Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 9 – Part One

Sergio Aguero returns to the Man City starting XI but fails to find the net against Southampton. Arsenal huff and puff against Middlesbrough without the inspiriation of Santi Cazorla, while Claudio Ranieri shuffles his Leicester pack after midweek Champions League exertions.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Elneny (Oxlade-Chamberlain 74), Coquelin, Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi (Lucas Perez 67), Sanchez.

• Arsene Wenger made two changes from the side that beat Swansea City 2-0 for the visit of Middlesbrough to the Emirates, with Francis Coquelin coming in for the suspended Granit Xhaka, while Mohamed Elneny replaced the injured Santi Cazorla.
• Coquelin and Elneny formed the central midfield partnership in Wenger’s usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alexis Sanchez continuing as the central striker.
• With the match goalless, Wenger turned to Lucas Perez off the bench, with the Spaniard taking over from Alex Iwobi on the left wing for the final 23 minutes. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain then replaced Elneny in a straight swap for the remaining 16 minutes.
• Cazorla missed out against ‘Boro due to an Achilles problem, but he should have a decent chance of being fit to face Sunderland on Saturday. He’d be expected to replace Elneny in the starting XI should that be the case, with Xhaka still suspended for the trip to the Stadium of Light. Olivier Giroud could be available for the Gunners, but he’s likely to feature off the bench at best.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Ibe (Gradel 60), Arter, Gosling, Wilshere, King (Fraser 88); Wilson (Afobe 81).

• Eddie Howe was forced into making two alterations for the home clash against Tottenham Hotspur, with Dan Gosling and Josh King replacing Andrew Surman and Junior Stanislas.
• Gosling partnered Harry Arter in central midfield in the 4-2-3-1 formation used by Howe, while King came in on the right wing for the Cherries.
• Jordon Ibe was once again the first player replaced by Howe, with Max Gradel coming on in a straight swap on the hour mark. With nine minutes remaining, Benik Afobe took over from Callum Wilson as the lone striker, with Howe’s final substitution seeing Ryan Fraser get a brief run out in place of King on the right flank.
• Surman was a late withdrawal after falling ill during the warm-up, so he may well be okay to return against Middlesbrough on Saturday. Gosling may drop out of the starting XI, then, while if Stanislas recovers from a calf problem as expected, he could replace King in the side. Ibe’s starting place may also come under some pressure, though

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward (Flanagan 81); Gudmundsson, Hendrick, Marney, Arfield, Kightly (Tarkowski 72); Vokes (Bamford 86).

• Sean Dyche made two changes for the visit of Everton to Turf Moor, with Scott Arfield and Michael Kightly starting in place of the injured Steven Defour and George Boyd.
• Dyche opted for more of a 4-1-4-1 system on Saturday, with Arfield playing alongside Jeff Hendrick in central midfield, while Kightly operated on the left of the four-man midfield.
• As Everton pushed for a winner with the match finely balanced at 1-1, Dyche’s first substitution was a defensive one, with James Tarkowski brought on in place of Kightly for the final 18 minutes. Tarkowski joined Michael Keane and Ben Mee in central defence, while Arfield moved to the left wing, seeing the Clarets line up in more of a 5-4-1 formation. Jon Flanagan then took over from Stephen Ward at left back for the final nine minutes. Dyche’s final change saw Patrick Bamford replace Sam Vokes in a straight swap for the final four minutes.
• Defour remains a major doubt for Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford with a hamstring injury, so Arfield may keep his spot in central midfield. Boyd missed out against Everton due to a knock, so he may be available to replace Kightly in the starting XI. Dyche will have Andre Gray back from suspension, though, forcing him to decide whether to return to the favoured 4-4-2 against Man United.

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

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro (Chalobah 71), Costa (Batshuayi 78), Hazard (Willian 77).

• Chelsea manager Antonio Conte named the same starting XI that defeated Leicester City 3-0 for the visit of Man United to Stamford Bridge.
• The Italian rolled out the 3-4-3 formation one again, then, with Eden Hazard (left) and Pedro (right) continuing to flank central striker Diego Costa.
• All of Conte’s substitutions came during the final 20 minutes with the match already won. Pedro, Hazard and Costa were all afforded rests, with Nathaniel Chalobah, Willian and Michy Batshuayi handed run outs.
• Willian only returned to England at the end of last week following the death of his mother, but he may push for a recall in place of Pedro for Sunday’s trip to Southampton. The Spaniard has taken his chance over the last two matches, though, and may be able to hold onto his starting berth.

Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Mandanda; Ward, Tomkins, Delaney, Kelly (Fryers 77); McArthur, Ledley (Lee Chung-yong 72); Townsend (Campbell 72), Cabaye, Zaha; Benteke.

• Alan Pardew was forced into making one adjustment for the trip to the King Power Stadium, with Yohan Cabaye recalled in place of Jason Puncheon, who missed out due to a calf injury.
• Cabaye replaced Puncheon for Palace in the No 10 role in Pardew’s standard 4-2-3-1 formation. Martin Kelly kept his starting berth at left back for the Eagles.
• With his side trailing 3-1, Pardew made a double substitution, with Lee Chung-yong and Fraizer Campbell introduced in place of Joe Ledley and Andros Townsend for the final 18 minutes. The changes saw Palace move to a 4-4-2, with Campbell joining Christian Benteke in attack, while Lee shifted to the left wing, with Wilfried Zaha moving to the opposite flank. That left Cabaye and James McArthur in central midfield. Five minutes later, Zeki Fryers was brought on at left back in place of Kelly.
• Pardew decided not to risk Scott Dann in the matchday squad as he continues to recover from a hamstring issue, but the centre-back is available for Saturday’s visit of Liverpool to Selhurst Park. He could perhaps replace Damien Delaney in the starting XI, then, while Fryers continues to put pressure on Kelly for the starting spot at left-back. If Puncheon is available to face the Reds, Pardew must decide whether to drop Cabaye back into a deeper midfield role, or perhaps move Puncheon to one of the wide positions to let the Frenchman continue in the No 10 role. Townsend’s place in the side may be in a little doubt if Cabaye retains a more advanced berth.

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

Everton

Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Coleman, Jagielka (Valencia 90), Williams, Oviedo; Barry, Gueye (Cleverley 81); Bolasie, Barkley, Mirallas (Deulofeu 75); Lukaku.

• Ronald Koeman made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Man City for the trip to Burnley, with Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas recalled in place of Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu.
• Barkley played alongside Idrissa Gueye in central midfield, with Gareth Barry stationed in a defensive midfield role. Mirallas started on the left of the front three, although he and Yannick Bolasie did swap wings throughout the match.
• It was Mirallas who was the first player to be substituted, though, with the Belgian being replaced by Deulofeu for the final 15 minutes. Deulofeu played in his preferred position on the right, with Bolasie moving over to the left. Cleverley was then brought on in place of Gueye in a straight swap for the final nine minutes. After falling behind late on, Koeman introduced Enner Valencia as a final roll of the dice, with the Ecuadorian joining Romelu Lukaku in attack for the last few minutes.
• Leighton Baines’ hamstring injury has seen him ruled out for much longer than initially anticipated, but Koeman will be desperate to have him back for Sunday’s home fixture against West Ham. Cleverley and Deulofeu may be options for the Dutch boss in midfield, with Barkley and Mirallas’ places in the side appearing the most at risk. Valencia won’t be available as he’s ineligible to play against his parent club.

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

Hull City

Starting XI: Marshall; Meyler (Hernandez 55), Davies, Dawson, Elmohamady; Huddlestone (Maguire 68); Snodgrass, Livermore, Mason, Clucas; Keane (Diomande 68).

• Hull City boss Mike Phelan made three changes from the side that lost 6-1 to Bournemouth for the home fixture against Stoke City, with the fit-again Michael Dawson making his first start of the campaign in place of Harry Maguire, while Tom Huddlestone came in for the injured Andrew Robertson. The other change saw David Meyler replace Shaun Maloney.
• Dawson returned in central defence alongside Curtis Davies, while Sam Clucas was chosen to deputise at left-back in place of the injured Robertson. That meant Huddlestone was chosen to start in the defensive midfield role in the 4-1-4-1 formation. Hull didn’t really play with a left sided midfielder, with Clucas allowed to push forward down that side of the pitch from defence. Meyler, Ryan Mason and Jake Livermore were all deployed narrowly in the middle of the park for the hosts.
• With his side trailing 2-0, Phelan turned to Abel Hernandez off the bench, with the Uruguayan replacing Meyler 10 minutes into the second half. Hernandez joined Will Keane in attack, forming more of a 4-1-3-2 formation. Then with 22 minutes left, Phelan brought on Maguire and Adama Diomande, with Huddlestone and Keane making way. Those changes saw the Tigers move to more of a 3-4-3, with Maguire joining Dawson and Davies in a three-man backline, with Ahmed Elmohamady and Clucas operating as wing-backs. Diomande played on the left of the front three, with Robert Snodgrass on the right.
• With Phelan changing his personnel and tactics on a regular basis over the last few weeks, there’s certainly a lot of uncertainty surrounding what side we’ll see him pick at Watford on Saturday. Given his side have shipped 19 goals in their last five matches, he may consider starting with the back five that ended the match against Stoke. Snodgrass is a doubt for the trip to Vicarage Road, though, after he suffered bruising to his ankle in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat. Diomande and Hernandez may be in line for recalls on the weekend, then, with Huddlestone and Keane perhaps making way. Maloney may be another player who Phelan considers restoring to his starting XI should Snodgrass be ruled out.

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

Leicester City

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Drinkwater, King (Amartey 87), Musa (Gray 81); Okazaki, Slimani (Vardy 75).

• Claudio Ranieri made five changes from the side that lost 3-0 to Chelsea for the home clash against Crystal Palace, with Danny Simpson, Andy King, Riyad Mahrez, Shinji Okazaki and Islam Slimani coming in for Luis Hernandez, Daniel Amartey, Jeffrey Schlupp, Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy.
• Ranieri switched from a 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 against Palace, with Ahmed Musa (left), Mahrez (right) and Okazaki (No 10) forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Slimani. King partnered Danny Drinkwater in central midfield, while Simpson slotted into his usual position at right-back.
• Vardy was the first player to be called upon off the bench, replacing Slimani in a straight swap for the final 15 minutes. Then with the champions holding a 3-1 lead, Ranieri brought on Demarai Gray and Amartey in place of Musa and King in straight swap to provide some fresh legs during the final 10 minutes.
• Ranieri has admitted he will rotate his squad as he continues to juggle the Premier League and Champions League campaigns, and with both Musa and Okazaki taking their chance to impress on Saturday, he now looks to have several viable options in the attacking positions. The fact Leicester have no EFL Cup match this week, though, and given they travel to Tottenham on Saturday, means he may name his strongest starting XI for the match at White Hart Lane. Vardy could earn a recall alongside Slimani in attack, then, although Okazaki is also an option to start behind either player in a 4-4-1-1. Albrighton could come back in at the expense of Musa, while the more combative Amartey may be favoured over King in central midfield.

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

Liverpool

Starting XI: Karius: Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner: Henderson, Can, Lallana (Wijnaldum 79): Mane (Origi 90), Firmino, Coutinho (Lucas Leiva 88).

• Jurgen Klopp made one alteration for the visit of West Brom to Anfield, with Adam Lallana returning to the side in place of Daniel Sturridge.
• Lallana returned in central midfield alongside Emre Can in the 4-3-3, with Roberto Firmino moving back to the “false nine” role. That meant Philippe Coutinho started on the left of the front three for Liverpool.
• With Lallana being nursed back to full fitness, he made way for the returning Georginio Wijnaldum with 11 minutes remaining in a straight swap. After West Brom pulled a goal back, Klopp turned to Lucas Leiva off the bench, with Coutinho making way with two minutes remaining in a defensive substitution. Divock Origi got a brief run out late on in place of Sadio Mane.
• After returning on Saturday, Wijnaldum may earn a recall for Saturday’s trip to Selhurst Park, with Emre Can perhaps dropping to the bench. The likes of Sturridge and Origi appear unlikely to force their way into the side for Saturday’s match.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Man City

Starting XI: Bravo; Stones, Kompany (Navas 78), Kolarov; Sane (Nolito 90), Gundogan, Fernandinho, De Bruyne (Iheanacho 46), Sterling; Silva; Aguero.

• Pep Guardiola made three changes for the home encounter against Southampton, with Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov and Sergio Aguero coming in at the expense of Nicolas Otamendi, Gael Clichy and Kelechi Iheanacho.
• Kompany and Kolarov started alongside John Stones in the three-man backline, with Guardiola continuing with the 3-2-4-1 formation. Aguero led the line for City, with Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling stationed out wide for the home side.
• But Guardiola was forced into making a change at half-time, with Iheanacho replacing Kevin de Bruyne after the Belgian picked up a knock. Iheanacho joined Aguero up front, seeing City line up in more of a 3-2-3-2 system. As they searched for a late winner, Guardiola turned to Jesus Navas off the bench, with Kompany sacrificed for the final 12 minutes. Navas took over on the right wing. That substitution saw Fernandinho drop into the back three, leaving Ilkay Gundogan, David Silva and Sterling in central midfield. Nolito came on for Sane in a straight swap for the final few minutes.
• After Iheanacho scored the equaliser, and with Aguero now failing to score in four of his last five league outings, there may be some uncertainty over who will start up top at the Hawthorns on Saturday. Wednesday night’s team selection in the EFL Cup tie against Man United may well provide some clues, not just in attack, but across the rest of the XI. De Bruyne’s injury isn’t thought to be serious, so he may not be risked against United, in readiness for Saturday’s Premier League clash. Guardiola has options in the wide areas, with Nolito and, to a lesser extent, Navas viable starters. The same can be said in defence, where Guardiola may consider shifting to a four-man backline if Pablo Zabaleta can recover from a knock. Rotation now looks an issue in central defence, though, following Kompany’s return.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Defence, Flanks, Strikers

Part Two of Lineup Lessons, covering the remaining ten teams, will be published tomorrow.