A number of late summer signings were handed their first league starts of the season in Gameweek 5.
The likes of David Luiz, Jack Wilshere, Ilkay Gundogan and Islam Slimani were amongst the new names involved, with the Leicester striker making an immediate impact by scoring twice in a 3-0 home win over Burnley.
Arsenal
Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla (Xhaka 67); Walcott (Perez 88), Ozil, Iwobi (Elneny 77), Sanchez.
- Arsene Wenger made two alterations for the trip to Hull, with Alex Iwobi and Alexis Sanchez coming in for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lucas Perez.
- Iwobi was stationed on the left of the attacking midfield trio in Wenger’s standard 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sanchez playing in the central striker role.
- With Santi Cazorla picking up a yellow card, Wenger replaced the Spaniard after 67 minutes, with Granit Xhaka entering the fray in a straight swap. In a slightly defensive substitution, Wenger then brought on Mohamed Elneny in place of Iwobi, moving to more of a 4-3-3, with Ozil drifting out to the left flank. Perez was given a brief run-out late on, replacing Theo Walcott.
- After an impressive performance off the bench, Xhaka could push for a starting spot in central midfield against Chelsea. With Olivier Giroud hampered by a toe injury, Wenger may continue with Sanchez as the lone striker, which could allow Iwobi and Walcott to keep their starting berths out wide. Perez may not be risked from the start against the Blues as he acclimatises to the Premier League.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker
Bournemouth
Starting XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Surman; Ibe (Wilson 46), Wilshere (Gosling 68), Arter, Stanislas (Gradel 74); King.
- Eddie Howe made one adjustment for the trip to the Etihad, with Jack Wilshere making his first start for the club in place of Callum Wilson.
- Wilshere started in central midfield in what was a 4-1-4-1 formation used by Howe, with Harry Arter partnering the Arsenal loanee in the middle of the park, leaving Andrew Surman stationed in front of the back four. Josh King operated as the lone striker for the Cherries.
- But with his side 2-0 down at half-time, Howe made a change at the break, with Wilson coming on in place of Jordon Ibe. That move saw King move out to the right of midfield, with Wilson taking over as the lone striker. Wilshere lasted 68 minutes before making way for Dan Gosling, while Howe’s final substitution saw Max Gradel replace Junior Stanislas in a straight swap with 16 minutes remaining.
- Howe’s main selection dilemma ahead of the home clash against Everton surrounds the central midfield area. If he sticks with the 4-1-4-1 system, Wilshere should keep his starting spot, but if he looks to return to the 4-4-1-1 formation, finding places for both King and Wilson, the England international will have to oust either Arter or Surman from the starting XI. Ibe has been substituted in all five matches this season, so King could also be an option to start on the right wing.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Right Wing, Strikers
Burnley
Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Arfield (Gudmundsson 57), Marney, Hendrick, Boyd; Defour (Vokes 64); Gray (Bamford 79).
- Sean Dyche made two changes for the trip to the King Power Stadium, with Jeff Hendrick handed his first Burnley start in place of Sam Vokes, while Scott Arfield earned a recall at the expense of Johann Berg Gudmundsson.
- Dyche changed from his usual 4-4-2 formation to a 4-4-1-1 system against the champions, with Steven Defour utilised as a central attacking midfielder behind lone striker Andre Gray. Hendrick partnered Dean Marney in the middle of the park, while Arfield started on the right wing.
- Arfield was the first player to be hooked by Dyche, making way for Gudmundsson in a straight swap 12 minutes into the second half. Vokes then replaced Defour shortly after the hour mark, with Dyche returning to the 4-4-2 system as his side looked to find a way back into the match. His final change saw Patrick Bamford replace Gray in a straight swap for the last 11 minutes.
- With the Clarets facing Watford at home on Saturday, Dyche will probably revert back to the 4-4-2 system from the start, with Vokes partnering Gray up front. That means one of Marney, Defour or Hendrick will likely miss out in central midfield, while Gudmundsson may stand a good chance of being recalled on the right wing in place of Arfield.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Right-Wing, Strikers
Chelsea
Starting XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Kante, Matic (Fabregas 84), Willian (Moses 84), Oscar (Pedro 84), Hazard, Costa.
- Chelsea boss Antonio Conte was forced into making one change from the side that drew 2-2 at Swansea for the visit of Liverpool to Stamford Bridge, with David Luiz replacing the injured John Terry.
- Luiz partnered Gary Cahill in central defence, while elsewhere the Italian stuck with the 4-1-4-1 formation he has favoured so far this season.
- To the growing displeasure of Chelsea supporters, Conte once again failed to make substitutions until the latter stages of the match, with Cesc Fabregas, Victor Moses and Pedro all summoned from the bench for the final six minutes in place of Nemanja Matic, Willian and Oscar. Pedro moved to the left wing, with Eden Hazard joining Diego Costa up front in what was a 4-2-4 formation as the Blues chased a late equaliser.
- Conte will hope to have Terry available for Saturday’s clash at the Emirates, but the defender will probably be ‘touch and go’ for that match as he battles to recover from an ankle injury. Branislav Ivanovic struggled against the Reds on Friday night, so Conte may well consider calling on Marcos Alonso into the starting XI, with the Spaniard playing at left-back, allowing Cesar Azpilicueta to operate at right-back. Fabregas may also come into the Italian’s thinking, with both Matic and Oscar failing to impress against Liverpool.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Defence, Central Midfield
Crystal Palace
Starting XI: Mandanda, Ward, Dann, Tomkins (Delaney 46), Kelly, McArthur, Ledley (Flamini 78), Zaha, Puncheon, Townsend (Lee Chung-yong 85), C Benteke.
- Alan Pardew made one change from the side that clinched Palace’s first win of the season at Middlesbrough for the home clash against Stoke, with James Tomkins coming in for Damien Delaney.
- Tomkins partnered Scott Dann in central defence, with Pardew keeping faith in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Andros Townsend (left), Jason Puncheon (number ten) and Wilfried Zaha (right) formed the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Christian Benteke.
- Pardew was forced into making a change at half-time, though, with Tomkins making way for Delaney after picking up a knee injury. Then with the match won, Pardew handed Mathieu Flamini and Lee Chung-yong a few minutes late on, with Joe Ledley and Townsend making way.
- Should Tomkins be ruled out for Saturday’s trip to Sunderland, Delaney should start alongside Dann in central defence. Yohan Cabaye continues to struggle with a groin problem, so Ledley may keep his place in the team providing he shakes off a knee problem. Flamini offers further cover in the middle of the park.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield
Everton
Starting XI: Stekelenburg: Coleman, Jagielka, Williams, Baines: Gueye, Barry (Cleverley 90): Mirallas (Deulofeu 72), Barkley, Bolasie: Lukaku (Valencia 66).
- Ronald Koeman named an unchanged starting XI from the one that beat Sunderland 3-0 for the visit of Middlesbrough to Goodison Park.
- Ross Barkley kept his place in the side, then, operating in the number ten role in the 4-2-3-1 formation, flanked by Yannick Bolasie (right) and Kevin Mirallas (left).
- After picking up a toe injury, Romelu Lukaku was replaced by Enner Valencia in a straight swap after 66 minutes. Gerard Deulofeu then replaced Mirallas six minutes later, with the Spaniard playing on the right-wing, seeing Bolasie shift over to the opposite flank. Tom Cleverley was handed a brief run-out in place of Gareth Barry.
- Following back-to-back victories, Koeman may well name an unchanged side once again for the trip to Bournemouth, with Lukaku expected to shake off that minor toe problem. Valencia and Arouna Kone offer cover in that position.
Current Status: Very Settled
Risk Areas: Lone Striker
Hull City
Starting XI: Jakupovic; Elmohamady, Livermore, Davies, Robertson; Diomande (Maguire 42), Meyler, Huddlestone (Mason 58), Clucas, Snodgrass; Hernandez (Mbokani 77).
- Caretaker manager Mike Phelan once again named an unchanged starting XI for the visit of Arsenal to the KCOM Stadium.
- It was the 4-1-4-1 formation as usual for the Tigers, then, although wide players Robert Snodgrass and Adama Diomande did play quite narrowly, allowing full-backs Ahmed Elmohamady and Andrew Roberson to push forward.
- Following Jake Livermore’s sending off, Phelan was forced into making a change, with Harry Maguire sent on in place of Diomande. Maguire slotted into central defence next to Curtis Davies, while David Meyler moved into an inside left position in midfield. Tom Huddlestone dropped deeper in the centre of the park alongside Sam Clucas, helping form more of a 4-4-1 formation. Huddlestone was replaced by Ryan Mason 13 minutes into the second half in a straight swap, while Phelan’s final substitution saw Dieumerci Mbokani take over from Abel Hernandez as the lone striker.
- Livermore will serve his one-match ban against Stoke in the EFL Cup, so he will be available for the Gameweek 6 trip to Anfield. Phelan may consider handing a first start to Mason in central midfield, and could perhaps opt for a different formation to help counter Liverpool’s attacking strengths. The likes of Mbokani and Shaun Maloney appear unlikely to force their way into the side for the time being.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield
Leicester
Starting XI: Zieler; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (Gray 85), Drinkwater (King 79), Amartey, Albrighton; Slimani, Vardy.
- Claudio Ranieri made two changes from the team that lost 4-1 at Liverpool for the home encounter against Burnley, with Ron-Robert Zieler coming in for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, while Islam Slimani was handed his Premier League debut, replacing Shinji Okazaki.
- Slimani’s inclusion in the starting XI saw Leicester line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with the Algerian partnering Jamie Vardy up front.
- With the champions holding a 3-0 lead, Ranieri only made two changes late on, with Andy King and Demarai Gray providing fresh legs in place of Danny Drinkwater and Riyad Mahrez.
- Given the Foxes face Chelsea in the EFL Cup tomorrow night, Ranieri is expected to rest some of his leading lights for that match, and name his strongest side for Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford. There may only be one change from the starting XI that lined up against Burnley, then, with Schmeichel earning a recall in goal, providing he recovers from concussion. Slimani will be difficult to overlook after scoring twice on his league debut, but Okazaki offers an alternative to the former Sporting Lisbon striker should Ranieri opt for a slightly more cautious approach.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Support Striker
Liverpool
Starting XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum (Stewart 90), Mane, Coutinho (Lucas 82), Sturridge (Origi 57).
- Jurgen Klopp made two changes for the trip to Chelsea, with the fit-again Dejan Lovren replacing Lucas Leiva, while Philippe Coutinho earned a recall in place of the injured Roberto Firmino.
- Lovren started alongside Joel Matip in the heart of the defence, while Coutinho lined up on the left of the front three in the 4-3-3 formation.
- Klopp’s first substitution saw Daniel Sturridge replaced by Divock Origi 12 minutes into the second half. Then, with Chelsea chasing a late equaliser, the Liverpool boss made a defensive substitution, with Lucas coming on for Coutinho. Lucas took over from Jordan Henderson as the defensive midfield player, with the England international moving alongside Adam Lallana in the midfield three. Wijnaldum shifted over to the left, although not playing as far forward as Coutinho had done. The Dutch international was then taken off during stoppage time, with Kevin Stewart further stiffening up the midfield area for the final few minutes to help hold the 2-1 scoreline.
- Firmino wasn’t risked on Friday night due to a minor groin injury, but has since been passed fit to face Derby in the EFL Cup tomorrow. With neither Sturridge nor Origi overly impressing as the central striker, the Brazilian is expected to earn a recall playing as a “false nine.” The alternative could be to use Firmino on the left of the front three, with Sturridge or Origi then starting as the central striker, although that looks unlikely to happen given Coutinho’s importance to the side.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left Wing, Central Striker
Man City
Starting XI: Bravo; Sagna, Otamendi (Stones 52), Kolarov, Clichy; De Bruyne (Garcia 76), Fernandinho, Gundogan (Sane 71); Sterling, Iheanacho, Nolito.
- Pep Guardiola made two changes from the side that beat Manchester United 2-1 in the home fixture against Bournemouth, with Gael Clichy and Ilkay Gundogan coming in for John Stones and the injured David Silva.
- Clichy started at left-back for the Citizens, with Aleksandar Kolarov moving into central defence, while Gundogan partnered Kevin De Bruyne in central midfield in the usual 4-1-4-1 formation.
- With his side leading 3-0, Guardiola was able to afford Nicolas Otamendi a rest, with Stones taking over from the Argentine after 52 minutes. Gundogan’s first league start for the club lasted 71 minutes, before making way for Leroy Sane. That change saw Raheem Sterling move slightly infield next to De Bruyne, who himself was replaced by youngster Aleix Garcia for the final 14 minutes.
- Guardiola may hand a first start of the season to Vincent Kompany for the EFL Cup clash at Swansea on Wednesday night, but it’s expected that Otamendi and Stones will begin the league match in central defence at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. Kolarov seems to have the slight edge over Clichy at left-back, so the Serbian may get the nod in that position. Silva appears likely to recover from a muscle injury to return to the side, so he may replace Gundogan. Nolito will be suspended, though, so Sane or Jesus Navas may replace the Spaniard, with Sterling likely to move over to the left wing to accommodate either player on the right. Sergio Aguero will be available on Saturday after serving his three-match suspension, and is expected to take over from Kelechi Iheanacho as the lone striker.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks
Part Two of Lineup Lessons, covering the remaining ten teams, will be published tomorrow.
