Having rolled out Part One yesterday, we now turn our attentions to the remaining nine Premier League sides to review the personnel, formations and changes made, whilst speculating on the likely Gameweek 36 line-ups.
Man United
Starting XI: De Gea, Fosu-Mensah (Valencia 62), Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Carrick, Lingard, Fellaini (Herrera 87), Rooney, Martial, Rashford.
- Louis van Gaal made four changes from the side that beat Crystal Palace 2-0 for the FA Cup semi-final against Everton, with Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Marcos Rojo, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini coming in for Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Juan Mata.
- Van Gaal kept faith in the 4-1-4-1 formation used against Palace, with Carrick occupying the defensive midfield role, leaving Fellaini and Wayne Rooney in central midfield. Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial started out wide, with Marcus Rashford operating as the lone striker. Fosu-Mensah and Rojo slotted in at right-back and left-back respectively.
- Shortly after conceding the penalty which was subsequently saved by David de Gea, Fosu-Mensah was replaced by Valencia at right-back. Van Gaal’s only other substitution came with three minutes remaining, with Ander Herrera providing fresh legs in place of Fellaini.
- Fosu-Mensah, Valencia and Darmian all look viable starters at right-back, with rotation certainly likely during the final week of the season. Herrera, Mata and Schneiderlin provide alternatives to Carrick and Fellaini in central midfield, although changes appear unlikely ahead of the visit of Leicester to Old Trafford given the impressive nature of the performance at Wembley on Saturday.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield
Newcastle
Starting XI: Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett; Colback, Tiote (Shelvey 83); Townsend, Sissoko, Perez (Wijnaldum 46); Cisse (Mitrovic 74).
- Rafael Benitez named an unchanged side from the one that drew 1-1 against Man City for the trip to Anfield.
- That meant Ayoze Perez was again preferred to Georginio Wijnaldum on the left of the three advanced midfield positions in Benitez’ favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, while Papiss Cisse got the nod ahead of Aleksandar Mitrovic for the lone striker role.
- After failing to impress during the first half, Perez was withdrawn at the break, with Wijnaldum taking his place in a straight swap. Mitrovic then entered the fray for the final 16 minutes in place of Cisse, with Benitez’ final substitution seeing Jonjo Shelvey take over from Cheick Tiote at the base of midfield for the last seven minutes.
- Vurnon Anita has performed well filling in for the injured Daryl Janmaat over the past week, and may keep his place at right-back even if the Dutchman recovers from a groin injury for the home clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Given that Newcastle came from 2-0 down to take a point at Anfield following the introduction of Wijnaldum, he may well replace Perez in the starting XI on the left wing, but after scoring one of those goals, Cisse should keep his starting spot ahead of Mitrovic for the lone striker role.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Left Wing
Southampton
Starting XI: Forster; Cedric Soares, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Romeu, Wanyama (Clasie 46); S Davis, Long, Tadic; Rodriguez (Mane 70).
- Ronald Koeman made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Everton for the trip to Villa Park, with Cedric Soares, Oriol Romeu, Steven Davis and Jay Rodriguez replacing Cuco Martina, Jordy Clasie, Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle.
- Davis (number ten) and Rodriguez (left) starting in the attacking midfield trio alongside Dusan Tadic (right) in Koeman’s standard 4-2-3-1 formation, with Shane Long operating as the lone striker. Romeu combined with Victor Wanyama at the base of midfield, while Soares slotted in at right-back for Saints.
- Despite being 2-1 up at half-time, Koeman decided to bring on Clasie in place of Wanyama in central midfield. Mane was then introduced with 20 minutes remaining in a straight swap for Rodriguez, who got 70 minutes under his belt in his first start since Gameweek 5.
- The right-back position remains something of a lottery, with Soares recalled against Villa after Martina had started five of the previous six matches. Up against a far tougher opponent in Man City this coming Sunday, the more defensive Martina could earn a recall. Clasie may earn a start in central midfield in place of Romeu, while Rodriguez could be left out against City as he eases his way back to fitness, with Mane likely to be recalled after scoring as a substitute on Saturday. Pelle was a surprise omission against Villa, but would appear likely to be included in the starting XI on Sunday, with Davis perhaps missing out. That would mean Long reverting back to the number ten role he had been playing in prior to the Villa clash.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers
Stoke
Starting XI: Given (Haugaard 46); Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Muniesa; Whelan, Cameron; Diouf, Imbula, Arnautovic (Adam 76); Joselu.
- Mark Hughes made three alterations for the trip to the Etihad, with Phil Bardsley and Mame Biram Diouf coming in for the injured Ibrahim Afellay and Xherdan Shaqiri, while Joselu started in place of Bojan.
- Joselu earned a recall as the lone striker in Hughes’ usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Diouf (right), Giannelli Imbula (number ten) and Marko Arnautovic forming the attacking midfield trio. Bardsley started at right-back for the Potters, allowing Geoff Cameron to partner Glenn Whelan at the base of midfield.
- Hughes was forced into making a change at half-time, after Shay Given picked up a groin problem. The Republic of Ireland international was replaced by youngster Jakob Haugaard, whilst the Welshman’s only other substitution arrived with 14 minutes remaining, as Charlie Adam came on for Arnautovic.
- Although Given’s groin injury isn’t as bad as first feared, it still looks likely that it’ll be Haugaard who starts in goal against Sunderland on Saturday. Hughes could hand a start to Adam against the Black Cats, which could mean Cameron starting at right-back in place of Bardsley. Alternatively, Hughes could hand a recall to Bojan in the number ten role, with Imbula dropping back into a deeper position. If Shaqiri remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, Diouf may keep his place on the right-wing, with Hughes’ options somewhat limited after Afellay picked up a serious knee injury during training last Friday, which could sideline him for the rest of 2016. Peter Crouch offers an alternative in attack, although it may be Joselu who again leads the line for the Potters.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Right-Back, Central Midfield, Right Wing, Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker
Sunderland
Starting XI: Mannone; Yedlin, Kone, Kaboul, Van Aanholt; Kirchhoff (Larsson 77); Borini (Watmore 74), M’Vila, Cattermole, Khazri; Defoe.
- Sam Allardyce once again named an unchanged side for the visit of Arsenal to the Stadium of Light following the impressive 3-0 victory at Norwich.
- The likes of Jack Rodwell, Duncan Watmore and Dame N’Doye remained among the substitutes once again, then, with Fabio Borini and Wahbi Khazri starting in the wide positions in the 4-1-4-1 formation.
- Watmore was the first player introduced off the bench, though, coming on for Borini in a straight swap with 16 minutes remaining. Shortly after, Sebastian Larsson replaced Jan Kirchhoff, with the Swede stationed in central midfield alongside Yann M’Vila, meaning Lee Cattermole switched to the defensive midfield role.
- After picking up another valuable point, Big Sam isn’t expected to make any changes for the trip to Stoke. Watmore has come off the bench in the last two matches, though, and offers an alternative to Borini and Khazri out wide.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Britton; Ayew, Cork, Fer (Paloschi 46), Routledge (Montero 46); Sigurdsson (Ki Sung-yeung 76).
- Head Coach Francesco Guidolin made two alterations for the trip to league leaders Leicester, with Leon Britton and Wayne Routledge coming in at the expense of Jefferson Montero and Alberto Paloschi.
- That meant a change of formation from the 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 formation, with Jack Cork and Leroy Fer positioned just in front of defensive midfielder Britton. Routledge (left) and Andre Ayew (right) flanked Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was used in the “false nine” role.
- Guidolin’s game plan was built to frustrate the Foxes but went somewhat out of the window after conceding two first half goals. Montero and Paloschi both were introduced at half-time in place of Fer and Routledge, with Swansea switching back to the 4-2-3-1 system. Britton and Cork were stationed at the base of midfield, with Ayew (right), Sigurdsson (number ten) and Montero (left) in the three advanced midfield positions behind lone striker Paloschi. The final substitution saw Ki sung-yeung replace Sigurdsson for the final 14 minutes.
- With neither of the centre-backs likely to be dropped for the match against Liverpool on Sunday, Guidolin could opt to hand a recall to Kyle Naughton at right-back in place of Angel Rangel. The Italian boss may well start with the 4-2-3-1 at the Liberty Stadium, so Britton or Fer could partner Cork in central midfield, with Ayew, Sigurdsson and Montero perhaps starting in the attacking midfield positions. Paloschi would be the slight favourite to start as the lone striker ahead of Bafetimbi Gomis. Routledge, Ki and Modou Barrow provide further options in midfield and attack.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier (Mason 75), Dembele, Lamela (Son 85), Alli (Chadli 90), Eriksen, Kane.
- Mauricio Pochettino once again named an unchanged side for the visit of West Brom to White Hart Lane.
- Following the emphatic 4-0 victory at Stoke, the Argentine boss had little need to tinker with his standard 4-2-3-1 formation.
- Pochettino’s first substitution was an enforced one, with Eric Dier forced off due to dizziness. Ryan Mason took over in central midfield for the final 15 minutes. Heung-Min Son and Nacer Chadli were introduced in place of Erik Lamela and Dele Alli late on as the home side looked to find a late winner.
- It remains to be seen how serious Dier’s problem is, with Mason on standby for next Monday’s trip to Stamford Bridge. Son and Chadli may push for recalls in place of Lamela on the right-wing should Pochettino look to freshen up his forward line. If, as expected, the FA take action over Dele Alli’s off-the-ball incident with Claudio Yacob, the youngster could be facing a three-match ban, which could see the likes of Mason, Son or Chadli handed a start in one of the three attacking midfield roles behind Harry Kane.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Right Wing
Watford
Starting XI: Pantilimon; Nyom (Anya 83), Cathcart, Britos, Ake; Abdi (Guedioura 56), Capoue (Suarez 32), Watson, Jurado; Deeney, Ighalo.
- Quique Sanchez Flores made eight changes from the side that lost 3-1 to West Ham for the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace, with Costel Pantilimon, Allan Nyom, Miguel Britos, Nathan Ake, Etienne Capoue, Ben Watson, Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo coming in for Heurelho Gomes, Juan Carlos Paredes, Sebastian Prodl, Jose Holebas, Valon Behrami, Adlene Guedioura, Mario Suarez and the suspended Nordin Amrabat.
- Flores opted for the 4-4-2 formation at Wembley, with Almen Abdi and Jurado starting in the wide positions in midfield. Deeney and Ighalo combined in attack once again.
- Capoue picked up a knee problem during the first half, and had to be replaced after 32 minutes by Suarez in a straight swap. Flores then introduced Guedioura in place of Abdi down the right flank just before the hour mark, while his final substitution saw the more attacked-minded Ikechi Anya take over from Nyom at right-back as the Hornets chased a late equaliser.
- Flores will be keen to get back on track in the league against Aston Villa on Saturday, so he should name a similar team to the one the played on Sunday. Prodl and Holebas offer alternatives to Britos and Ake in defence, while Suarez or Behrami look set to replace the injured Capoue, who may well be out for the rest of the season. Guedioura offers an alternative to Abdi and Jurado in the wide positions, while cup goalkeeper Pantilimon will make way for first-choice keeper Gomes.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Left-Back, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
West Brom
Starting XI: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans, Yacob, Fletcher, Sessegnon (Sandro 90), Gardner, McClean, Rondon.
- Tony Pulis made four alterations from the side that lost 2-0 at Arsenal for the trip to their north London rivals Tottenham, with Boaz Myhill, Jonas Olsson, Craig Gardner and Salomon Rondon earning recalls in place of Ben Foster, James Chester, Sandro and Saido Berahino.
- Olsson started at left-back for the Baggies, with Jonny Evans shifting over to centre-back. Gardner started in the number ten role in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Darren Fletcher dropping back alongside Claudio Yacob at the base of midfield. Rondon replaced Berahino as the lone striker.
- Pulis only made one substitution, with former Tottenham player Sandro introduced in place of Stephane Sessegnon for the final few minutes as the Baggies looked to hold on for a point.
- After a much improved performance, Pulis may stick with the majority of the same side for the home clash against West Ham on Saturday. An ankle injury ruled out Foster last night, so Myhill could remain in goal against the Hammers. Sandro offers an alternative in central midfield, while should Berahino shake off a slight ankle problem, he may push for a recall in the number ten role.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
