After rolling out Part One yesterday, we now turn our attentions to the remaining ten Premier League sides to review the personnel, formations and changes made, whilst speculating on the likely Gameweek 38 line-ups.
Newcastle
Starting XI: Darlow; Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett; Townsend, Tiote (Perez 67), Colback (De Jong 90), Sissoko; Wijnaldum; Cisse (Mitrovic 52).
- Rafael Benitez named an unchanged starting XI from the one that beat Crystal Palace 1-0 for the trip to Villa Park.
- Georginio Wijnaldum kept his place on the left of the attacking midfield trio in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic having to settle for places among the substitutes once again.
- Mitrovic was the first player called upon off the bench, though, replacing Papiss Cisse as the lone striker seven minutes into the second half. Perez then came on in place of Cheick Tiote – the former operated on the left wing, meaning Wijnaldum slotted into a central role next to Jack Colback. As a final roll of the dice in search of a late winner, Siem de Jong replaced Colback.
- Benitez may well opt for a strong team to face Tottenham, regardless of whether Sunderland can beat Everton on Wednesday night and relegate the Magpies in the process. Should the relegation battle go down to the wire, the likes of Daryl Janmaat, Jonjo Shelvey, Perez and Mitrovic could push for recalls when a win will be required against Tottenham, with the starting berths of Vurnon Anita, Tiote, Wijnaldum and Cisse perhaps in some doubt.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker
Norwich
Starting XI: Ruddy; Pinto, Martin, Bassong, Olsson; Howson (Dorrans 78), O’Neil; Redmond, Hoolahan, Brady (Mbokani 63); Jerome (Bamford 78).
- Alex Neil named an unchanged starting XI for the visit of Man United to Carrow Road.
- Neil kept faith with the 4-4-1-1 formation, with Wes Hoolahan continuing in the number ten role behind lone striker Cameron Jerome.
- Neil made an attacking first substitution, with Dieumerci Mbokani replacing Robbie Brady. That change saw Norwich switch to a 4-4-2 formation, with Nathan Redmond moving to the left wing and Hoolahan operating on the right. After falling a goal behind, Patrick Bamford and Graham Dorrans came on for Jerome and the injured Jonny Howson in straight swaps.
- Howson suffered a serious knee injury on Saturday, and will miss the final two matches of the season, with Dorrans looking the obvious replacement in central midfield. Ryan Bennett has been passed fit to face Watford tomorrow night after recovering from illness. With the Canaries needing to beat the Hornets to stand any chance of staying up, Neil may opt for a 4-4-2 formation, with two from Jerome, Mbokani, Bamford and Steven Naismith starting up front. Redmond seems a likely starter out wide, with Brady perhaps getting the nod on the opposite flank ahead of Hoolahan and Matt Jarvis.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks, Strikers
Southampton
Starting XI: Forster; Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Wanyama, Clasie (Romeu 58); Mane (Pelle 65), Davis, Tadic (Ward-Prowse 84); Long.
- Ronald Koeman unsurprisingly named an unchanged starting XI from the one that beat Man City 4-2 for the trip to White Hart Lane.
- That meant Sadio Mane, Steven Davis and Dusan Tadic once again formed the attacking midfield trio in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation behind lone striker Shane Long.
- Having picked up a slight groin problem, Jordy Clasie was the first player to be substituted, with Oriol Romeu taking over in central midfield just before the hour mark. Mane was then taken off having felt ill during the match, with Graziano Pelle taking his place. That change meant Long moved to the right wing to allow Pelle to operate as the lone striker. James Ward-Prowse got a run-out late on in place of Tadic.
- After two fantastic victories, Koeman may keep changes to a minimum for the final match of the season against Crystal Palace. Clasie and Mane are slight doubts, so Romeu and Pelle could be handed recalls should they be ruled out. Long could start on the right wing if Pelle starts, or Koeman could opt for a straightforward 4-4-2, with Steven Davis moving to the right of midfield. Cedric Soares may challenge Cuco Martina for the right-back position, while Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez may come into contention.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Midfield, Right Wing, Lone Striker
Stoke
Starting XI: Haugaard, Bardsley, Shawcross, Cameron, Pieters; Whelan (Bojan 75), Imbula, Adam (Ireland 65); Shaqiri (Walters 65), Arnautovic, Crouch.
- Mark Hughes named an unchanged starting line-up from the one that took to the field against Sunderland for the trip to Selhurst Park.
- It was the 4-3-3 formation again for the Potters then, with Giannelli Imbula and Charlie Adam playing in front of defensive midfielder Glenn Whelan. Peter Crouch kept his starting spot as the central striker.
- With the score at 1-1, Hughes made a double substitution, with Jon Walters and Stephen Ireland replacing Xherdan Shaqiri and Adam in straight swaps. Then, following Dwight Gayle’s second goal, Hughes introduced Bojan in place of Whelan, leaving Imbula as the only defensive-minded midfielder.
- Given Stoke’s injury list, Hughes doesn’t have too many options ahead of the final match of the season against West Ham. The Welsh boss could switch back to the 4-2-3-1 system, perhaps meaning a recall for Bojan, with Adam possibly missing out. Walters, Joselu and Mame Biram Diouf provide different options for the central striker position instead of Crouch. Glen Johnson is closing in on a return from a knee injury, but may not be risked with the Potters having little to play for.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Strikers
Sunderland
Starting XI: Mannone; Yedlin, Kone (O’Shea 55), Kaboul, Van Aanholt; Kirchhoff (Watmore 64); Borini, Cattermole (Larsson 71), M’Vila, Khazri; Defoe.
- Sam Allardyce once again named an unchanged side for the home clash with Chelsea.
- That meant it was the 4-1-4-1 formation once more for the Black Cats, with Jan Kirchhoff continuing in the defensive midfield role, while Wahbi Khazri and Fabio Borini kept their places out wide.
- Lamine Kone had to be substituted 10 minutes into the second half after picking up a thigh problem, with John O’Shea taking his place at centre-back. With Sunderland trailing 2-1, Allardyce then brought on Duncan Watmore for Kirchhoff, changing to more of a 4-2-3-1 system, with Watmore operating out wide on the right and Borini moving into the number ten role. Big Sam’s final substitution saw Sebastian Larsson come on in place of Lee Cattermole in a straight swap for the final 19 minutes.
- With Sunderland only needing a win against Everton tomorrow night to ensure safety, Big Sam could once again named an unchanged side, with Kone passed fit to face the Toffees following that minor thigh injury. Should they beat Roberto Martinez’ side, we may see more changes for the trip to Watford on the final day, with the likes of O’Shea, Larsson, Jack Rodwell, Watmore, Jeremain Lens and Dame N’Doye all pushing to feature. If Sunderland still require a result at Vicarage Road, only fatigue could see changes made to the starting XI.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Flanks
Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Amat, Fernandez, Kingsley; Cork, Fer, Ki Sung-yeung; Barrow (Rangel 70), Ayew, Routledge (Gomis 82).
- Head Coach Francesco Guidolin made six changes from the side that beat Liverpool 3-1 for the trip to Upton Park, with Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Stephen Kingsley, Leroy Fer, Ki Sung-yeung and Modou Barrow replacing Angel Rangel, Leon Britton and the injured quartet of Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jefferson Montero.
- Guidolin opted for a three-man midfield against the Hammers, with Jack Cork in the defensive midfield role, with Fer and Ki operating further forward in central midfield. Barrow and Wayne Routledge flanked central striker Andre Ayew in the 4-3-3 formation. Naughton, Fernandez and Kingsley started at right-back, centre-back and left-back respectively.
- Shortly after West Ham made the score 3-1, Guidolin made a defensive substitution, with Rangel replacing Barrow on the right of midfield in a bid to offer further protection to right-back Naughton. Bafetimbi Gomis came on for Routledge for the final eight minutes, with Ayew moving into a wide position.
- Williams (fatigue), Taylor (groin) and Sigurdsson (shoulder) are all out of the Man City match on the final day, while Montero and Alberto Paloschi (both hamstring) are extremely doubtful. Guidolin may stick with a similar starting XI, then, with Rangel, Britton, Gomis, Fulton, Marvin Emnes and Kenji Gorre offering further options should the Italian look to use all of his squad. Lukasz Fabianski is another who will be rested for Sunday’s match, so Kristoffer Nordfeldt will make his Premier League debut in goal.
Current Status: Fairly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Right-Back, Central Midfield, Strikers
Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Mason (Chadli 75); Son (N’Jie 65), Eriksen, Lamela; Kane.
- Mauricio Pochettino only made one adjustment for the home encounter against Southampton, with Ryan Mason replacing the suspended Mousa Dembele.
- Mason partnered Eric Dier at the base of midfield in the standard 4-2-3-1 formation, while Erik Lamela moved back to the right wing, having operated on the left against Chelsea, with Heung-Min Son switching to the opposite flank.
- Pochettino’s first substitution saw Clinton N’Jie take over from Son on the left of the three advanced midfield positions for the final 25 minutes. Then, after falling 2-1 behind to the Saints, the Argentine made an attacking change, with Nacer Chadli coming on for Mason, leaving Dier as the only holding midfielder.
- With Tottenham still looking to secure second place, Pochettino should name a strong starting XI for the trip to Newcastle. Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies offer alternatives to Kyle Walker and Danny Rose in the full-back positions, and may possibly be handed opportunities to start. Tom Carroll offers an alternative to Mason in central midfield, while N’Jie and Chadli could challenge Son for a starting berth.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Midfield, Flanks
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes: Cathcart, Prodl, Britos, Anya: Abdi (Amrabat 69), Suarez (Guedioura 52), Watson, Jurado (Berghuis 57): Ighalo, Deeney.
- Quique Sanchez Flores only made one adjustment from the team that beat Aston Villa 3-2 for the trip to Anfield, with Sebastian Prodl replacing Juan Carlos Paredes.
- Prodl started in central defence, with Craig Cathcart moving to right-back. Flores kept faith in the 4-4-2 formation, with Almen Abdi (right) and Jurado (left) providing the width in midfield.
- Adlene Guedioura was the first player called upon off the bench, replacing Mario Suarez in a straight swap seven minutes into the second half. Shortly after, Steven Berghuis came on for Jurado, and was stationed on the right wing, with Abdi switching over to the left. Abdi was withdrawn shortly after, though, with Nordin Amrabat coming on in a straight swap for the final 21 minutes.
- With matches against Norwich and Sunderland over the next few days, Flores could look to rotate his squad. The likes of Guedioura, Berghuis and Amrabat could all get a start in one of the next two matches, while in defence, Paredes, Nathan Ake and Allan Nyom could all earn recalls.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: All Positions
West Brom
Starting XI: Foster, Dawson, Olsson, McAuley, Evans, Leko (Sandro 86), Yacob, Fletcher, Gardner (Berahino 74), McClean, Rondon.
- Tony Pulis named an unchanged side from the one that lost 3-0 to West Ham for the trip to Bournemouth.
- It was the 4-2-3-1 formation again for Pulis, then, with Jonathan Leko, Craig Gardner and James McClean forming the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Salomon Rondon.
- Pulis’ first substitution saw Saido Berahino replace Gardner in a straight swap with 16 minutes remaining. Sandro was then brought on for Leko in a slightly defensive change, with Pulis perhaps happy to settle for a point on the road.
- Pulis could hand a recall to Berahino for the home clash against Liverpool on the final day of the season, with Gardner perhaps the one to make way. Sandro may possibly earn a start in place of Claudio Yacob in central midfield, while youngsters Tyler Roberts and Sam Field could also feature. Jonny Evans and Darren Fletcher are expected to be fit having suffered minor injuries in Saturday’s 1-1 draw, whilst Sessegnon is also likely to be in the mix if he recovers from illness in time.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield
West Ham
Starting XI: Randolph; Antonio, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Kouyate (Emenike 77), Noble; Moses (Sakho 59), Payet, Lanzini (Valencia 84); Carroll.
- Slaven Bilic made two changes from the side that beat West Brom 3-0 for the home clash against Swansea, with Victor Moses earning a recall in place of Diafra Sakho, while Darren Randolph replaced the injured Adrian in goal.
- Moses came in on the right of the attacking midfield trio in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Manuel Lanzini (number ten) and Dimitri Payet (left) operating behind lone striker Andy Carroll.
- After failing to make much of an impact on his return to the side, Moses was replaced by Sakho in a straight swap on the hour mark. As the Hammers looked to get into the match at 3-1 down, Emmanuel Emenike and Enner Valencia were sent on in place of Cheikhou Kouyate and Lanzini, but ultimately to no avail.
- After enduring a torrid afternoon at right-back, Michail Antonio may lose his place in the side if he isn’t considered for the position on the right wing. Sam Byram and James Tomkins could start at right-back then, with Tomkins and James Collins also options to start in central defence should Bilic look to make a change there after conceding four goals on Saturday. Sakho looks set to earn a recall against Man United tonight, either on the right wing, or possibly as a replacement for Carroll in attack. The likes of Emenike and Valencia provide further attacking options, while Pedro Obiang remains an option should the Croatian look to switch to a slightly more defensive 4-3-3 formation, starting alongside Mark Noble and Kouyate. Adrian could miss the final two matches with a calf injury, so Randolph may keep his place in goal. Bilic is more likely to make wholesale changes against Stoke on Sunday rather than in the final game at Upton Park tonight, though.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Central Defence, Right-Wing, Lone Striker
