A switch back to 3-4-2-1 proves the catalyst for Spurs’ home demolition of Stoke City. Matt Phillips’ injury absence allows Chris Brunt to start on the West Brom flank, while Jordan Pickford returns to the Sunderland XI after Vito Mannone misses out through illness.
After publishing Part One yesterday, here’s the lowdown on the teamsheets and tactics on show from Gameweek 26 covering the remaining teams.
Leicester City
Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (Gray 79), Drinkwater, Ndidi, Albrighton (Chilwell 90); Okazaki (Amartey 68); Vardy.
- Caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare only made one alteration from the team that lost 2-0 to Swansea City for the home encounter with Liverpool, with Shinji Okazaki replacing Demarai Gray.
- Okazaki was used in the support striker role behind Jamie Vardy, with Riyad Mahrez (right) and Marc Albrighton (left) operating on the Foxes’ flanks.
- Immediately after Philippe Coutinho pulled a goal back for Liverpool to make it 3-1, Shakespeare made a defensive substitution, with Daniel Amartey brought on for Okazaki. The substitute joined Danny Drinkwater and Wilfred Ndidi in central midfield, seeing the hosts switch to a 4-5-1. Gray then provided fresh legs in place of Mahrez on the right wing, with Ben Chilwell doing likewise on the opposite flank in place of Albrighton late on.
- Following such an impressive display, Shakespeare, or whoever is in charge for Saturday’s home fixture against Hull City, may well name an unchanged starting XI. Islam Slimani and Leonardo Ulloa were both back among the substitutes last night, but their lack of match fitness, along with the strong performance against Liverpool, make it unlikely that either player will oust Okazaki from the side.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Support Forward
Liverpool
Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Lucas Leiva (Woodburn 84), Milner; Lallana (Origi 66), Emre Can, Wijnaldum; Mane (Moreno 66), Firmino, Coutinho.
- Jurgen Klopp was forced into making one change from the side that beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 for the trip to the King Power Stadium, with Emre Can starting in place of the injured Jordan Henderson.
- Can joined Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana in central midfield in Klopp’s favoured 4-3-3 formation. Lucas Leiva recovered from a knock to start at centre-back, with Dejan Lovren (knee) still absent for the Reds.
- After half-time, Klopp made a tactical switch, with Can dropping back into central defence alongside Joel Matip and Lucas, seeing Liverpool switch to a 3-4-3 formation. Then after going 3-0 down, Klopp decided to bring on Alberto Moreno and Divock Origi in place of Lallana and Sadio Mane. Moreno took over from James Milner at left wing-back, while Origi joined Roberto Firmino in attack in what was more of a 3-5-2 formation, with Milner playing alongside Wijnaldum and Philippe Coutinho in central midfield. As a final roll of the dice, Klopp threw on Ben Woodburn in place of Lucas, seeing Liverpool switch to a 4-3-3, with Woodburn (left) and Firmino (right) flanking central striker Origi.
- Unless Lovren or Henderson recover from knee and foot injuries respectively, Klopp doesn’t look to have many options ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Arsenal. Ragnar Klavan could replace Lucas at centre-back, while Origi provides a different option in attack. The Belgian is unlikely to oust Mane, Firmino or Coutinho from the side, though.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield
Stoke City
Starting XI: Grant; Bardsley, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Whelan (Cameron 81), Adam (Afellay 60); Sobhi, Allen, Arnautovic; Crouch (Berahino 60).
- Mark Hughes named the same side that beat Crystal Palace 1-0 for the trip to White Hart Lane.
- The Potters lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation once again, then, with Ramadan Sobhi (left), Joe Allen (No 10) and Marko Arnautovic (right) forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Peter Crouch. Phil Bardsley recovered from a knock to start at right-back ahead of Glen Johnson.
- With his side trailing 4-0, Hughes made a double substitution just before the hour mark, with Ibrahim Afellay and Saido Berahino replacing Charlie Adam and Crouch in straight swaps. The final change saw Geoff Cameron return from injury to replace Glenn Whelan in central midfield for the final nine minutes.
- After such a disappointing performance against Spurs, Hughes could look to make a few changes for Saturday’s home fixture against Middlesbrough. Afellay is a viable alternative to Whelan and Adam in central midfield, while Mame Biram Diouf, or Xherdan Shaqiri, should he recover from a calf problem, could challenge Sobhi for a starting berth. Berahino could also be an option to start out wide, or as the lone striker in place of Crouch. Cameron may continue to build up his fitness from the bench following a long injury lay-off.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker
Sunderland
Starting XI: Pickford; Jones (Manquillo 90), O’Shea, Kone, Oviedo; Gibson (Honeyman 79), Ndong; Januzaj, Larsson, Borini (Khazri 79) Defoe.
- David Moyes made two changes for the trip to Goodison Park, with the fit-again Jordan Pickford replacing Vito Mannone in goal, while Fabio Borini came in for Jason Denayer who was ruled out through illness.
- Borini’s inclusion in the side saw the Sunderland boss switch from a 3-5-1-1 system to a 4-3-3. Adnan Januzaj (right) and Borini (left) flanked central striker Jermain Defoe, while Didier Ndong and Sebastian Larsson played just in front of holding midfielder Darron Gibson.
- With the score at 1-0, Moyes introduced George Honeyman and Wahbi Khazri in place of Gibson and Borini. Right-back Billy Jones was forced off with a head injury late on, with Javier Manquillo taking his place in a straight swap.
- With the Black Cats hosting Manchester City on Sunday, Moyes may consider switching back to a three-man defence. Denayer is ineligible to face his parent club, though, so Joleon Lescott looks the only other viable option in central defence. Manquillo will be on standby to replace Jones on the right side of the defence if he’s ruled out with that head injury, while both Honeyman and Khazri are options to freshen up the midfield. Mannone should recover from illness in time but may struggle to oust Pickford between the sticks. Moyes will hope some of his injured players are available for selection to provide him with some extra options, but they may require a bit more time to prove their fitness.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Right-Back/Right Wing-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks
Swansea City
Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Mawson, Fernandez, Olsson; Cork; Routledge (Narsingh 81), Fer, Carroll (Ayew 76), Sigurdsson; Llorente.
- Paul Clement made one adjustment from the side that beat Leicester City 2-0 for the trip to leaders Chelsea, with Wayne Routledge starting in place of the injured Nathan Dyer.
- The Swansea City head coach stuck with a 4-3-3 system, with Routledge coming in on the right of the front three.
- With his side trailing 2-1, Clement made an attacking first substitution, as Jordan Ayew was introduced in place of Tom Carroll. That change led to a switch to a 4-2-3-1, with Ayew operating on the left of the attacking midfield trio, seeing Gylfi Sigurdsson move into the No 10 position. Clement’s only other change saw Luciano Narsingh take over from Routledge on the right wing for the final nine minutes.
- The Swansea side continues to appear settled, with Clement only likely to consider making one change for the visit of Burnley to the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. Routledge, who’s started six of the seven matches under the new boss, looks the favourite to start on the right wing, but both Ayew and Narsingh are pushing for a first start for their new club.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing
Tottenham Hotspur
Starting XI: Lloris; Dier, Alderweireld (Wimmer 49), Vertonghen (Winks 66); Walker, Wanyama, Dembele, Davies; Alli, Eriksen; Kane (Son Heung-min 86).
- Mauricio Pochettino made one change from the side that lost 2-0 to Liverpool for the home clash against Stoke City, with the fit-again Jan Vertonghen replacing Son Heung-min.
- That change saw the Tottenham boss switch from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a 3-4-2-1, with Vertonghen joining Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld in central defence. Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen played in central attacking midfield roles behind lone striker Harry Kane.
- Pochettino was forced into making a change early in the second half, after Alderweireld looked to have suffered a muscular problem. Kevin Wimmer came on in the Belgian’s place in a straight swap. Compatriot Vertonghen then had to be withdrawn shortly after the hour mark due to a knock, with Harry Winks coming on in his place. That change did see Spurs switch to more of a 4-3-2-1 system, with Winks joining Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele in central midfield. With the match won, Pochettino handed a brief run-out to Son in place of Kane for the final four minutes.
- Both Alderweireld and Vertonghen were taken off as precautions, but the Tottenham boss hopes they’ll both be fit to face Everton on Sunday. He’ll no doubt want to name an unchanged side after beating Stoke 4-0, but if both players were to be ruled out, may be forced to revert back to the 4-2-3-1, with Wimmer the only real alternative in central defence. Son could come back into the side were that to be the case.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Full-Back/Wing-Backs, Flanks
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Janmaat (Cathcart 52), Kaboul, Britos, Holebas; Cleverley, Behrami, Capoue; Zarate (Doucoure 45), Deeney, Niang (Success 82).
- Hornets head coach Walter Mazzarri made two alterations from the team that lost 2-0 to Manchester United for the home encounter against West Ham United, with Daryl Janmaat and Valon Behrami replacing Craig Cathcart and Sebastian Prodl.
- Watford lined up in more of a 4-3-2-1 formation, with Tom Cleverley and Etienne Capoue starting in front of holding midfielder Behrami. M’Baye Niang and Mauro Zarate occupied central attacking midfield positions behind lone striker Troy Deeney. Janmaat returned at right-back for the hosts.
- Mazzarri was forced into making a change on the stroke of half-time after Zarate suffered a serious knee injury. Abdoulaye Doucoure took his place in a straight swap. Janmaat was then forced off with a hip complaint, seeing Cathcart take over at right-back. Mazzarri’s final substitution saw Isaac Success replace Niang in a straight swap for the final eight minutes.
- Zarate has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury. So if Mazzarri sticks with a 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3 system, one of Success or Stefano Okaka could be in line to start against Southampton on Saturday. If Janmaat is ruled out, Cathcart is the favourite to fill in at right-back, although Juan Zuniga provides another option.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Attacking Midfield, Flanks
West Bromwich Albion
Starting XI: Foster; Dawson (McClean 54), McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Fletcher, Livermore; Brunt, Morrison (Yacob 73), Chadli (Field 88); Rondon.
- Tony Pulis made one change for the visit of Bournemouth to The Hawthorns, with the fit-again Jonny Evans starting in place of the injured Matt Phillips.
- That change prompted a reshuffle in defence, with Craig Dawson moving to right-back, while Allan Nyom shifted to left-back. That allowed Chris Brunt to start on the right of midfield in what was a 4-1-4-1 formation used by Pulis, with Jake Livermore stationed as the defensive midfielder.
- The Baggies head coach was forced into making a change early in the second half, though, after Dawson suffered a head injury. He was replaced by James McClean, who played on the right side of midfield, seeing Brunt move to left-back and Nyom to right-back. Pulis then made a defensive-minded substitution, with Claudio Yacob brought on at the expense of James Morrison, seeing the home side switch to more of a 4-5-1. Sam Field was then handed a brief run-out in place of Nacer Chadli.
- Dawson suffered a nasty looking head injury and will need to be assessed ahead of Saturday’s home fixture against Crystal Palace. If he’s ruled out, Nyom will likely start at right-back, with Brunt moving to left-back. If Phillips is unable to recover from a hamstring problem, McClean looks the favourite to start on the right wing. Phillips is set to undergo further scans tomorrow to assess the full extent of his injury. Jonathan Leko and Hal Robson-Kanu provide further options out wide for Pulis.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Midfield, Right Wing
West Ham United
Starting XI: Randolph; Kouyate, Fonte, Reid, Cresswell; Noble, Obiang; Feghouli, Snodgrass (Ayew 65), Lanzini (Fernandes 90); Antonio.
- Slaven Bilic named the same side that drew 2-2 against West Bromwich Albion for the trip to Vicarage Road.
- The West Ham boss stuck with a 4-2-3-1 formation, then, with Sofiane Feghouli (right), Robert Snodgrass (No 10) and Manuel Lanzini (left) forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Michail Antonio.
- Following a disappointing first half display, Bilic decided to switch Lanzini into the No 10 position, with Snodgrass moving out to the left. The Scotland international then made way for Andre Ayew shortly after the hour-mark in a straight swap. Following Antonio’s sending off for two bookable offences, the Hammers boss introduced Edimilson Fernandes in place of Lanzini to help shore up the midfield, forming more of a 4-3-2 formation.
- Antonio will now miss Monday night’s home clash against Chelsea due to suspension, so Bilic will be very keen for Andy Carroll to recover from a calf injury to face the leaders. Carroll is expected to return to training either today or tomorrow and looks to have a reasonable chance of being fit. Ayew offers another option in that position, although he could also push for a start in any of the attacking midfield berths.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Lone Striker
