Eden Hazard is handed a central role before being hauled off before the hour-mark by Jose Mourinho. Rpberto Firmino is fielded as a false nine for Liverpool’s win at the Bridge, whilst Leonardo Ulloa gets a first start of the season for Leicester’s trip to the Hawthorns.
Arsenal
Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ozil (Iwobi 90), Campbell (Gibbs 84), Sanchez; Giroud (Chambers 84).
- Arsene Wenger made two changes from the team which beat Everton 2-1, with Per Mertesacker returning in place of Gabriel, while Joel Campbell came in for the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
- The Gunners lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mertesacker slotting in alongside Laurent Koscielny at centre-back, while Campbell played on the right of the three attacking midfield positions.
- Wengerbrought on defenders Calum Chambers and Kieran Gibbs to help see out the match, while young attacker Alex Iwobi made his first league appearance of the season.
- With Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott all set to be ruled out for the home encounter against Tottenham next weekend, Campbell looks set to continue on the right wing after scoring in the 3-0 win at Swansea. Mertesacker should retain his place at the heart of the defence, with the German the favoured partner for Koscielny.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks
Bournemouth
Starting XI: Federici; Smith, Francis, Distin, Daniels; Surman; Ritchie, Arter (Tomlin 73), Gosling, Pugh (Stanislas 46); Murray (King 46).
- Eddie Howe made three alterations for the trip to near neighbours Southampton, with Adam Federici replacing Artur Boruc in goal, Adam Smith starting in place of the injured Steve Cook, while Harry Arter came in for Josh King.
- Howe opted for a 4-1-4-1 at St Mary’s, with Simon Francis moving to centre-back in place of the injured Cook, with Smith slotting in at right-back. Andrew Surman played as the defensive midfielder, with Arter playing further forward alongside Dan Gosling.
- With the Cherries 2-0 down at half-time, Howe made two changes at the break, with Junior Stanislas and King replacing Marc Pugh and Glenn Murray. King played as the lone striker, with Stanislas playing wide on the left. He moved further inside following the introduction of Lee Tomlin for Arter later on, with the former Middlesbrough man then taking the wide role on the left.
- With Cook struggling with an ankle injury, we could see an unchanged backline for the home clash against Newcastle on Saturday. Arter is now expected to be a regular starter in centre midfield, so Gosling’s place in the side could be in doubt, with King likely to earn a recall against the Magpies, with Howe possibly returning to the 4-4-1-1 system he prefers for home matches. Murray could hold on to his starting spot then. Boruc does have a slight thigh injury, but following some high profile errors, Federici is expected to be handed a prolonged run in goal.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
Chelsea
Starting XI: Begovic; Zouma, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta (Falcao 75); Ramires, Mikel (Fabregas 69), Willian; Oscar, Hazard (Kenedy 59), Costa.
- Jose Mourinho made two changes for the visit of Liverpool to Stamford Bridge, with John Obi Mikel and Oscar coming in for Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas.
- Mourinho stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mikel partnering Ramires at the base of midfield. Oscar played on the left of the three attacking midfield positions, with Eden Hazard moving into the number ten role.
- Hazard was once again ineffective for the champions, and was replaced just before the hour mark by Kenedy. Oscar moved back to the central attacking midfield position, with Kenedy operating on the left. Fabregas was then introduced in a straight swap for Mikel, while Radamel Falcao was sent on with Chelsea chasing an equaliser.
- The back four looks fairly settled, with Branislav Ivanovic expected to be ruled out once again for the trip to Stoke on Saturday. Fabregas was dropped against Liverpool, but could return to the starting XI at the Britannia. Hazard’s place in the team also looks in doubt, particularly if Pedro is available to Mourinho on Saturday.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
Crystal Palace
Starting XI: Hennessey; Kelly, Delaney, Dann, Ward; Zaha, McArthur, Puncheon, Cabaye (Jedinak 79), Bolasie; Gayle.
- Alan Pardew made four alterations from the side which lost 1-0 at Leicester, with Joel Ward, Damien Delaney, Wilfried Zaha and Dwight Gayle coming in for Adrian Mariappa, Brede Hangeland, Bakary Sako and Frazier Campbell.
- The Eagles boss stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Gayle playing as the lone striker. Yannick Bolasie played on the right of the three attacking midfield positions, with Zaha on the left and Jason Puncheon continuing in the number ten role. Martin Kelly shifted over to right-back, with Joel Ward slotting in at left-back, while Delaney partnered Scott Dann at the heart of the defence.
- Mile Jedinak was the only player brought on by Pardew, replacing Yohan Cabaye in a straight swap. The France international had been a doubt before Saturday’s match.
- With Ward now back to full fitness, he should be a regular starter in the backline, with Pape Souare expected to replace Kelly once he’s recovered from a knock. Delaney earned a recall against Man United, and could re-establish himself alongside Dann after missing the last four matches. Zaha and Sako continue to be rotated in the wide areas, while Pardew is still searching for a regular front man.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Defence, Flanks, Central Striker
Everton
Starting XI: Howard; Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori, Oviedo (Galloway 25): McCarthy, Barry; Deulofeu (Mirallas 65), Barkley, Kone; Lukaku (Osman 78).
- Roberto Martinez made three alterations to the side which lost 2-1 at Arsenal, with Ramiro Funes Mori replacing the injured Phil Jagielka, while Arouna Kone came in for Aaron Lennon. The final change saw Brian Oviedo make his first start since Gameweek 4, taking over from Brendan Galloway.
- The Toffees lined up in the familiar 4-2-3-1 system, with Kone playing on the left of the three advanced midfield positions, while Funes Mori partnered John Stones at the heart of the defence. Oviedo slotted in at left-back.
- Oviedo was forced off in the first-half with a hamstring injury, with Galloway coming on in a straight swap. Kevin Mirallas replaced Gerard Deulofeu just after the hour mark, while with the match won, Romelu Lukaku was taken off, and substituted for Leon Osman.
- Galloway could come straight back into the starting XI for the trip to West Ham, with Oviedo unlikely to be fit following his hamstring injury. Kone’s hat-trick will surely ensure that he keeps his starting spot, but with other options such as Mirallas, Lennon and Steven Naismith for the wide roles, rotation seems inevitable further down the line.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Flanks
Leicester
Starting XI: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Schlupp; Mahrez, Drinkwater (Okazaki 88), Kante, Albrighton (Dyer 76); Ulloa (King 69), Vardy.
- Claudio Ranieri only made one alteration to the team which beat Crystal Palace 1-0, with Leonardo Ulloa starting in place of the injured Christian Fuchs.
- The Austrian defender’s absence saw Jeffrey Schlupp drop back to left-back, while the former Chelsea boss switched to a 4-4-2 formation to start Ulloa alongside Jamie Vardy up front.
- Ulloa was the first Leicester player to make way, with Andy King brought on to help shore up the midfield. Nathan Dyer once again came on as a substitute, this time in a straight swap for Marc Albrighton.
- Fuchs missed out against the Baggies with a minor knock, but could return to contention for this weekend’s home clash with Watford. That could see Schlupp once again pushed forward, leaving Ulloa’s place under threat, or the Ghanaian could even be left out of the starting XI if Fuchs is preferred at the back. Much will depend on what formation Ranieri opts for, with the 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 looking the most probable options.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Flanks
Liverpool
Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno; Can, Lucas, Milner (Benteke 64); Lallana (Lovren 90), Coutinho, Firmino (Ibe 75).
- Jurgen Klopp made just a single change for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with Roberto Firmino coming in for Divock Origi.
- The German boss went for a 4-2-3-1 formation against Chelsea, with Firmino playing as a “false nine” for the Reds. Lucas and Emre Can started at the base of midfield, with James Milner on the right of the three advanced midfield positions, Philippe Coutinho on the left and Adam Lallana in the number ten role.
- Christian Benteke wasn’t deemed fit enough to start, but was brought on for Milner just after the hour mark, with Firmino dropping back. The Brazilian was then replaced by Jordon Ibe, who played down the right flank.
- Klopp has been consistent in his selection at the back, while Lucas and Can have been regulars in midfield. With Benteke expected to start against Crystal Palace provided he’s fit enough, Firmino and Lallana could be battling for one spot in the attacking midfield positions. Jordon Ibe is another option in the wide areas, although he perhaps looks unlikely to force his way into the starting XI for the time being.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Attacking Midfield
Man City
Starting XI: Hart; Sagna, Otamendi, Kompany, Kolarov; Navas, Fernandinho, Toure (Demichelis 90), De Bruyne (Fernando 73); Bony, Iheanacho (Sterling 54).
- Manuel Pellegrini opted to make two tweaks for the visit of Norwich to the Etihad, with Jesus Navas and Kelechi Iheanacho coming in for Fernando and Raheem Sterling.
- Pellegrini reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation to incorporate Iheanacho alongside Wilfried Bony in attack, with Navas coming in on the right of a four-man midfield. Kevin de Bruyne lined up on the opposite flank.
- Iheanacho struggled to make an impact as a starter, and was replaced by Sterling soon after the break, with City then lining up in their usual 4-2-3-1 system. Sterling was a slight doubt before the match due to a hamstring problem. Fernando was brought on for de Bruyne, with the Belgian’s heavy workload in recent weeks possibly behind the Chilean’s thinking.
- With Gael Clichy now back in training, the Frenchman offers an alternative to Aleksandar Kolarov at left-back. Clichy has yet to make an appearance this season because of an ankle injury though, so will be lacking match fitness. With City travelling to Aston Villa next weekend, we could see Fernando restored to the starting XI, particularly if David Silva remains out, allowing Yaya Toure to play in a more advanced role. Iheanacho appears unlikely to keep is starting spot, while Sterling could also come back into the fray, with Navas likely to make way.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks
Man United
Starting XI: De Gea; Darmian (Young 66), Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Schweinsteiger (Fellaini 69), Schneiderlin; Mata (Lingard 79), Herrera, Martial; Rooney.
- Louis van Gaal made two changes for the trip to Selhurst Park, with Matteo Darmian coming in for the injured Antonio Valencia, while Daley Blind started in place of the fatigued Phil Jones.
- The Dutch boss continued with his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation, with Wayne Rooney once again playing as the central striker. Anthony Martial was stationed on the left wing once more then, while Blind started alongside Chris Smalling at centre-back, with Darmian slotting in at right-back.
- Darmian was replaced by Ashley Young at right-back, while Bastian Schweinsteiger again failed to complete 90 minutes, with Marouane Fellaini taking his place. Jesse Lingard again replaced Juan Mata for the third consecutive match.
- Matteo Darmian is suspended for the home clash against West Brom after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign against the Eagles, so if Valencia fails to recover in time from a foot injury, Young could deputise at right-back. Phil Jones could also fill in there, with Blind perhaps continuing alongside Smalling in central defence. Having failed to score in their last three matches in all competitions, we could see changes in the attacking areas, with Lingard pushing for a starting berth. Martial may also return to the central striker role, with Rooney perhaps moving back to the number ten position.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Defence, Flanks, Central Striker
Newcastle
Starting XI: Elliot; Janmaat (Laccelles 83), Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Tiote (De Jong 71), Anita; Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez, Mitrovic.
- Steve McClaren only made one alteration for the home clash against Stoke, with Vurnon Anita coming in for the suspended and injured Jack Colback.
- The former England boss stuck with the 4-4-2 formation, with Anita slotting in alongside Cheick Tiote in central midfield.
- With the match scoreless after 70 minutes, McClaren made an attacking change by introducing Siem de Jong for Tiote. Daryl Janmaat picked up a minor knock late on, and was replaced by Jamaal Lascelles.
- While at this stage Janmaat is likely to be fit for the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday, should he miss out, Lascelles looks the obvious replacement. With Colback out for around five-to-six weeks with a knee injury, Tiote and Anita appear likely to continue in central midfield for the time being.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back
Part two of Lineup Lessons, covering the remaining ten teams, will be published later tomorrow.
