia was replaced after 65 minutes by Dimitri Payet, who made his first appearance since Gameweek 12, having recovered from an ankle injury. Antonio was replaced by Jenkinson in the latter stages as the Hammers held on to an impressive 2-0 win.
- Providing Payet gets through the FA Cup tie against Wolves unscathed, the Frenchman is likely to return to the starting XI at Bournemouth next time around. He could replace Lanzini, who is expected to be ruled out for several weeks with his groin injury. Antonio appears a likely starter after scoring in his last two appearances, then, with Carroll expected to lead the attack, particularly with Valencia an injury concern. Obiang or Song could return in midfield if Bilic opts for a 4-3-3 formation. A hamstring injury may continue to rule out Winston Reid, so the back four looks set to remain unchanged. Reid may well face a battle to regain his start once fit, with James Collins putting in some outstanding displays in recent weeks.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
