Pep Guardiola makes five alterations to his Manchester City side, while Sean Dyche changes four to help Burnley to their first away win of the campaign. Jose Mourinho is another to shuffle his pack with a Europa League semi-final looming, but many managers prefer to stick with what they know as the season climax grows ever closer.
Here’s the first instalment of our Gameweek 34 teamsheet summary, outlining the trends and tactics on show and offering early insight into the likely line-ups to come.
Arsenal
Starting XI: Cech; Gabriel (Bellerin 75), Koscielny, Monreal; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Xhaka (Welbeck 65), Gibbs; Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud (Walcott 81).
- Arsene Wenger made three changes from the side that beat Leicester City 1-0 for the North London derby, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud replacing Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin and Theo Walcott.
- Oxlade-Chamberlain started at right wing-back for the Gunners, with Ramsey joining Granit Xhaka in central midfield. Giroud returned as the lone striker, flanked by Mesut Ozil (right) and Alexis Sanchez (left) in the 3-4-2-1 system.
- After falling 2-0 behind, Wenger made an attacking first change, sending on Danny Welbeck in place of Xhaka. Welbeck operated wide on the right, with Ozil moving into a more central role just in front of Ramsey. Bellerin then replaced Gabriel, as Arsenal switched to a four-man defence. Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Ramsey in the middle of the park, leaving Ozil in the No 10 role. Wenger’s final substitution saw Theo Walcott come on for Giroud, with the substitute playing on the right wing and Welbeck taking up the lone striker role.
- If Wenger sticks with the three-man defence for the home meeting with Manchester United on Sunday, Rob Holding could perhaps push for a recall in place of either Gabriel or Nacho Monreal, although much also depends on the availability of Shkodran Mustafi. Bellerin offers a possible alternative to Oxlade-Chamberlain at right wing-back, with the Spaniard surely a definite starter if the Arsenal boss switches back to a four-man defence. Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny provide viable alternatives in central midfield, while Welbeck or Walcott may push for a recall in place of Giroud, and Sanchez also an option to operate as the lone striker.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Right Wing-Back, Lone Striker
Bournemouth
Starting XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Fraser (Gradel 90), Cook, Arter, Pugh (Mousset 81); King; Afobe (Stanislas 57).
- Eddie Howe was forced into making one change from the side that beat Middlesbrough 4-0 for the trip to Sunderland, Lewis Cook replacing the injured Dan Gosling.
- Cook, who was making his first start since Gameweek 1, started alongside Harry Arter in central midfield. Wingers Ryan Fraser and Marc Pugh were pushed high up the pitch at the Stadium of Light, with Josh King playing just behind lone striker Benik Afobe in what was more of a 4-2-3-1 formation used by the Cherries boss.
- Howe had to react just before the hour mark, with Junior Stanislas replacing Afobe after the forward suffered a hamstring injury. Stanislas took over the No 10 role and King operated as the lone striker. Lys Mousset then replaced Pugh on the left wing for the final nine minutes, with Max Gradel handed a brief run-out on the opposite flank late-on in place of Fraser.
- If he is available, Gosling could push for a recall in central midfield in place of Lewis Cook. King looks likely to replace Afobe as the lone striker, so Stanislas may earn a start in the No 10 role. Mousset, Gradel and Jordon Ibe provide further options in the attacking midfield positions.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker
Burnley
Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Tarkowski, Ward (Flanagan 45); Boyd, Westwood, Hendrick, Arfield; Vokes, Barnes (Gray 79).
- Clarets boss Sean Dyche made four changes for the trip to Crystal Palace. James Tarkowski replaced the injured Ben Mee, while Ashley Westwood, Scott Arfield and Sam Vokes started at the expense of Joey Barton, Robbie Brady and Andre Gray.
- Tarkowksi partnered Michael Keane in central defence, while Westwood started alongside Jeff Hendrick in central midfield. Arfield was stationed on the left wing in the 4-4-2 formation, with Vokes joining Ashley Barnes in attack.
- Stephen Ward, who was a doubt pre-match, had to be replaced on the stroke of half-time due to a knock. Jon Flanagan took over at left-back. Dyche’s only other change involved Gray taking over from Barnes in attack for the final 11 minutes.
- Both Mee, who missed out due to an ankle injury, and Ward will be assessed this week ahead of Saturday’s home meeting with West Bromwich Albion. Tarkowski deputised ably at Selhurst Park though, and offers strong cover at centre-back, while Flanagan is the main back-up to Ward at left-back. Brady and Steven Defour provide alternative options in midfield, while Gray could push for a recall in attack after scoring off the bench.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Centre-Back, Left-Back, Forwards
Chelsea
Starting XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz (Ake 82), Cahill; Moses, Matic, Kante, Alonso; Pedro (Fabregas 82), Costa, Hazard (Willian 85).
- Antonio Conte made only one adjustment from the side that beat Southampton 4-2 for the trip to Everton, with Pedro replacing Cesc Fabregas.
- Pedro returned on the right of the front three in the 3-4-2-1 formation, while Nemanja Matic got the nod to partner N’Golo Kante in central midfield.
- After picking up a knock, David Luiz was eventually subbed with eight minutes remaining, making way for Nathan Ake in a straight swap. Fabregas and Willian entered the fray late on, replacing Pedro and Eden Hazard in the attacking midfield positions for the final five minutes.
- Luiz will be assessed over the next few days, but with the knee problem he suffered not deemed to be serious by Conte, the Brazilian looks to have a good chance of being fit to face Middlesbrough a week today. Ake provides the main cover in central defence, along with John Terry. After such a strong performance, Conte is likely to keep faith in the rest of the same starting XI, although Fabregas and Willian do provide viable alternatives in midfield.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence
Crystal Palace
Starting XI: Hennessey; Ward, Kelly, Delaney, van Aanholt; McArthur (Campbell 71), Milivojevic, Puncheon; Zaha, Benteke (Remy 71), Townsend.
- Eagles boss Sam Allardyce made two changes for the home encounter against Burnley, with Damien Delaney replacing the injured Mamadou Sakho, while Patrick van Aanholt returned at the expense of Jeffrey Schlupp.
- Delaney partnered Martin Kelly in central defence, and Van Aanholt started at left-back. James McArthur kept his place in central midfield, with Yohan Cabaye ruled out due to a knock.
- Big Sam turned to Loic Remy and Fraizer Campbell off the bench with Palace trailing 1-0, the pair replacing McArthur and Christian Benteke. The substitutes played as a front two as Luka Milivojevic and Jason Puncheon were left in central midfield in the 4-4-2 formation.
- Allardyce will be desperate to have Cabaye available for Saturday’s trip to Manchester City, and the Frenchman is likely to replace McArthur if passed fit. Schlupp offers a viable alternative to van Aanholt at left-back, but a lack of fit options in central defence means that Kelly and Delaney look set to retain their places in the starting XI.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield
Everton
Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Holgate, Williams, Jagielka, Baines; Gueye, Barkley; Valencia (Kone 72), Davies, Calvert-Lewin (Mirallas 72); Lukaku.
- Toffees boss Ronald Koeman made two changes for the home clash against Chelsea. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Enner Valencia replaced Kevin Mirallas and the injured Morgan Schneiderlin.
- Calvert-Lewin operated on the left on the attacking midfield trio in a narrow 4-4-1-1 formation, with Enner Valencia stationed in the No 10 role. Tom Davies played narrowly on the right, while Ross Barkley joined Idrissa Gueye in the double-pivot, although he was stationed quite high up the pitch.
- With his side trailing 1-0, Koeman decided to make a double substitution with 18 minutes remaining, introducing Mirallas and Arouna Kone for Calvert-Lewin and Valencia in straight swaps.
- Schneiderlin missed out due to a thigh problem, but if passed fit, he is likely to come straight back into the side for Saturday’s trip to Swansea City. Valencia could perhaps make way, while there may also be a change out wide, with Mirallas a viable alternative to Calvert-Lewin. Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg could find himself under threat from Joel Robles after putting in a suspect display on Sunday.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Central Midfield, Flanks
Hull City
Starting XI: Jakupovic; Elmohamady, Ranocchia, Maguire, Robertson; N’Diaye, Clucas, Markovic (Dawson 90), Evandro (Henriksen 72), Grosicki (Huddlestone 83); Niasse.
- Tigers head coach Marco Silva named the same side that beat Watford 2-0 for the trip to Southampton.
- Silva kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lazar Markovic (right), Evandro (No 10) and Kamil Grosicki (left) forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Oumar Niasse.
- Silva decided to bring on Markus Henriksen in place of Evandro in a straight swap for the final 18 minutes. Then with the home side building pressure, the Hull boss introduced Tom Huddlestone for Grosicki in a defensive-minded change. Huddlestone joined Alfred N’Diaye and Sam Clucas in midfield, with Henriksen drifting slightly out to the left in the 4-3-3 system. Michael Dawson replaced Markovic late on in a final bid to hold out for a point as the visitors ended the match in a 5-4-1.
- After another solid performance, Silva is expected to name a similar starting XI for Saturday’s crucial home match-up against Sunderland. Huddlestone and Henriksen provide possible alternatives in central and attacking midfield, but neither player is expected to earn a recall. Abel Hernandez provides another option in attack if Silva considers starting with a 4-4-2 against the Black Cats, with Evandro’s spot probably the most vulnerable should Silva start with two strikers.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
Leicester City
Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (King 81), Drinkwater, Ndidi, Albrighton; Okazaki (Ulloa 67), Vardy.
- Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare only made one alteration from the side that lost 1-0 to Arsenal for the trip to West Bromwich Albion, with Shinji Okazaki earning a recall at the expense of Leonardo Ulloa.
- Okazaki returned in his usual support role behind lone striker Jamie Vardy in the usual 4-4-1-1 formation.
- Shakespeare’s first substitution involved Ulloa joining Vardy in attack in a more standard 4-4-2 formation. The only other change had Andy King providing fresh legs in place of Riyad Mahrez as the Foxes looked to hold onto their 1-0 lead. King joined Danny Drinkwater and Wilfred Ndidi in central midfield, while Ulloa drifted out slightly to the right to form more of a 4-5-1.
- Wes Morgan wasn’t quite fit to return from a hamstring injury at the Hawthorns, but the centre-back may come into contention to start against Watford on Saturday, with Yohan Benalouane’s starting berth under threat. Okazaki should keep his place in attack, although Ulloa and Islam Slimani provide viable alternatives.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Forwards
Manchester City
Starting XI: Caballero; Otamendi, Kompany, Kolarov; Navas, Fernandinho, Garcia (Sane 50), Clichy (Sterling 50), De Bruyne; Jesus, Aguero (Nolito 90).
- City manager Pep Guardiola made five changes from the side that drew 0-0 in the Manchester derby for the trip to Middlesbrough as Willy Caballero, Jesus Navas, Aleix Garcia, Gael Clichy and Gabriel Jesus replaced Claudio Bravo, Pablo Zabaleta, Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.
- Those changes meant Guardiola switched from a 4-2-3-1 formation to 3-4-1-2, with Navas and Clichy operating as wing-backs. Garcia joined Fernandinho in central midfield, while Kevin De Bruyne was stationed in the No 10 role behind the front two of Jesus and Sergio Aguero.
- Guardiola decided to make a double substitution five minutes into the second half, with his side trailing 1-0. Sterling and Sane were brought on in place of Clichy and Garcia as City switched to a 4-1-3-2 formation. Aleksandar Kolarov moved out to left-back, while Sterling (right) and Sane (left) flanked De Bruyne in the No 10 position. Nolito was handed a brief run-out late on in place of Aguero, who picked up a groin problem.
- City entertain Crystal Palace on Saturday, and Guardiola may look to revert to a four-man defence. Navas and Clichy appear the most likely starters in the full-back positions, although Kolarov in particular, offers a viable alternative to Clichy on the left side of the defence. John Stones has missed the last three matches through injury, but if he is available again, he offers another option in central defence. David Silva is another who could return to contention if he can recover from a knee problem, while Toure may push for a recall next to Fernandinho if the City boss looks to start with a 4-2-3-1. Guardiola will need Aguero fit to play if he wants to start with two forwards, but there are concerns that he could face a spell on the sidelines. Sterling, and in particular Sane, may well return against the Eagles, but much will depend on City’s formation.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Left-Back/Left Wing-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks
Manchester United
Starting XI: De Gea; Young, Bailly (Darmian 61), Blind, Shaw (Valencia 8); Carrick, Herrera; Lingard, Rooney (Mkhitaryan 80), Martial; Rashford.
- Jose Mourinho made four alterations from the side that drew 0-0 with Manchester City for the home fixture against Swansea City. Wayne Rooney replaced the suspended Marouane Fellaini, while Ashley Young, Luke Shaw and Jesse Lingard were handed recalls at the expense of Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Juan Mata was surprisingly named among the substitutes, having made a quicker than expected recovery from a groin injury.
- Young and Shaw started at right and left-back respectively, while Rooney was stationed in the No 10 role, leaving Lingard on the right wing in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Anthony Martial operated on the left flank with Marcus Rashford the lone striker.
- The United boss was forced into making an early change, though, after Shaw picked up a foot injury. Valencia was brought on in his place, with the Ecuadorian playing at right-back and Young switching over to left-back. Mourinho’s second change was also enforced after Eric Bailly suffered a knock to his lower leg. Darmian took his place in a straight swap. The final substitution involved Mkhitaryan taking over from Rooney in the No 10 role for the final 10 minutes.
- United travel to Celta Vigo in the UEFA Europa League before Sunday’s trip to Arsenal, so Mourinho looks set to keep rotating his side given the mounting list of absentees. If Paul Pogba recovers from a muscle problem, as expected, he should return in central midfield, with Michael Carrick perhaps an option to play in central defence if Bailly and Shaw are unavailable. Alternatively, Young and Valencia could occupy the full-back berths, with Darmian partnering Daley Blind in central defence. Ander Herrera looks a certain starter in the middle of the park. Should Mourinho prioritise the European match as expected, Rooney and Martial both appear more probable starters against the Gunners, with Mkhitaryan and possibly Rashford likely to be rested. Mata does now provide another option in the attacking midfield spots, however.
Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker
Part Two of Line-Up Lessons, covering the remaining ten teams, will be published tomorrow.
