Having rolled out Part One yesterday, we now turn our attentions to the remaining ten Premier League sides to review the personnel, formations and changes made, whilst speculating on the likely Gameweek 22 lineups…
Newcastle
Starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett (Saivet 57); Shelvey, Colback; Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez (Gouffran 80); Mitrovic (Lascelles 90).
- Steve McClaren made one change for the visit of West Ham to St James’ Park, with Jonjo Shelvey coming in to make his Newcastle debut in place of Cheick Tiote.
- McClaren kept faith in his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Shelvey slotting in alongside Jack Colback in the double-pivot. Georginio Wijnaldum continued in the number ten role, with Ayoze Perez again stationed on the left of the attacking midfield trio.
- Paul Dummett was forced off just before the hour mark with a hamstring problem, and was replaced by another new signing, Henri Saivet. Colback switched to left-back, allowing Saivet to partner Shelvey in central midfield. Yoan Gouffran came on for Perez in a like-for-like swap, while Jamaal Lascelles came on for Aleksandar Mitrovic to help hold on for a 2-1 win.
- Should Dummett be ruled out for the trip to Watford on Saturday, Colback could again fill in at left-back, allowing Saivet to start alongside Shelvey in central midfield. Lascelles would be another option to start at left-back, although that is probably unlikely.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield
Norwich
Starting XI: Rudd; Martin, Bennett, Bassong, Brady; Odjidja-Ofoe (Redmond 56), Howson, Tettey, Jarvis (Jerome 56); Hoolahan (Dorrans 69); Mbokani.
- Alex Neil only made one change from the starting XI that lost 3-1 at Stoke, with Matt Jarvis returning in place of the suspended Gary O’Neil.
- The Canaries lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system at Bournemouth, with Jarvis stationed on the left of the three attacking midfield players. Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe continued on the opposite flank, with Wes Hoolahan in the number ten role behind lone striker Dieumerci Mbokani.
- With Norwich falling 2-0 behind early in the second-half, Neil made a double substitution, as Nathan Redmond and Cameron Jerome replaced Odjidja-Ofoe and Jarvis, forming a 4-4-2 with Jerome and Mbokani up front. The final change saw Graham Dorrans introduced for Hoolahan with 20 minutes remaining.
- Mbokani could find himself under pressure from Jerome for a starting spot when Norwich entertain Liverpool on Saturday. Redmond may push for a recall, possibly in place of Odjidja-Ofoe, while Dorrans and Youssouf Mulumbu could challenge for starting berths in central midfield. Declan Rudd endured a tough afternoon on the south coast, so there could be a chance that John Ruddy returns to the starting XI.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker
Southampton
Starting XI: Forster; Cedric Soares (Martina 84), Jose Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Wanyama, Ward-Prowse; Mane (Tadic 63), S Davis (Romeu 73), Targett; Long.
- Ronald Koeman made two adjustments from the side that beat Watford 2-0, with Victor Wanyama returning from suspension to replace Oriol Romeu, while James Ward-Prowse was favoured ahead of Jordy Clasie.
- Koeman stuck with the 3-5-2 formation he used against the Hornets, with Ryan Bertrand the left of the three centre-backs, while Matt Targett and Cedric Soares took up the wing-back roles. Wanyama and Ward-Prowse were the two deeper central midfield players, with Steven Davis allowed more freedom to offer support to the front two of Sadio Mane and Shane Long.
- Mane was replaced by Dusan Tadic shortly after the hour mark in a straight swap. Koeman’s second change saw Romeu come on for Davis in a slightly defensive move, although the game was already won with Saints 3-0 up.
- Following back-to-back wins with the 3-5-2 formation, Koeman may stick with the same system when his side travel to Old Trafford on Saturday. New signing Charlie Austin could come into contention, but given he’s been out injured of late with a hamstring injury, a place on the bench may be the most likely scenario should he be deemed fit, with the pace of Mane and Long likely to cause the Man United backline problems. After scoring twice on Saturday, Ward-Prowse will expect to keep his place in the starting XI ahead of Clasie and Romeu. Cedric should get the nod at right wing-back once again, but Cuco Martina can’t be fully ruled out from earning a recall.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing-Back, Central Midfield, Strikers
Stoke
Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Afellay (Van Ginkel 88); Walters, Bojan (Diouf 64), Arnautovic (Adam 87) Joselu.
- Mark Hughes named an unchanged side for the visit of Arsenal to the Britannia Stadium.
- It was the familiar 4-2-3-1 system for the Potters, then, with Ibrahim Afellay continuing in a deeper position alongside Glenn Whelan at the base of the midfield. Joselu started as the lone striker for the second successive match.
- Once again, Bojan was replaced shortly after the hour mark, with Mame Biram Diouf taking his place this time. That change saw Diouf play on the left, with Marko Arnautovic moving to the number ten role. Charlie Adam and Marco van Ginkel were only introduced in the latter stages, coming on for Arnautovic and Afellay respectively.
- With Geoff Cameron and Xherdan Shaqiri still uncertain to make the trip to Leicester on Saturday, Hughes may keep faith in the majority of the same starting XI should the pair remain unavailable. Diouf could possibly push for a starting birth either on the right of the three attacking midfield positions or as the lone striker, but Jon Walters and Joselu look the clear favourites to retain their starting positions.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks
Sunderland
Starting XI: Pickford; Jones, O’Shea, Brown, Van Aanholt; Cattermole (Rodwell 52), M’Vila; Johnson, Lens (Watmore 76), Graham (Kirchhoff 58); Defoe.
- Sam Allardyce made two adjustments from the side that won 4-2 at Swansea, with Danny Graham replacing Fabio Borini, while Jordan Pickford made his Premier League debut for the Black Cats, coming in for Vito Mannone.
- Big Sam kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 formation that was so successful at Swansea, with Graham taking over on the left side of the three advanced midfield positions.
- Having picked up a yellow card, Allardyce decided to take off Lee Cattermole, bringing on Jack Rodwell in his place. He then switched to three at the back, with Jan Kirchhoff coming on for his Premier League debut in place of Graham. Big Sam’s final substitution saw Duncan Watmore replace Jeremain Lens in a straight swap.
- With Bournemouth visiting the Stadium of Light on Saturday, Allardyce may stick with the 4-2-3-1 system. Kirchhoff seems unlikely to force his way into the starting XI after a disappointing outing off the bench, but Sebastian Coates may perhaps challenge Wes Brown for a place in central defence. Borini or Watmore could replace Graham in the starting XI, with Steven Fletcher and new signing Dame N’Doye looking viable options should Big Sam decide to start with two strikers.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Attacking Midfield
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Ki Sung-yeung (Amat 87), Britton, Cork, Routledge (Barrow 66), Ayew (Gomis 82), Sigurdsson.
- Alan Curtis only made one change to the side that lost 4-2 to Sunderland, with Jack Cork coming in for Modou Barrow.
- Curtis opted to revert back to the midfield diamond, with Leon Britton at the base, Ki Sung-yeung on the left, Cork on the right and Gylfi Sigurdsson at the tip. Andre Ayew and Wayne Routledge started in attack.
- Barrow was the first player to come off the bench, replacing Routledge up front. Bafetimbi Gomis then took the place of Ayew, with Curtis’ final change seeing Jordi Amat come on for Ki Sung-yeung. That saw a back three of Amat, Ashley Williams and Federico Fernandez formed to help hang on for a 1-0 victory.
- With Francesco Guidolin coming in as the Swans’ new head coach, changes in team selection could be possible for Sunday’s trip to Everton. Nonetheless, after such a strong performance, the likelihood is that the Italian won’t look to make too many changes. Gomis and Barrow are the only players who look genuine possibilities to force their way into the starting XI.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: All Positions
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembele (Carroll 80); Lamela (Onomah 73), Eriksen, Alli; Kane (Heung-Min Son 87).
- Mauricio Pochettino made three changes for the visit of Sunderland to White Hart Lane, with Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele coming in for Kyle Walker, Ben Davies and Tom Carroll.
- The former Southampton manager rolled out his standard 4-2-3-1 formation, with Dembele alongside Eric Dier in the double-pivot. Trippier started at right-back, with Rose at left-back.
- Youngster Joshua Onomah was again called upon off the bench, replacing Erik Lamela. Carroll and Heung-Min Son entered the fray in the final 10 minutes, coming on for Dembele and Harry Kane respectively.
- With Tottenham facing an FA Cup replay against Leicester tomorrow, we can probably expect rotation to continue in the full-back positions, with Walker and Trippier competing at right-back and Rose and Davies vying for the left-back position. Christian Eriksen and Lamela are the first-choice wide men, but the likes of Son, Nacer Chadli and Onomah do offer alternatives.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Flanks
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Nyom (Paredes 74), Cathcart, Britos, Ake; Capoue, Watson, Behrami (Oulare 87), Jurado; Deeney, Ighalo.
- Quique Sanchez Flores made three alterations for the trip to Swansea last night, with Craig Cathcart, Nathan Ake and Valon Behrami replacing Sebastian Prodl, Jose Holebas and Almen Abdi.
- Flores went for a 4-4-1-1 formation at the Liberty, with Cathcart slotting in alongside Miguel Britos in central defence, and Ake returning at left-back. Ben Watson partnered Etienne Capoue in central midfield, although Behrami also played narrowly from his starting position on the right.
- Juan Carlos Paredes came on for Allan Nyom in a straight swap with just 15 minutes left on the clock. Forward Mamadou Oulare made his first Premier League appearance off the bench, replacing Behrami as Flores went on the offensive in search of a late equaliser.
- Abdi could earn a recall when Newcastle visit Vicarage Road on the weekend. Behrami looks the most likely to make way in such a scenario, with Watson also a possibility to drop out of the starting XI. Ikechi Anya and Juan Carlos Paredes could also come into contention for a place on the right flank. New signing Nordin Amrabat is versatile enough to offer options on the flank and as a number ten.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Centre-Half, Central Midfield, Flanks
West Brom
Starting XI: Myhill; Dawson, Olsson (Rondon 46), McAuley, Evans; Gardner, Yacob, Fletcher (Brunt 46), McClean; Sessegnon (Berahino 63); Anichebe.
- Tony Pulis made three changes for the trip to St Mary’s, with Craig Gardner coming in for the injured James Morrison, while Stephane Sessegnon and Victor Anichebe replaced Chris Brunt and Salomon Rondon.
- Pulis went for a 4-4-1-1 formation against Southampton, with James McClean, Claudio Yacob, Darren Fletcher and Craig Gardner forming the four-man midfield. Sessegnon played in “the hole†behind lone striker Anichebe.
- With the Baggies down 2-0 at the break, Pulis brought on Brunt and Rondon for Jonas Olsson and Fletcher. That meant more of a 4-4-2 system, with Rondon and Anichebe up front, and Sessegnon on the right of midfield. Pulis’ final change saw Saido Berahino introduced in place of Sessegnon, with the former Stoke boss going on the offensive in search of a route back into the match.
- Brunt hasn’t started either of the last two matches at left-back, so it appears though Jonny Evans could remain in that position for the time being. Rondon will likely be recalled to the starting XI against Aston Villa on Saturday, with a return to a 4-4-2 formation possible. The Venezuelan could perhaps partner Anichebe in attack, with Sessegnon on the right of midfield. Gardner seems the likeliest to lose his spot if Pulis moves away from a lone striker system.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers
West Ham
Starting XI: Adrian; Tomkins (Jenkinson 75), Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Kouyate, Obiang (Jelavic 46); Antonio (Moses 70), Noble, Payet; Valencia.
- Slaven Bilic made just one alteration from the side that beat Bournemouth 3-1, with the fit-again Cheikhou Kouyate coming in for the injured Andy Carroll.
- Kouyate started alongside Mark Noble and Pedro Obiang in a three-man midfield in the 4-3-3 formation sometimes favoured by Bilic. Michail Antonio and Dimitri Payet offered support from narrow positions for lone striker Enner Valencia.
- After a lacklustre first-half display, Bilic brought on Nikica Jelavic for Obiang. That meant more of a midfield diamond for the Hammers, with Noble at the base, Antonio on the right, Kouyate on the left and Payet at the tip behind the front two of Valencia and Jelavic. Victor Moses made his first appearance since Gameweek 15 having recovered from a hamstring injury, taking the place of Antonio. Bilic’s final substitution saw the more attack-minded Carl Jenkinson replace James Tomkins at right-back.
- Winston Reid has been an unused substitute in the last two matches, and could push for a recall in central defence for the home encounter against Man City on Saturday. Alex Song could come into contention in central midfield, with Obiang looking the most likely to drop out of the starting XI. Moses could be an option to start out wide if he is deemed fit enough, while Jelavic may be an option up front after scoring off the bench on Saturday.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers
