Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 31 – Part One

Mamadou Sakho’s first start since Gameweek 16 helps Crystal Palace to a much-needed clean sheet and three points at Huddersfield Town. Charlie Daniels drops to the Bournemouth bench only to benefit from an early injury to Simon Francis. Elsewhere, Alvaro Morata returns to help Chelsea into the FA Cup semi-finals.

Here’s part one of Line-up Lessons, assessing the teamsheets and formations from the Gameweek 31 matches and FA Cup quarter-finals, with one eye on what’s to come after the international break as we look to Gameweek 32 and the upcoming European matches.

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Begovic; Francis (Daniels 17), S Cook, Ake, Smith (Mousset 56); Stanislas, L Cook, Gosling, Ibe; King; Wilson (Defoe 73)
Subs not used: Boruc, Fraser, Pugh, Surman.

• What we saw: Although Eddie Howe rolled out the 4-4-1-1 system once again, he made a couple of alterations for the home encounter against West Bromwich Albion. Adam Smith moved from the right side of midfield to left-back as Charlie Daniels dropped to the bench. Jordon Ibe came in on the right wing, while the fit-again Josh King replaced Lys Mousset in the support striker role. But Howe was forced into an early reshuffle after Simon Francis picked up a hamstring problem. Adam Smith moved to right-back, with Daniels coming on at left-back. Smith himself had to be withdrawn just before the hour mark after receiving a heavy blow to the knee, seeing substitute Mousset play as an attacking right-sided player as the Cherries looked to get back into the match.
• What we learned: While Bournemouth have a break until Gameweek 32, when they travel to Watford, both Francis and Adam Smith look likely to struggle to recover in time. Brad Smith and Jack Simpson provide cover at right-back but Daniels did provide an assist at the weekend and will surely earn a recall. Asmir Begovic has withdrawn from the Bosnia squad due to a long-standing knee problem but this is believed to be a precaution. Changes appear less likely further forward, although the international break will afford Jermain Defoe more time to work on his fitness levels, meaning he remains a threat to Callum Wilson’s start up front. The striker is now without a goal in six Gameweeks.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, full-backs, lone striker

Brighton & Hove Albion

Starting XI: Krul; Schelotto, Duffy, Dunk, Suttner; Kayal, Propper, Gross; Locadia, Ulloa (Murray 77), March (Izquierdo 68). Subs not used: Maenpaa, Baldock, Goldson, Saltor, Sanders.

• What we saw: Chris Hughton switched from his usual 4-4-1-1 formation to a 4-3-3 for the trip to Manchester United in the FA Cup. Pascal Gross dropped back into the three-man midfield, allowing Jurgen Locadia (left) and Solly March (right) to flank central striker Leonardo Ulloa. Markus Suttner came in for the injured Gaetan Bong at left-back, while Tim Krul was handed a rare start in goal.
• What we learned: After handing some squad players minutes at Old Trafford, Hughton is expected to revert back to his favoured 4-4-1-1 system for the Gameweek 32 home fixture against Leicester City. Gross should return to the central support role, then, with Glenn Murray back as the lone striker. Jose Izquierdo should start on the left wing, with March and Locadia seemingly battling it out for the starting spot on the right flank in the absence of the suspended Anthony Knockaert. The international break is likely to give Dale Stephens enough time to return to full fitness, with Beram Kayal providing cover in central midfield. Suttner will be on standby to start at left-back should Bong remain sidelined, while Mat Ryan will return in goal against the Foxes.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-back, central midfield, right wing

Chelsea

Starting XI: Caballero; Azpilicueta, Christensen (Cahill 101), Rudiger; Moses, Bakayoko (Fabregas 46), Kante, Alonso; Willian (Pedro 92), Morata (Giroud 105), Hazard. Subs not used: Zappacosta, Emerson, Eduardo.

• What we saw: Antonio Conte continued with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation for the trip to Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Alvaro Morata was recalled as the lone striker, while Tiemoue Bakayoko returned in central midfield. Cup goalkeeper Willy Caballero started in place of Thibaut Courtois, who was also nursing a minor hamstring injury.
• What we learned: With a crucial home clash against Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 32, Conte is likely to show faith with a similar starting XI. After scoring his first goal since Boxing Day, Morata may retain his start ahead of Olivier Giroud, though the Frenchman has started both home league matches since arriving from Arsenal. Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas is a viable alternative to Bakayoko in the middle of the park. Caballero will be on standby to start should Courtois be ruled out, which appears unlikely. The rest of the side looks settled, with Gary Cahill, Davide Zappacosta and Pedro unlikely to force their way into the starting line-up.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Central midfield, lone striker

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Hennessey; Wan-Bissaka, Sakho, Tomkins, van Aanholt; Townsend, McArthur, Milivojevic, Schlupp (Cabaye 20); Benteke, Zaha (Loftus-Cheek 89). Subs not used: Lee Chung-yong, Cavalieri, Fosu-Mensah, Kelly, Riedewald.

• What we saw: Roy Hodgson made two changes for the trip to Huddersfield Town, with the fit-again Mamadou Sakho and Wilfried Zaha replacing Martin Kelly and the injured Alexander Sorloth. Those alterations saw the Eagles line up in a 4-3-3, with Jeffrey Schlupp part of the three-man midfield, while Andros Townsend (right) and Zaha (left) flanked central striker Christian Benteke. Schlupp was forced off with a knock early on, seeing Yohan Cabaye enter the fray in a straight swap. The returning Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaced Zaha late on – the Ivory Coast international, who was struggling with fatigue, had also picked up a couple of knocks.
• What we learned: After getting back to winning ways, Hodgson is likely to stick with a similar starting XI for the home meeting with Liverpool following the international break. Zaha is expected to be available, though even if Schlupp is fit to start, he could lose out to Cabaye in central midfield should the Eagles manager stick with a 4-3-3. Meanwhile, Sorloth should also have enough time to recover from the muscle problem that saw him miss out at the weekend. But the forward may have to settle for a place on the bench. Aaron Wan-Bissaka retained his start at right-back, and looks set to keep his place ahead of Timothy Fosu-Mensah.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central midfield, flanks, forwards

Everton

Starting XI: Pickford; Baines, Keane, Jagielka, Coleman; Davies (Calvert-Lewin 53), Gueye, Rooney (Schneiderlin 87); Bolasie (Holgate 90), Walcott, Tosun. Subs not used: Joel, Martina, Niasse, Klaassen.

• What we saw: While Sam Allardyce kept faith in the 4-2-3-1 formation for the trip to Stoke City, the Toffees boss was forced into making one change, with Idrissa Gueye returning from illness to replace the injured Gylfi Sigurdsson. Gueye joined Wayne Rooney in the double-pivot, while Tom Davies operated in a withdrawn No 10 role. With the Potters down to ten men, Allardyce brought on the more attacked-minded Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Davies, who had sustained a heavy blow in a clash with Jack Butland. Mason Holgate came on in injury time to form a five-man defence as Everton looked to hold on to their 2-1 lead.
• What we learned: Following another victory, changes should be kept to a minimum for the Gameweek 32 encounter with Manchester City at Goodison Park. Morgan Schneiderlin provides a more defensive option in the middle of the park, although Davies is likely to retain his start as long as he’s fully fit. Calvert-Lewin offers a possible alternative in the attacking midfield positions.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central midfield, flanks, attacking midfield

Huddersfield Town

Starting XI: Lossl; Hadergjonaj, Jorgensen, Schindler, Malone (Lowe 46); Mooy, Hogg; Quaner, Ince (van La Parra 61), Pritchard (Kachunga 71), Mounie. Subs not used: Smith, Billing, Coleman, Depoitre.

• What we saw: David Wagner only made one alteration for the visit of Palace to the John Smith’s Stadium, handing a recall to Collin Quaner, with Rajiv van La Parra dropping to the bench. Quaner was stationed on the right of the attacking midfield trio in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Tom Ince moving over to the left flank. Trailing 2-0, Wagner decided to bring on the fit-again Elias Kachunga for Alex Pritchard.
• What we learned: The disappointing 2-0 defeat could see Wagner consider making changes for the Gameweek 32 trip to Newcastle United. The left-back spot looks up for grabs, given Chris Lowe replaced Scott Malone at half-time last weekend, while Terence Kongolo may be fit to return, and is the favourite to start if available. Van La Parra and Kachunga could push for starts on the flank, while Laurent Depoitre may be considered for a recall up front after five successive starts for Steve Mounie.

Current Status: Fairly settled
Risk Areas: Left-back, flanks, lone striker

Leicester City

Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson (Diabate 106), Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Mahrez, Iborra (Silva 106), Ndidi, Albrighton (Gray 115); Iheanacho (Okazaki 68), Vardy. Subs not used: Hamer, Dragovic, Fuchs.

• What we saw: Claude Puel rolled out his favoured 4-4-1-1 system for the FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea, although he did surprisingly prefer Kelechi Iheanacho to Shinji Okazaki in the support striker role. Marc Albrighton got the nod over Demarai Gray on the left wing, with Gray only afforded five minutes from the bench in extra-time. Fousseni Diabate also entered the fray during extra-time as the Foxes went on the attack.
• What we learned: For the Gameweek 32 trip to Brighton, Okazaki is likely to return at the expense of Iheanacho. Adrien Silva and Gray provide possible alternatives to Vicente Iborra and Albrighton, with changes less likely in defence. Christian Fuchs is the defender most likely to challenge for a recall at left-back in place of Ben Chilwell.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central midfield, left wing, support striker

Liverpool

Starting XI: Karius; Gomez, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Henderson, Emre Can (Milner 27), Wijnaldum (Oxlade-Chamberlain 71); Salah, Firmino (Ings 79), Mane. Subs not used: Mignolet, Klavan, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold.

• What we saw: Jurgen Klopp rang the changes following the 2-1defeat to Manchester United. Joe Gomez and Joel Matip earned recalls at right-back and centre-back respectively, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dejan Lovren making way. Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum returned in the usual three-man midfield, with James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dropping to the bench. Milner didn’t have to wait long before entering the fray, though, taking over from Emre Can in the middle of the park after the German international was forced off with a back problem.
• What we learned: With a demanding upcoming schedule, rotation looks inevitable as Klopp tries to navigate through the next couple of weeks. After the international break, Liverpool travel to Palace in Gameweek 32, before hosting Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final just four days later. The Merseyside derby then follows three days on, before the second leg of the European tie on April 10. Gomez and Alexander-Arnold looks set to continue sharing pitch time at right-back, while Alberto Moreno offers an option if Klopp feels that Andrew Robertson needs a rest. In central defence, Lovren and Matip are expected to share starts. Klopp also has good options in central midfield, but with the likes of Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke the only back-up options in attack, there could be limited opportunities to rest his stars in the front three. Instead, the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane may have their minutes cut late on in the matches at Palace and Everton.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-back, central defenders, central midfield

Part two of Line-up Lessons, assessing the remaining seven teams, will follow tomorrow.