Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 28 – Part One

Ronald Koeman recalls skipper Phil Jagielka for his first Everton start since Gameweek 19. Pep Guardiola goes full strength in Manchester City’s FA Cup triumph at Middlesbrough, while Olivier Giroud continues as Arsenal’s central striker with Alexis Sanchez scurrying the flank once more.

Rounding up the FA Cup ties and the weekend’s reduced Premier League programme, here’s the first instalment of our teamsheet summary outlining the tactics and trends on show to offer early insight into the likely lineups for Gameweek 29.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Ozil 27), Xhaka (Coquelin 60), Ramsey; Walcott, Giroud (Lucas 65), Sanchez.

• Arsene Wenger only made four changes from the side that lost 3-1 to Liverpool in Arsenal’s last Premier League match for the FA Cup quarter-final against Lincoln City, with Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez coming in for Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Alex Iwobi and the ill Danny Welbeck.
• Arsenal lined up in a 4-2-3-1, with Ramsey joining Granit Xhaka at the base of midfield. Walcott and Sanchez flanked Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the No 10 position, behind lone striker Olivier Giroud. Gibbs slotted into his usual position at left-back for the Gunners.
• Wenger was forced into making an early substitution, though, after Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up a hamstring injury. He made way for Mesut Ozil in a straight swap. Xhaka was replaced by Coquelin on the hour mark, while Lucas Perez took over from Giroud as the lone striker for the final 25 minutes.
• It’s in attack where Wenger’s team selection for Saturday’s trip to The Hawthorns looks slightly uncertain. Sanchez and Walcott both appear likely starters, but the Chilean could play on the left wing once again if Giroud is given the nod as the central striker. Ozil hasn’t played much football of late, mainly due to illness, but he may be able to start against the Baggies in the No 10 role. Iwobi is the other obvious option in that position, with Ramsey likely to battle it out with Xhaka and Coquelin for the two central midfield positions should Oxlade-Chamberlain be ruled out. Monreal may also push for a recall at left-back in place of Gibbs.

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

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; A Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Fraser (Mousset 85), Gosling, Arter, Pugh; Afobe (Wilshere 85), King.

• Eddie Howe made two changes for the visit of West Ham United to the Vitality Stadium, with the fit-again Simon Francis replacing the suspended Tyrone Mings, while Andrew Surman also served a ban to be replaced by Dan Gosling.
• Skipper Francis partnered Steve Cook in central defence for the Cherries, then, while Gosling joined Harry Arter at the base of midfield in the 4-2-3-1 system. Josh King occupied the No 10 role behind lone striker Benik Afobe.
• Howe only made two changes late on, with Jack Wilshere and Lys Mousset brought on for Afobe and Ryan Fraser. Mousset replaced Fraser on the right wing, while Wilshere played in the No 10 role, allowing King to take over as the lone striker.
• After registering their first win since the 3-0 victory over Swansea City in Gameweek 19, Howe will be expected to name a similar side for Saturday’s return fixture at home to the Swans. Surman will be back from his one-match ban and could replace Gosling in central midfield. Wilshere will also push for a recall, but Howe may opt to continue with both King and Afobe at the top end of the pitch.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Boyd (Brady 73), Barton, Hendrick, Arfield (Agyei 90); Barnes, Gray (Vokes 80).

• Burnley manager Sean Dyche made three alterations for the trip to Anfield, with Tom Heaton, Scott Arfield and Ashley Barnes recalled to replace Paul Robinson, Robbie Brady and Sam Vokes.
• Heaton returned from illness to start in goal for the Clarets, while Arfield lined up on the left of the four-man midfield. Barnes partnered Andre Gray in attack after missing the 3-2 defeat to Swansea City due to suspension.
• Dyche’s first substitution saw Brady come on in place of George Boyd on the right wing for the final 17 minutes. With 10 minutes remaining, Dyche decided to introduce Vokes in place of Gray in a straight swap. As a final roll of the dice, young forward Daniel Agyei was thrown on for Arfield, seeing Burnley end the match in a 4-3-3 as they looked to find a late equaliser.
• The Burnley side continues to appear settled, with midfield the only area where Dyche may look to make changes for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland. Brady could push for a recall in either wide position, while Ashley Westwood, and perhaps Steven Defour, should he recover from a hamstring injury, provide possible alternatives to Joey Barton and Jeff Hendrick in central midfield.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks

Everton

Starting XI: Robles; Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines (Funes Mori 46); Barry (Calvert-Lewin 84), Schneiderlin; Barkley, Davies, Mirallas (Gueye 71); Lukaku.

• Ronald Koeman made two changes from the side that lost 3-2 to Tottenham Hotspur for the home encounter against West Bromwich Albion, with Phil Jagielka and Kevin Mirallas recalled in place of Ramiro Funes Mori and Idrissa Gueye.
• The return of Mirallas saw Everton return to a 4-2-3-1, with the Belgian starting on the left of the attacking midfield trio. Tom Davies took up the No 10 role, with Barkley stationed on the right. Jagielka partnered Ashley Williams at the heart of the Everton defence.
• A minor back injury saw Leighton Baines replaced at half-time, with Funes Mori taking over at left-back. With 19 minutes remaining, Koeman decided to bring on Gueye in place of Mirallas, seeing the Toffees switch to a 4-3-2-1, with Gueye joining Gareth Barry and Morgan Schneiderlin in central midfield. Barry did make way for the returning Dominic Calvert-Lewin late on, though, seeing a return to the 4-2-3-1, with the substitute operating on the left wing.
• Baines’ back injury isn’t thought to be serious and he is expected to start against Hull City on Saturday. Funes Mori provides cover at left-back, although the Argentinian was a surprise omission in central defence at the expense of Jagielka. Following Saturday’s clean sheet, the starting back four would seem likely to remain unchanged. In central midfield, Gueye will likely earn a recall, while Ademola Lookman provides another option in the attacking midfield positions. But after Mirallas’ goal against the Baggies, the youngster may have to settle for a place among the substitutes once more.

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

Hull City

Starting XI: Jakupovic; Elabdellaoui, Ranocchia, Maguire, Robertson; N’Diaye (Niasse 63); Markovic (Elmohamady 75), Huddlestone, Clucas, Grosicki; Hernandez (Meyler 81).

• Tigers’ head coach Marco Silva made two changes for the home fixture against Swansea City, with Omar Elabdellaoui and Abel Hernandez replacing Ahmed Elmohamady and Oumar Niasse.
• Elabdellaoui returned at right-back, while Hernandez played as the central striker, flanked by Lazar Markovic (right) and Kamil Grosicki (left) in the 4-3-3 system used by Silva.
• With the match goalless, Silva decided to make an attacking first substitution, with Niasse introduced in place of the booked Alfred N’Diaye. Niasse joined Hernandez in attack, seeing the home side switch to a 4-4-2. After taking the lead, Silva brought on Elmohamady for Markovic in a straight swap, with the Egyptian offering protection in front of Elabdellaoui. After taking a 2-0 lead, Silva made a further defensive move, with David Meyler replacing Hernandez, seeing Hull switch to a 4-5-1, with the substitute joining Tom Huddlestone and Sam Clucas in the middle of the park.
• Given that Niasse is ineligible to face his parent club Everton on Saturday, Silva appears unlikely to make any major changes to his starting XI. Elmohamady and the fit-again Curtis Davies offer alternatives in defence, but are probably unlikely to earn recalls following the improved performance in the 2-1 win over Swansea.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Milner; Emre Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana; Coutinho (Woodburn 60), Origi (Lucas Leiva 78), Mane.

• Jurgen Klopp was forced into making one change from the side that beat Arsenal 3-1 for the home clash against Burnley, with Divock Origi earning a recall in place of the injured Roberto Firmino.
• The Belgian replaced Firmino as the central striker in Klopp’s usual 4-3-3 formation, then, while Ragnar Klavan kept his place at centre-back, with Dejan Lovren missing out due to a back problem.
• An ineffective performance from Philippe Coutinho saw the Brazilian replaced just before the hour mark, with Ben Woodburn taking his place on the left of the front three. Klopp then made a defensive change with his side holding onto a slender 2-1 lead, with Lucas Leiva brought on for Origi. Lucas joined Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum in central midfield, with Adam Lallana moving to the right, seeing Liverpool switch to a 4-5-1, leaving Sadio Mane as the lone striker.
• Firmino missed out with a knock, having not been able to train last week, but he should have a chance of returning for Sunday’s trip to Manchester City. Origi may drop back to the bench at the Etihad, then. Jordan Henderson continues to struggle with a foot injury and is expected to be ruled out until next month. That will likely see Liverpool’s three-man midfield remain unchanged. Even if Lovren is available, Klavan may have done well enough over the last two matches to keep his place alongside Joel Matip in central defence.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Central Striker

Manchester City

Starting XI: Bravo; Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure (Fernando 86); Sterling, Silva, de Bruyne, Sane (Nolito 70); Aguero (Iheanacho 90).

• Pep Guardiola made five changes from the side that drew 0-0 against Stoke City in the Premier League for the FA Cup quarter-final with Middlesbrough, as Claudio Bravo, Pablo Zabaleta, John Stones, David Silva and Raheem Sterling were recalled in place of Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna, Aleksandar Kolarov, Fernandinho and Jesus Navas.
• Zabaleta and Stones slotted in at right-back and centre-back respectively, while Sterling returned on the right wing in the 4-1-4-1 formation. Silva joined Kevin de Bruyne in central midfield, with Yaya Toure stationed as the defensive midfielder.
• Guardiola’s first substitution saw Nolito take over from Leroy Sane on the left wing for the final 20 minutes. Then, with the tie won, the City boss handed brief run-outs to Fernando and Kelechi Iheanacho late on in place of Toure and Sergio Aguero.
• City face Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday night in the second leg of their last 16 tie, before hosting Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. Guardiola’s team selection in midweek may provide some clues for the starting XI on Sunday, then, although he’s likely to field his strongest side in both matches. It’s in defence where rotation appears most likely, with the likes of Sagna and Kolarov expected to push for recalls. Fernandinho and Toure may share playing time in the holding midfield position, while the likes of Nolito and Navas provide alternatives out wide, although Sane and Sterling will be expected to line up against Liverpool. Caballero should return in goal against the Reds.

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