West Ham’s Mauro Zarate stakes a claim for regular minutes by netting for the third time in four starts. Patrick van Aanholt continues to impress as a wing-back for Sunderland, whilst Cedric Soares is omitted from Southampton’s squad for the trip to City.
After rolling out Part One yesterday, we now turn our attentions to the remaining ten Premier League sides to review the personal, formations and changes made, whilst speculating on the likely Gameweek 15 lineups…
Newcastle
Starting XI: Elliott; Janmaat, Mbema, Coloccini, Dummett; Colback (De Jong 70), Anita; Sissoko, Perez (Lascelles 45), Wijnaldum (Gouffran 69); Cisse.
- Steve McClaren made two changes for the trip to Selhurst Park, with Jack Colback and Papiss Cisse replacing Cheick Tiote and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
- The former England boss switched to the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Colback starting alongside Vurnon Anita in the double-pivot. Cisse operated as the central striker, with Moussa Sissoko (right), Georginio Wijnaldum (left) and Ayoze Perez (number ten) filling the three attacking midfield positions.
- After a lacklustre first-half performance, McClaren brought on Jamaal Lascelles for Perez, switching to a 3-5-2 formation, with Sissoko supporting Cisse in attack. Wijnaldum was replaced by Yoan Gouffran with 20 minutes to go, with Siem de Jong introduced for Colback at the same time – the Dutchman supported Cisse up front as Sissoko dropped into a slightly deeper midfield role.
- After another disappointing display, McClaren could make plenty of changes for the home clash against Liverpool on Sunday. Lascelles is a doubt though after sustaining a hamstirng problem last weekend – indeed, the Magpies recalled Mike Williamson from a loan deal at Wolves earlier today. De Jong could start ahead of Perez in the support striker role, while Gouffran could also find a spot in midfield or out wide. Cisse’s goal may mean he keeps his starting berth ahead of Mitrovic.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Strikers
Norwich
Starting XI: Ruddy; Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; O’Neil, Dorrans; Howson (Redmond 71), Hoolahan (Odjidja-Ofoe 85), Brady; Grabban (Jerome 85).
- Alex Neil made three adjustments for the home encounter against Arsenal, with Graham Dorrans, Wes Hooligan and Lewis Grabban coming in for Youssouf Mulumbu, Nathan Redmond and Dieumercik Mbokani. Russell Martin returned from suspension but only claimed a spot on the bench.
- Neil switched back to a 4-2-3-1 system against the Gunners, with Graham Dorrans lining up next to Gary O’Neil at the base of midfield, while Jonny Howson played narrowly on the right of the three attacking midfield positions. Hoolahan operated in the number ten role, with Robbie Brady wide on the left and Grabban playing as the lone striker.
- Redmond came on for Howson with 20 minutes left to provide a greater attacking threat. Vadis Ojdidja-Ofoe and Cameron Jerome were only introduced late on.
- The inclusion of Grabban was a surprise, but after scoring in the 1-1 draw, it’s likely he’ll keep his place for the trip to Watford on Saturday. After a strong performance in general, Neil may keep faith in much of the team that lined up on Sunday, so the back four is expected to remain unchanged – Martin would therefore seem unlikely to earn a recall. Mulumbu could put pressure on Dorrans for a starting spot in central midfield, but like Redmond, may have to settle for a place on the bench. Redmond did start in the number ten role against Chelsea, though, so he could offer an alternative option to Hoolahan in that role.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield, Central Striker
Southampton
Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Yoshida, Fonte (Caulker 36), Van Dijk, Bertrand; Wanyama, Romeu (Tadic 45), Ward-Prowse (Juanmi 77); Mane, Long, S Davis.
- Ronald Koeman decided to make four changes for the trip to the Etihad, with Maya Yoshida, Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse coming in for Cedric Soares, Jordy Clasie and Dusan Tadic, while Sadio Mane replaced the suspended Graziano Pelle.
- Koeman stuck with his usual 4-2-3-1 system, although with the Saints on the back foot for much of the match, it resembled more of a 4-5-1. Shane Long was the central striker, with Mane offering support from the right. Victor Wanyama, Romeu, Davis and Ward-Prowse all played very narrowly in midfield. Yoshida slotted in at right-back.
- Jose Fonte was forced off after just 36 minutes with a knee injury, so Steven Caulker took his place at centre-back. With Southampton 2-0 down at half-time, Koeman decided to bring on Tadic for Romeu, forming more of an obvious 4-3-3 formation. Juanmi was thrown on as a last throw of the dice with 13 minutes remaining.
- Pelle will be back from suspension to face Aston Villa, and will presumably return as the central striker. Tadic also appears likely to earn a recall, perhaps playing alongside Mane and Davis in the three advanced midfield positions in Koeman’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. Clasie was surprisingly dropped against Man City, but could return alongside Wanyama in the double-pivot. Yoshida was once again at fault for one of City’s goals, so we could see Soares come back in at right-back. Fonte has been ruled out of the midweek cup clash with Liverpool, with Caulker or Yoshida ready to fill in if needs be.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
Stoke
Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Adam; Shaqiri (Diouf 64), Bojan (Cameron 50), Arnautovic; Walters.
- Mark Hughes once again named an unchanged starting XI as the in-form Potters headed to the Stadium of Light.
- The Welshman kept faith in his usual 4-2-3-1, with Philipp Wollscheid fit to play having shaken off a pelvis injury.
- Following the dismissal of Ryan Shawcross, Hughes immediately brought on Geoff Cameron for Bojan, playing with a 4-4-1 formation. Mame Biram Diouf came on for Xherdan Shaqiri in a straight swap with plenty of time remaining.
- Shawcross will serve his one-match ban in the Capital One Cup in midweek, so will be available for the home clash against Man City on Saturday. Despite the defeat, Hughes may keep faith in the same back four and two holding midfield players, with Cameron and Marco van Ginkel still perhaps unlikely to force their way back in. Shaqiri has been fairly ineffective of late, and could be under for his starting position from Diouf and Ibrahim Afellay. Diouf could also come into contention as the central striker in place of Jon Walters.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Central Striker
Sunderland
Starting XI: Pantilimon; Yedlin, Coates, O’Shea (Johnson 74), Kaboul, Van Aanholt; Larsson (Lens 54), Cattermole, M’Vila; Defoe (Watmore 31), Fletcher.
- Sam Allardyce made one enforced change for the home clash against Stoke, with DeAndre Yedlin replacing the suspended Billy Jones.
- Big Sam stuck with the 3-5-2 formation that was so successful against Crystal Palace, so Yedlin slotted in at right wing-back for the Black Cats.
- Jermain Defoe was forced off with a hamstring injury in the first-half, and was replaced by Duncan Watmore. After the sending off of Ryan Shawcross, Big Sam made an attacking change, with Jeremain Lens coming on for Sebastian Larsson, although the Swede was carrying a knee injury. Sunderland were basically playing in a 5-2-3 formation at that point, but following Adam Johnson’s introduction in place of John O’Shea, it became more of a 4-3-3.
- Given the 3-5-2 has yielded two wins and a pair of clean sheets, Allardyce will be reluctant to tinker, though the Black Cats boss has conceded that both Defoe and Larsson will “probably” miss the Emirates encounter.
Should Defoe fail to recover in time, Watmore could push for a start in the support striker role, while Lens could also come into contention for that spot in a 3-5-1-1. Johnson is perhaps slightly less likely to earn a recall, although his chances of earning a recall could increase should Larsson be ruled out. Jack Rodwell could also replace the Swede in the centre of the park. The other selection dilemma is whether to recall Jones at right wing-back, with Yedlin impressing against the Potters. Jones is expected to get the nod, though.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Bartley, Williams, Taylor; Ki Sung-yeung, Britton (Cork 64); Ayew, Sigurdsson, Routledge (Montero 71); Eder (Gomis 68).
- Garry Monk only made one alteration for the trip to Anfield, with Gylfi Sigurdsson recalled in place of the suspended Jonjo Shelvey.
- Monk stuck with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sigurdsson fielded in his usual number ten role.
- Leon Britton was replaced by Jack Cork in a straight swap shortly after the hour mark. Bafetimbi Gomis was, like last week, brought on for Eder as the lone striker, while Jefferson Montero was introduced for Wayne Routledge in the final change.
- After a fairly solid defensive display, Kyle Bartley could keep his place in the side for the home clash against Leicester. Britton may come under pressure for his starting spot from Cork and Shelvey, who will be available again after serving his one-match ban. Montero could earn a recall in place of Routledge on the left, while Eder may continue to keep Gomis out of the starting XI.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Central Striker
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Mason (Lamela 55); Heung-Min Son (N’Jie 74), Dembele, Eriksen; Kane.
- Mauricio Pochettino was forced into one change for the home encounter against Chelsea, with Ryan Mason coming in for the suspended Dele Alli.
- Mason started alongside Eric Dier in the double-pivot in Pochettino’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. Mousa Dembele played in the central attacking midfield role.
- The first substitute saw Erik Lamela replace Mason, with the England international forced off with a knee injury. That change saw Dembele drop back into a deeper midfield role. Clinton N’Jie was introduced for Heung-Min Son in a straight swap.
- Alli will be expected to come straight back into the side, probably alongside Dier at the base of midfield. Dembele could come under some pressure from Lamela for a place in the three attacking midfield positions.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes (Arlauskis 67); Nyom, Cathcart, Britos, Ake; Capoue, Watson; Paredes (Anya 67), Deeney, Abdi (Guedioura 81); Ighalo.
- Quique Sanchez Flores made two adjustments for the trip to Villa Park, with Nathan Ake and Juan Carlos Paredes replacing Ikechi Anya and Jurado.
- Flores continued with his usual 4-2-3-1 system, with Ake starting at left-back, while Paredes was stationed on the right of the three advanced midfield positions.
- Heurelho Gomes had to be substituted after suffering a head injury, handing Giedrius Arlauskis his first Premier League appearance. Paredes was replaced by Anya in a straight swap, with Watford’s final change seeing Adlene Guedioura entering the fray in place of Almen Abdi.
- Gomes could well be fit to face Norwich on Saturday, with his head injury not thought to be too serious. Arlauskis will be on standby should he fail to recover in time. Ake appears to be the first-choice left-back, but the threat of Anya for his starting position remains, while Athe latter could also come into contention on the right of the three attacking midfield positions in place of Paredes. Jurado also offers another option in that area of the pitch.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Flanks
West Brom
Starting XI: Myhill; McAuley, Dawson, Olsson, Evans; Fletcher, Yacob; Sessegnon (Lambert 46), Morrison, McClean; Rondon.
- Tony Pulis was forced to make one change from the team that beat Arsenal 2-1, with Gareth McAuley, available after serving a one-match ban, replacing the suspended Chris Brunt.
- The former Stoke boss continued with a 4-5-1 formation at Upton Park, with Stephane Sessegnon and James McClean providing width for the Baggies. James Morrison started alongside Darren Fletcher and Claudio Yacob in central midfield. McAuley started at centre-back alongside Jonas Olsson, with Jonny Evans filling in at left-back.
- After a disappointing first-half performance, Pulis changed things around at the break, bringing Rickie Lambert on for Sessegnon, and going for a more traditional 4-4-2. Lambert played alongside Salomon Rondon up front, with Morrison shifting to the right side of a four-man midfield.
- With Tottenham up next for West Brom at the Hawthorns, Pulis may want to retain the 4-5-1 set-up, with Callum McManaman and Saido Berahino perhaps challenging Sessegnon for a starting berth out wide. He could start with the team that ended at Upton Park, though, with Lambert alongside Rondon up front in a 4-4-2, with Sessegnon missing out. Brunt will surely return at left-back, after serving his one-match suspension, so Evans is likely to return to centre-back, meaning Olsson may miss out.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Strikers
West Ham
Starting XI: Adrian; Jenkinson, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Obiang (Carroll 64), Kouyate; Zarate (Antonio 82), Lanzini, Moses; Sakho (Jelavic 74).
- Slaven Bilic made three changes from the starting XI that lost 3-1 to Tottenham, with Angelo Ogbonna and Mauro Zarate coming in for James Tomkins and Andy Carroll, while Pedro Obiang took the place of the suspended Mark Noble.
- The Croatian did keep faith in the 4-2-3-1 system, with Ogbonna slotting straight in at centre-back, while Obiang partnered Cheikhou Kouyate at the base of midfield. Zarate started on the right of the three attacking midfield positions, with Diafra Sakho taking over the central striker role.
- Bilic brought on Carroll shortly after the hour mark for Obiang in an attacking change, stationing the England international alongside Sakho in attack. Sakho had to be replaced shortly after following a muscle injury, with Nikica Jelavic taking his place in a straight swap. The final change saw Michail Antonio handed a rare chance to impress, coming on for the goalscorer Zarate.
- Ogbonna was a surprise starter ahead of Tomkins at centre-back, and may keep his place for the away clash at Old Trafford on Saturday. Sakho’s injury could reportedly see the attacker ruled out for around two months, so Carroll appears likely to earn a recall as the central striker, with Zarate, Manuel Lanzini and Victor Moses in the box seats to continue in the three advanced midfield positions. Noble will be expected to come straight back in for Obiang in the engine room.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Central Striker

