Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 26 – Part Two

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 27 line-ups.

Newcastle

Starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat, Taylor, Coloccini, Aarons; Shelvey, Tiote (Lascelles 66); Sissoko, Wijnaldum (Colback 46), Townsend; Mitrovic (Doumbia 70).

• Steve McClaren named an unchanged starting XI from the one that beat West Brom 1-0 for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
• That meant it was the 4-2-3-1 formation for the Magpies once again, with Moussa Sissoko (right), Georginio Wijnaldum (number ten) and Andros Townsend (left) providing support for lone striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
• Wijnaldum was the one who paid the price for Newcastle’s poor start, with the Dutchman hooked at half-time, with Jack Colback taking his place. That change saw Jonjo Shelvey pushed into a slightly more attacking role. Jamaal Lascelles then replaced Cheick Tiote shortly after the hour mark, with Newcastle going with five at the back in an attempt to stem the tide. Seydou Doumbia was handed his Newcastle debut with 20 minutes remaining, coming on for Mitrovic in a straight swap.
• Rolando Aarons suffered a tough 90 minutes in west London, so McClaren may look to start Lascelles at left-back against Stoke in Gameweek 28. Paul Dummett (hamstring) has been included in the Magpies training camp squad, though, and should reclaim the role if he proves his fitness. Colback could take over from Tiote in central midfield, while he could also he an option at left-back. Henri Saivet provides another option in central midfield, while Doumbia has over two weeks to build up his match sharpness, and could challenge Mitrovic for the lone striker role. Ayoze Perez may also push for a recall, whilst Papiss Cisse is also stepping up his fitness to add to the equation.

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

Norwich

Starting XI: Ruddy; Martin, Klose, Bassong, Brady; Howson, O’Neil; Redmond, Hoolahan (Dorrans 85), Naismith (Olsson 76); Jerome (Mbokani 85).

• Alex Neil made three alterations from the team that lost 2-0 to Aston Villa, with John Ruddy, Nathan Redmond and Cameron Jerome coming in for Declan Rudd, Youssouf Mulumbu and Dieumerci Mbokani.
• Neil rolled out the 4-2-3-1 formation once again, with Redmond (right), Wes Hoolahan (number ten) and Steven Naismith (left) forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Jerome. Jonny Howson partnered Gary O’Neil at the base of midfield.
• With Norwich 2-1 up, Neil decided to make a defensive change, bringing on Martin Olsson for Naismith. That substitution saw Brady move forward to the left of midfield, with Olsson slotting in at left-back. Then with the match level at 2-2, Neil brought on Graham Dorrans and Mbokani in place of Hoolahan and Jerome for the final five minutes.
• Alex Tettey will be available for the trip to Leicester, having served his suspension, and appears likely to earn a recall in central midfield. If Neil opts for a defensive approach, Redmond could be the one to make way, with Howson moving to the right of midfield. Matt Jarvis provides another option out wide, while although Jerome got the nod on Saturday, Mbokani and Patrick Bamford may come into contention to lead the line against the Foxes. After conceding another two goals against the Hammers, changes can’t be fully ruled out at the back, with Olsson, Ivo Pinto and Ryan Bennett alternatives.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker

Southampton

Starting XI: Forster; Van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand; S Davis, Ward-Prowse, Clasie, Romeu (Cedric Soares 63), Targett (Yoshida 86); Long, Pelle (Austin 74).

• Ronald Koeman made four changes from the team that beat West Ham 1-0, with Oriol Romeu coming in for the suspended Victor Wanyama, while Matt Targett, Steven Davis and James Ward-Prowse replaced Maya Yoshida, Cedric Soares and Sadio Mane.
• Koeman opted for a 3-5-2 formation in south Wales, with Targett and Davis starting as the wing-backs. Bertrand moved back alongside Jose Fonte and Virgil van Dijk in the three-man backline, while Ward-Prowse was stationed in central midfield alongside Romeu and Jordy Clasie. Shane Long partnered Graziano Pelle in attack.
• Soares was the first player to be called upon off the bench, coming on for Romeu shortly after the hour mark. That change saw the Portuguese defender line up at right wing-back, with Davis moving into central midfield. Charlie Austin replaced Pelle in a straight swap with 16 minutes remaining, while Koeman’s final change saw Maya Yoshida take the place of Targett. That saw Bertrand move to left wing-back, with Yoshida stationed in central defence.
• Koeman continues to rotate at the back, with Davis’ inclusion at right wing-back another surprise selection. Rotation could continue, then, with Soares and Yoshida both viable starters, meaning concerns remain over the starting role of Targett. With an in-form Chelsea side up next for Saints, the likes of Mane and Dusan Tadic may struggle to find a spot in the starting XI if Koeman sticks with the 3-5-2 formation, with only Austin really pushing for a start in place of Pelle due to the form of Long.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Wing-Backs, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Strikers

Stoke

Starting XI: Butland; Johnson (Joselu 52), Wollscheid, Muniesa (Teixeira 46), Pieters; Whelan, Imbula; Shaqiri, Afellay (Ireland 85), Diouf; Walters.

• Mark Hughes only made one adjustment from the side that lost 3-0 to Everton, with Jon Walters coming in for Marko Arnautovic, who missed out due to illness.
• Hughes switched from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 formation at Bournemouth, with Walters stationed on the left of the attacking midfield trio. Giannelli Imbula partnered Glenn Whelan at the base of midfield, while Mame Biram Diouf operated as the lone striker for the Potters.
• Stoke’s first change came at half-time after Marc Muniesa picked up a hamstring injury in the first-half. He was replaced by Dionatan Teixeira in a straight swap. Glen Johnson was then forced off with a knee injury before the hour mark, with Hughes choosing to replace him with striker Joselu. The Spaniard took the lone forward role, with Diouf switching to right-back to cover. Hughes’s final substitution saw Stephen Ireland replace Ibrahim Afellay in a straight swap.
• Hughes has admitted that Johnson looks unlikely to feature against Aston Villa due to that knee injury. Muniesa could have a chance of recovering from the hamstring problem, but Teixeira and Phil Bardsley will certainly be on standby given the question marks over the pair. Hughes will desperately hope Ryan Shawcross (back) and Geoff Cameron (ankle) can recover from their injuries to face Villa. Arnautovic could also return in Gameweek 27, but his place in the starting XI doesn’t look assured following the strong attacking performance against the Cherries. Diouf has started the last two matches as the lone striker, but he has competition for his place from Joselu.

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

Sunderland

Starting XI: Mannone, Yedlin, O’Shea, Kone, Van Aanholt, Kirchhoff (Rodwell 15), Cattermole (Toivonen 85), M’Vila, Khazri, N’Doye, Defoe (Borini 73).

• Sam Allardyce made two changes for the visit of Man United to the Stadium of Light, with DeAndre Yedlin and Dame N’Doye coming in for injured pair Billy Jones and Duncan Watmore.
• Big Sam stuck with the 4-1-4-1 formation that yielded a point at Anfield, with N’Doye taking over from Watmore on the right side of midfield. Yedlin slotted in at right-back for the Black Cats.
• Allardyce was forced into an early change though after Jan Kirchhoff picked up a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Jack Rodwell, with that change meaning a change in shape to a 4-3-3 system, with Rodwell stationed alongside Lee Cattermole and Yann M’Vila in central midfield. Fabio Borini then took over from Jermain Defoe as the central striker with just under 20 minutes remaining, with Big Sam’s final substitution seeing Ola Toivonen replace Cattermole in the engine room as Sunderland looked to hold on to their 2-1 lead.
• Jones should shake off a hip injury to be available for the trip to West Ham in 11 days time, so he could push for a recall at right-back in place of Yedlin. Should Kirchhoff be ruled out, Big Sam could start with a three-man midfield consisting of M’Vila, Cattermole and Rodwell, with Toivonen an alternative in that area. Watmore (if fit) and Borini provide options out wide, but N’Doye could keep his place in the starting line-up.

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

Swansea

Starting XI: Fabianski; Rangel (Naughton 67), Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Britton (Gomis 72); Ayew, Sigurdsson, Routledge (Barrow 61); Paloschi.

• Francesco Guidolin named an unchanged starting XI from the one that drew 1-1 against Crystal Palace for the visit of Southampton to the Liberty Stadium.
• The Italian did revert back to a 4-2-3-1 formation though having previously favoured a midfield diamond during his brief tenure in south Wales. Wayne Routledge started on the left of the three advanced midfield positions, with Andre Ayew stationed on the opposite flank and Gylfi Sigurdsson in the number ten role behind lone striker Alberto Paloschi. Jack Cork started alongside Leon Britton at the base of midfield.
• The first substitution came on the hour mark, with Modou Barrow entering the fray in place of Routledge. Barrow was stationed on the right wing, with Ayew moving to the left flank. Kyle Naughton then replaced Angel Rangel at right-back, with Bafetimbi Gomis then brought on for Britton in an attacking move with the Swans trailing 1-0. They ended the match in a 4-1-3-2 formation, with Gomis partnering Paloschi up front, and Cork sitting in front of the back four.
• Having failed to create many chances against Southampton, Guidolin looks likely to make either personnel or tactical changes for the trip to White Hart Lane. Ki Sung-yeung could be in line for a recall in either the 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-2-1-2 system, while Gomis, Barrow and Jefferson Montero could all push for recalls if the Italian looks to freshen things up.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers

Tottenham

Starting XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Heung-Min Son (Carroll 72), Alli (Lamela 81), Eriksen, Kane (Chadli 89).

• Mauricio Pochettino made four changes for the trip to the Etihad, with Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son coming in for Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies, Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela.
• Son and Alli started on the right and left respectively of the attacking midfield trio in Pochettino’s usual 4-2-3-1 system, with Christian Eriksen in the number ten role.
• With Tottenham holding a 1-0 lead, the slightly more defensive-minded Tom Carroll was introduced for Son on the right side of midfield. With 10 minutes remaining, Lamela replaced Alli, with Chadli only handed a couple of minutes at the death as Spurs held on for a 2-1 victory.
• Given Tottenham have two Europa League matches and an FA Cup tie until they play their next Premier League match against Swansea, continued rotation in both the full-back positions and on the flanks appears inevitable. Walker, Rose, Eriksen and Alli look the clear first-choice players in those positions, with the likes of Son, Lamela and Chadli are battling for the final spot in the attacking midfield positions. Trippier and Davies both remain viable starters in the full-back spots, though.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Flanks

Watford

Starting XI: Gomes, Nyom, Prodl, Cathcart, Ake, Capoue (Suarez 71), Watson, Behrami, Amrabat (Abdi 62), Ighalo, Deeney.

• Quique Sanchez Flores made four alterations for the trip to Selhurst Park, with Sebastian Prodl coming in for the injured Miguel Britos, while Valon Behrami, Nordin Amrabat and Troy Deeney replaced Mario Suarez, Almen Abdi and Jurado.
• Flores continued to utilize the 4-3-2-1 formation, with Behrami starting alongside Etienne Capoue and Ben Watson in central midfield. Amrabat and Deeney operated just behind lone striker Odion Ighalo. Prodl partnered Craig Cathcart in central defence.
• Amrabat was replaced by Abdi shortly after the hour mark in a straight swap, with Flores’ other substitution seeing Suarez come on for Capoue in the middle of the park.
• With the Hornets next match against Bournemouth in 11 days time, Britos may shake off a leg injury to challenge Prodl for a starting berth. Suarez could also push for a recall in central midfield, while Abdi and Jurado, providing the latter recovers from a calf injury that forced him to sit out Saturday’s 2-1 win, could compete with Amrabat for a place alongside Deeney and Ighalo in attack.

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

West Brom

Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, Evans, Olsson, Chester; Yacob, Fletcher; Sessegnon, Berahino (Sandro 90), McClean (Brunt 57); Rondon (Anichebe 72).

• Tony Pulis made four alterations from the side that lost 1-0 to Newcastle, with the fit-again Jonny Evans returning in place of the injured Gareth McAuley, while Stephane Sessegnon, Saido Berahino and Salomon Rondon came in for Sandro, Craig Gardner and Victor Anichebe.
• The former Stoke boss switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation at Goodison Park, with Sessegnon (right), Berahino (number ten) and James McClean (left) providing support for lone striker Rondon. Dawson returned to his usual position at right-back this week, with James Chester at left-back for the Baggies.
• Chris Brunt made his return from injury early in the second-half, replacing McClean in a straight swap. Anichebe then entered the fray against his former club in place of Rondon, while Sandro came on for Berahino in a defensive move late on to help see out the 1-0 victory.
• After picking up a valuable three points on Saturday, Pulis may not make too many changes for the home clash against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 27. McAuley is expected to be fit for weekend FA Cup duties, though, and will return if fit. Brunt’s return to fitness means he could be used at left-back, with Chester perhaps dropping out of the starting XI. Gardner provides another option in midfield, be it centrally in a 4-5-1 or out wide in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while Anichebe can’t be ruled out of earning a recall against the Eagles.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Flanks, Strikers

West Ham

Starting XI: Adrian; Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Song (Moses 62), Noble, Obiang; Antonio (Emenike 70), Payet; Valencia (Carroll 62).

• Slaven Bilic made three alterations for the trip to Carrow Road, with Sam Byram and Angelo Ogbonna coming in for the injured James Tomkins and Winston Reid, while Pedro Obiang earned a recall in place of Victor Moses.
• Obiang’s inclusion saw Bilic revert back to a 4-3-3 formation, having opted for a 4-2-3-1 against Southampton a week earlier. The former Sampdoria man started alongside Alex Song and Mark Noble in central midfield, with Michail Antonio (right) and Dimitri Payet (left) stationed either side of central striker Enner Valencia. Byram and Ogbonna slotted in at right-back and centre-back respectively.
• With Norwich holding a 1-0 lead, Bilic made a double change after 62 minutes, with Moses and Andy Carroll replacing Song and Valencia. Those changes saw the Hammers move back to a 4-2-3-1, with Noble partnering Obiang in central midfield, while Antonio, Payet and Moses supported lone striker Carroll. The final substitution saw Emmanuel Emenike thrown on for Antonio as a final roll of the dice with the Canaries holding a 2-0 lead at that point.
• There is a possibility that Reid could shake off a hamstring injury in time to face Sunderland in 11 days time, although at this point it looks more likely that James Collins and Ogbonna will continue in central defence. Cheikhou Kouyate should have recovered from concussion by then, so he could replace Obiang in midfield, while Moses and Carroll may challenge the likes of Antonio and Valencia for starting berths. With Manuel Lanzini back in full training ahead of the weekend cup encounter against Blackburn, Bilic looks to have plenty of attacking options at his disposal.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers