After rolling out Part One yesterday, we follow up with the second instalment as we assess the remaining team sheets for signs of lessons learned in Gameweek 1.
Chelsea
Starting XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Kante, Willian (Pedro 80), Oscar (Batshuayi 85), Matic, Hazard (Moses 85), Costa.
- New Chelsea boss Antonio Conte handed a debut to N’Golo Kante, while Cesc Fabregas was only named among the substitutes.
- The Italian kept faith in the 4-1-4-1 formation he has favoured since Kante’s arrival, with the former Leicester player used in front of the back four. Nemanja Matic and Oscar operated in central midfield, with Willian (right) and Eden Hazard (left) on the flanks. Diego Costa led the line for the Blues.
- With the match level at 1-1, Conte firstly brought on Pedro in place of Willian in a straight swap, with Michy Batshuayi and Victor Moses then introduced with five minutes remaining – Oscar and Hazard made way, with Batshuayi stationed next to Diego Costa in a 4-4-2 formation.
- After a strong second half performance, Conte may be happy to stick with the majority of the starting XI that lined up last night. Batshuayi did set up Diego Costa’s late winner, but the Belgian may have to wait a bit longer for his first Chelsea start if the former Juventus boss sticks with the 4-1-4-1 system. Fabregas does offer an alternative option in the middle of the park.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Strikers
Middlesbrough
Starting XI: Valdes; Nsue, Barragan, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, de Roon (Forshaw 18); Adomah, Ramirez (Nugent 87), Downing; Negredo .
- Head coach Aitor Karanka handed debuts to summer signings Victor Valdes, Antonio Barragan, Marten de Roon and Alvaro Negredo as ‘Boro faced Stoke at the Riverside on the opening day.
- Karanka kept faith in his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with right-back Barragan filling in at centre-half in the absence of the injured Daniel Ayala. De Roon started alongside Adam Clayton at the base of midfield, with Albert Adomah (right), Gaston Ramirez (number ten) and Stewart Downing (left) forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Negredo.
- The Spanish boss was forced into making an early change, with De Roon having to be substituted after picking up a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Adam Forshaw in a straight swap. Karanka’s only other change saw David Nugent introduced late on as the home side chased a late winner, with Ramirez making way.
- De Roon looks almost certain to miss Sunday’s trip to neighbours Sunderland due to that hamstring injury, so Forshaw looks set to deputise in central midfield. While centre-backs Ayala (ankle) and Bernardo Espinosa (knee) may recover in time for Sunday, the strong showing in defence on Saturday means Karanka may give them another week to fully step up their sharpness. Viktor Fischer didn’t feature against the Potters, but offers another option in the wide areas.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right- Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks
Southampton
Starting XI: Forster; Cedric Soares (Pied 79), Yoshida, Van Dijk, Targett; Romeu, Davis, Ward-Prowse (Hojbjerg 55), Tadic, Redmond, Long (Austin 82).
- New Saints manager Claude Puel handed a debut to Nathan Redmond against Watford. While Cedric Soares, who featured for Portugal as they triumphed at Euro 2016, started at right-back, his compatriot Jose Fonte was only named among the substitutes. Matt Targett deputised for the injured Ryan Bertrand at left-back
- Puel went with a midfield diamond against the Hornets, with Oriol Romeu at the base and James Ward-Prowse and Steven Davis on the sides. Dusan Tadic started at the tip, behind a front two of Redmond and Shane Long.
- With his side a goal down, Puel brought on summer signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in place of Ward-Prowse in a straight swap just 10 minutes into the second-half. Fellow new boy Jeremy Pied was also given a run-out, coming on for Soares at right-back for the final 10 minutes, while Charlie Austin replaced Long in attack shortly after as Saints searched for a late winner.
- With a shorter than usual turnaround before Friday night’s trip to Old Trafford, Bertrand seems likely to miss out once again. The fact that Pied appeared as a substitute suggests he has a chance of usurping Soares at right-back, while Fonte – if fully fir – should be called upon to replace Maya Yoshida at centre-back. Hojbjerg and Jordy Clasie offer alternatives in central midfield.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Left-Back, Central Midfield
Stoke
Starting XI: Given; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Imbula; Shaqiri, Bojan (Allen 78), Arnautovic; Diouf (Walters 68).
- After Jack Butland was ruled out with another ankle injury, Shay Given started in goal for Stoke as they travelled to Premier League new boys Middlesbrough. Mame Biram Diouf was chosen to lead the line, while summer signing Joe Allen was only named among the substitutes.
- Mark Hughes rolled out his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation at the Riverside, with Glenn Whelan and Giannelli Imbula patrolling central midfield, leaving Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan and Marko Arnautovic in the attacking midfield positions. Those three, along with Diouf, did operate very fluidly though, with Bojan often the most advanced central attacker.
- Diouf endured a disappointing afternoon, and was replaced by Jon Walters after 68 minutes. Allen then replaced Bojan 10 minutes later, with Walters ending the match as the central striker and Shaqiri afforded a spell in the number ten role.
- While Butland’s injury isn’t thought to be too serious, he appears unlikely to feature until after the international break. Glen Johnson missed out on Saturday due to a thigh strain, and remains a doubt for Saturday’s home clash against Man City. Geoff Cameron could challenge Phil Bardsley for the spot at right-back, then. In midfield, Allen may come into contention for a first Potters start, perhaps even in a three-man midfield along with Whelan and Imbula, with Bojan an option to start as the “false nine†after Diouf’s indifferent display. Walters and Peter Crouch provide further attacking options.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Lone Striker
Sunderland
Starting XI: Mannone, Love, Kone, Kaboul, Van Aanholt, Rodwell, O’Shea, Watmore (Januzaj 64), Borini, Gooch (Khazri 65), Defoe (McNair 83).
- New Sunderland manager David Moyes surprisingly named youngster Lynden Gooch in the starting XI for the opening day trip to the Etihad, while Donald Love was handed his Black Cats debut at right-back.
- Moyes went with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with John O’Shea and Jack Rodwell at the base of midfield. Duncan Watmore (right), Fabio Borini (number ten) and Gooch (left) formed the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Jermain Defoe.
- With his side a goal behind, Moyes turned to Adnan Januzaj and Wahbi Khazri off the bench, with Watmore and Gooch making way shortly after the hour mark. Paddy McNair was introduced to try and shore up the defence with the score at 1-1, but the new signing unfortunately scored the own goal which handed Man City all three points.
- While Sunderland’s performance would have been fairly encouraging for Moyes, the former Everton boss could still make a few changes for Sunday’s home clash against Middlesbrough. McNair offers an alternative to Love at right-back, while Billy Jones will be another option should he recover from a hip injury. With Lamine Kone’s future at the club still in doubt, McNair or Papy Djilobodji may get a chance at centre-back, while in the middle of the park, Jan Kirchhoff will come into the equation if he recovers from a minor knock. Lee Cattermole, however, may require hernia surgery and could be out for a longer spell. Januzaj and Khazri made decent impacts off the bench on Saturday, so the pair may challenge Watmore, Borini and Gooch for starting berths in the advanced midfield positions.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Centre Midfield, Flanks
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Amat, Kingsley; Cork, Britton (Sigurdsson 61), Fer; Barrow (Montero 65), Llorente, Routledge (Rangel 87).
- Swansea boss Francesco Guidolin handed a Premier League debut to Fernando Llorente against Burnley, but Neil Taylor and Ki Sung-Yeung weren’t included in the matchday squad having arrived back late during pre-season. Gylfi Sigurdsson was only fit enough to be named among the substitutes.
- The Italian opted for a 4-3-3 formation at Turf Moor, with Leon Britton operating as the holding midfield player, allowing Jack Cork and Leroy Fer to play just in front of the Swansea skipper. Modou Barrow (right) and Wayne Routledge (left) flanked central striker Llorente, while Jordi Amat partnered Federico Fernandez in central defence following the departure of Ashley Williams to Everton.
- With the match goalless, Guidolin firstly turned to Sigurdsson, with the Iceland international replacing Britton on the hour mark. His introduction saw the Swans move to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sigurdsson in the number ten role, leaving Cork and Fer at the base of midfield. Jefferson Montero then came on in place of Barrow, with the Ecuadorian stationed on the left wing, with Routledge switching to the right. Having taken the lead, Guidolin brought Angel Rangel on in place of Routledge, with the Spaniard and Kyle Naughton limiting any Burnley progress down Swansea’s right during the closing stages.
- Given the Swans’ 1-0 win, Guidolin isn’t likely to make many changes when Hull visit the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. The Italian will have plenty of options, with Taylor an option at left-back instead of Stephen Kingsley having played for the under-23s last night – a match that Ki also featured in. Club-record signing Borja Baston could make his Premier League debut, but it’s perhaps more likely that he’ll appear off the bench. Sigurdsson looks set to earn a recall to the starting XI though, with Britton perhaps making way. Montero impressed off the bench on the opening day, and may also push for a starting berth.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris (Vorm 35), Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Wanyama, Dier (Janssen 57), Lamela, Alli, Eriksen, Kane.
- Mauricio Pochettino named Jan Vertonghen in his starting XI for the trip to Goodison Park, with the Belgian fully recovered from the ankle injury that saw him miss Euro 2016. The Argentine also handed a Tottenham debut to Victor Wanyama.
- Wanyama started alongside Eric Dier at the base of midfield in Pochettino’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, with last season’s favoured front four of Erik Lamela, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane also named in the side.
- Pochettino was forced into making a change during the first-half, with Michel Vorm having to come on in place of Hugo Lloris after the Frenchman suffered a hamstring injury. With his side still a goal behind, Pochettino decided to bring on summer signing Vincent Janssen in place of Dier just before the hour mark, with the Dutch international playing as the lone striker, allowing Kane just to play off the former AZ Alkmaar forward. This saw Alli drop slightly deeper in the centre of the park.
- It appears unlikely that Lloris will be fit to face Crystal Palace on Saturday, so Vorm looks set to deputise in goal. With Janssen impressing off the bench, and with Mousa Dembele still suspended, there is a chance Alli could drop back into centre midfield alongside Dier or Wanyama, with Kane moving to the number ten role to allow the Dutchman to lead the line. Pochettino may keep faith in his usual front four, though, given how well they performed during the second-half of last season.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Cathcart, Prodl, Britos; Amrabat, Guedioura (Zuniga 73), Behrami (Watson 64), Capoue, Holebas; Deeney, Ighalo (Anya 80).
- New Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri didn’t name any of his summer signings in his first starting XI as the Hornets travelled to St Mary’s.
- The Italian rolled out his favoured 3-5-2 formation as expected, though, with Nordin Amrabat and Jose Holebas starting at right and left wing-back respectively, while Craig Cathcart, Sebastian Prodl and Miguel Britos formed the three-man backline. Valon Behrami was stationed as the deepest midfield player in front of the back four, with Adlene Guedioura and Etienne Capoue operating further forward in the middle of the park. Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo combined in attack.
- Mazzarri’s first substitution saw Ben Watson take over from Behrami in the defensive midfield role just after the hour mark. Juan Zuniga was then handed his Watford debut, replacing Guedioura. Following Watson’s dismissal, Mazzarri subbed on Ikechi Anya for Ighalo, with the Italian looking to hold on for a point, ending the match in more of a 4-4-1 formation.
- After a fairly impressive opening day performance, Mazzarri could name a similar starting XI for Saturday’s home encounter against Chelsea. Watson will be unavailable due to suspension, while Zuniga and Anya do offer alternatives in the wing-back positions.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Wing-Backs
West Brom
Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans; Gardner (McClean 70), Fletcher, Yacob, Phillips; Rondon, Berahino (Morrison 85).
- Tony Pulis handed a debut to Matt Phillips, while Saido Berahino started at Selhurst Park despite ongoing speculation regarding his future at the club.
- Berahino started in the number ten role for the Baggies, with Phillips (right) and Craig Gardner (left) forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Salomon Rondon in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jonny Evans started at left-back, as he did for much of the second half of last season.
- With the match goalless, Pulis decided to bring James McClean on in place of Craig Gardner in a straight swap with 20 minutes remaining. Having taken a 1-0 lead, James Morrison was brought on for Berahino, with the substitute playing alongside Darren Fletcher and Claudio Yacob in central midfield to help see out the match in more of a 4-5-1 formation.
- After beginning their campaign with three points, it’s unlikely Pulis will make many changes for the visit of Everton to the Hawthorns on Saturday. He does have some options in the wide areas though, in the shape of McClean and Jonathan Leko.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks
West Ham
Starting XI: Adrian, Antonio (Byram 52), Collins, Reid, Masuaku, Kouyate, Nordtveit (Payet 67), Noble, Ayew (Tore 35), Carroll, Valencia.
- Slaven Bilic handed debuts to Premier League debuts to Arthur Masuaku and Havard Nordtveit, while club-record signing Andre Ayew also made his Hammers bow. James Collins got the nod ahead of Angelo Ogbonna in central defence alongside Winston Reid.
- Bilic opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with Nordtveit stationed in the defensive midfield role, leaving Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate in central midfield. Ayew (right) and Enner Valencia (left) flanked central striker Andy Carroll.
- The Croatian was forced into making an early change, with Ayew picking up what appeared to be a thigh injury. He was replaced by Gokhan Tore in a straight swap. With Michail Antonio struggling to deal with Eden Hazard, he made way for Sam Byram just seven minutes into the second half. Bilic’s final substitution saw Dimitri Payet enter the fray, replacing Nordtveit with 23 minutes remaining. That change saw the Hammers line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Payet in the number ten role.
- With Ayew very doubtful for the home clash against Bournemouth on Sunday, Payet looks the obvious player to replace the Ghanaian. Valencia had a fairly ineffective night, so Tore or Sofiane Feghouli, should he recover from a hamstring issue, could also come into contention. Bilic may also switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation, dropping Nordtveit, to fit in an extra attacking midfield player. If Payet opts for Sam Byram at right-back, Antonio will be hoping to feature in his preferred position on the right wing.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Flanks
