Steve McClaren switches to a two-man frontline to boost Newcastle’s flagging attack at home to Chelsea. Matteo Darmian is moved over to the left of United’s four-man backline as Antonio Valencia earns the nod on the right, whilst Wilfried Zaha warms the Palace bench for the first time this term but emerges as the game-changer at Vicarage Road. Here’s part one of our summary of the lessons learned from the weekend team sheets…
Arsenal
Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini (Arteta 21), Cazorla; Ramsey (Oxlade-Chamberlain 77), Ozil, Sanchez; Walcott (Giroud 80).
Arsene Wenger made two changes for the trip to Leicester. Per Mertesacker returned at centre-back in place of the suspended Gabriel, while Mathieu Flamini started in the double-pivot alongside Santi Cazorla in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Francis Coquelin missing out because of a knee injury. Flamini himself was forced off with a hamstring problem, with Mikel Arteta taking over at the base of midfield. Theo Walcott started in the lone striker role for the fourth successive league match, although Olivier Giroud staked a claim for more minutes by emerging from the bench to net again. Walcott is, however, due to start in Europe against Olympiacos on Tuesday with Giroud suspended and that could prove a factor ahead of the United clash. Gabriel is now available after serving his one-match suspension and, having started each of the previous four, will threaten Mertesacker in the heart of defence.
Aston Villa
Starting XI: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Amavi; Sanchez (Veretout 60), Westwood, Gueye; Sinclair, Gestede, Grealish (Traore 69).
Tim Sherwood made two changes for the trip to Anfield. Rudy Gestede replacing the injured Gabriel Agbonlahor in attack, whilst fit-again Idrissa Gueye came in for Carles Gil as Villa moved back to a 4-3-3 system, with Scott Sinclair and Jack Grealish on either side of lone forward Gestede. Jordan Veretout and Adama Traore appeared as second-half substitutes and could push for places in the starting XI for the home encounter against Stoke, with Villa searching for their first win since the away victory at Bournemouth in Gameweek 1. Gestede’s brace should mean he keeps his starting berth for the time being. Alan Hutton looks to be the first-choice right-back ahead of Leandro Bacuna, having started the last two matches.
Bournemouth
Starting XI: Boruc; Francis, Cook, Distin, Daniels; Pugh (Smith 87), Gosling, Surman, Ritchie, Tomlin (King 71), Wilson (Murray 17).
Eddie Howe named an unchanged starting XI from the side that beat Sunderland 2-0. The Cherries boss was forced into making an early alteration against Stoke at the Britannia, as leading goalscorer Callum Wilson was stretchered off with a serious looking knee injury. He was replaced by Glenn Murray, and the former Crystal Palace could be set to lead the line for a prolonged period if the worst fears over Wilson are confirmed. Lee Tomlin was once again deployed in “the hole” in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Matt Ritchie and Marc Pugh providing the width in midfield. The former Middlesbrough attacker failed to complete 90 minutes for the second week in a row, though, with Josh King taking his place this week. Skipper Tommy Elphick missed out once again with an ankle injury, with Sylvain Distin continuing to deputise.
Chelsea
Starting XI: Begovic; Ivanovic, Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Matic (Willian 61), Fabregas; Pedro, Oscar (Ramires 73), Hazard; Remy (Falcao 61).
Jose Mourinho only made one alteration from the team that beat Arsenal 2-0, with the suspended Diego Costa replaced by Loic Remy. The Blues lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma continuing in central defence, seeing John Terry named on the bench once again. An ineffective performance by Remy saw him replaced just after the hour mark by Radamel Falcao, and the Colombian could push for a starting spot for the home encounter against Southampton. Goals from substitutes Ramires and Willian could also see the Brazilian pair come into contention for a start against the Saints, with Oscar looking the most vulnerable within the attacking midfield three.
Crystal Palace
Starting XI: Hennessy; Kelly, Dann, Hangeland, Souare; Ledley, Cabaye (McArthur 77); Sako (Zaha 61), Puncheon, Bolasie; Gayle (Campbell 85).
Alan Pardew made four changes for the trip to Vicarage Road. At the back, Wayne Hennessey started in goal ahead of Alex McCarthy, whilst fit-again Scott Dann returned in place of the injured Damien Delaney. Further up the field, Joe Ledley made his first league start of the campaign, with James McArthur only fit enough for the bench after sustaining a midweek knock, whilst Dwight Gayle came in for Wilfried Zaha – having netted a midweek cup hat-trick. Gayle led the line as Yannick Bolasie moved back to the flank in Pardew’s default 4-2-3-1 formation. Bakary Sako was replaced by Zaha just after the hour mark and has now been substituted in his last four appearances. After gaining their first clean sheet of the season, Hennessey could be handed the chance to start once again when West Brom visit Selhurst Park on Saturday, while Brede Hangeland may well continue at the heart of defence should Delaney fail to recover from a groin injury. Pardew continues to rotate his attacking options, so Zaha may earn a recall against the Baggies after winning the penalty converted by Yohan Cabaye.
Leicester
Starting XI: Schmeichel; De Laet, Huth, Morgan, Schlupp; Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater (Kramaric 78), Albrighton (Ulloa 64); Okazaki (King 46), Vardy.
Claudio Ranieri only made one alteration from the side which drew 2-2 at Stoke, with Marc Albrighton coming in for Gokhan Inler. The Italian started with a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Shinji Okazaki playing “in the hole” behind Jamie Vardy, as Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante formed the central midfield partnership. Okazaki was again hauled off at half-time, with Andy King introduced and filling the same position. Ranieri threw caution to the wind with the Foxes trailing Arsenal, bringing on Leonardo Ulloa and Andrej Kramaric, with the Croatian making his first league appearance of the campaign. Nathan Dyer missed out against the Gunners with a knee injury.
Liverpool
Starting XI: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Clyne, Milner, Lucas, Moreno, Coutinho, Ings, Sturridge (Allen 94).
Brendan Rodgers retained the 3-4-1-2 formation for the visit of Aston Villa and made just one change, with Danny Ings coming in for the injured Christian Benteke. Philippe Coutinho again started in the number ten role. Joe Allen returned to Premier League action with a very brief appearance as a substitute, but following the 3-2 win, Rodgers may well stick to a similar starting XI for the Merseyside derby next Sunday, with Benteke looking unlikely to recover from his hamstring problem. Joe Gomez was once again an unused substitute, and unless the Reds suffer another injury at the back, looks unlikely to return to the starting XI in the near future. Daniel Sturridge completed the 90 minutes and seems to be near full match fitness.
Man City
Starting XI: Caballero; Sagna, Demichelis, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernandinho (Nasri 69), Fernando; De Bruyne, Toure (Navas 56), Sterling; Aguero (Roberts 86)
Manuel Pellegrini made three changes for the trip to Tottenham. Willy Caballero replaced Joe Hart in goal, as the latter was fit enough only for the bench due to a back problem. Martin Demichelis came in for the injured Eliaquim Mangala at centre-back. With Fernando replacing Jesus Navas in midfield, Yaya Toure tucked in behind Sergio Aguero in a 4-2-3-1, as Kevin de Bruyne shifted onto the right. Toure was forced off before the hour mark because of a hamstring problem: it remains unclear how serious the injury is at this point. He was replaced by Navas, with De Bruyne shifting to the central advanced midfield position. Vincent Kompany was initially named on the bench but suffered a recurrence of his calf complaint and was withdrawn from the squad before kick-off. City’s teamsheet for their trip to Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday will be of keen interest with concern building around De Bruyne’s start for the weekend given the minutes he’s clocking up.
Man United
Starting XI: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind (Jones 74), Darmian; Carrick (Schweinsteiger 68), Schneiderlin; Mata, Rooney, Depay (Young 77); Martial.
Louis van Gaal only made one alteration from the starting XI which won 3-2 at Southampton, with Antonio Valencia replacing Marcos Rojo, who was nursing a hamstring injury. The Ecuadorian played at right-back, with Matteo Darmian switching to left-back in Rojo’s absence. Phil Jones made his first appearance of the campaign off the bench, and could challenge Daley Blind for a starting berth in the coming weeks, although the Dutch international has been impressive so far this season. The rest of the side looks fairly settled, with Bastian Schweinsteiger again coming on for Michael Carrick as the double pivot positions remain in flux. Wayne Rooney scored his first league goal of the season playing in the number ten role behind lone striker Anthony Martial.
Newcastle
Starting XI: Krul; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Mbabu; Colback (Obertan 54), Anita; Wijnaldum; Sissoko (de Jong 90), Perez; Mitrovic (Toney 85).
Steve McClaren opted to make three changes from the side which lost 2-1 to Watford. Kevin Mbabu replaced the injured Massadio Haidara at left-back, Vurnon Anita came in for Florian Thauvin, while Aleksandar Mitrovic returned in attack after serving his three-match ban, with the injured Papiss Cisse making way. The Magpies moved from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2 formation, with Ayoze Perez partnering Mitrovic up front, whilst Georginio Wijnaldum and Moussa Sissoko were fielded on the left and right respectively. Colback started despite being a slight doubt due to a muscular injury, and he only lasted 54 minutes before being replaced by Gabriel Obertan. Mbabu’s impressive performance means he could keep the left-back spot, even if Haidara is available for the trip to Manchester City on Saturday.
Part two of Lineup Lessons, covering the remaining ten teams, will be published later tomorrow.
