Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns from suspension to net Man United’s leveller at home to West Ham. Mark Hughes switches to 3-5-2 for Stoke’s trip to Watford and Nacer Chadli is handed minutes as a sub upon his return to action for West Brom. After rolling out Part Oneyesterday, here’s the lowdown on the remaining ten teams.
Manchester United
Starting XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard (Fellaini 85), Mata (Mkhitaryan 65), Rashford (Rooney 65), Ibrahimovic.
- Jose Mourinho made two changes for the home encounter against West Ham United, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic returning from his one-match ban to replace Anthony Martial, while Jesse Lingard came in at the expense of Michael Carrick.
- Those changes saw Mourinho switch back to a 4-2-3-1, with Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba combining in the double-pivot. Juan Mata and Lingard switched regularly between the No 10 role and the position on the right wing throughout the match, with Marcus Rashford stationed on the left of the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Ibrahimovic.
- With the score level at 1-1, Mourinho turned to Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Wayne Rooney off the bench, with Mata and Rashford making way with 25 minutes remaining. Mkhitaryan played on the right, with Lingard switching over to the left, allowing Rooney to operate in the No 10 position. The final substitution saw Mourinho turn to the aerial threat of Marouane Fellaini in search of a late winner, with the Belgian replacing Lingard for the final five minutes.
- Carrick was rested on Sunday having played 180 minutes over the last two matches in all competitions. If he doesn’t start in Wednesday night’s EFL Cup clash against the Hammers, he would look nailed on to start against Everton on Sunday. His selection would probably see Mourinho revert back to a 4-1-4-1, with Pogba probably the only certain starter given he’ll sit out Wednesday night’s cup tie due to suspension. The likes of Rooney, Mkhitaryan and Fellaini could all push Mata, Lingard and Rashford for starting spots. The back four has been more settled of late, but Daley Blind may push for a recall in place of Matteo Darmian, who has struggled over the past few matches at left-back.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Attacking Midfield
Middlesbrough
Starting XI: Valdes; Barragan, Chambers, Gibson, Fabio; Clayton; Traore (Stuani 79), De Roon, Forshaw, Ramirez (Fischer 88); Negredo.
- Aitor Karanka named an unchanged starting XI from the one that lost 1-0 to Chelsea for the trip to the champions Leicester City.
- The Spaniard kept faith in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Adama Traore (right) and Gaston Ramirez (left) continuing to provide the width for ‘Boro.
- With 11 minutes remaining, Karanka turned to Cristhian Stuani to provide some fresh legs in place of Traore in a straight swap. He did likewise nine minutes later on the opposite flank, with Viktor Fischer replacing Ramirez as ‘Boro looked to hold on for the three points.
- Karanka’s men were unfortunate not to walk away with the win at the King Power Stadium, so he appears unlikely to make changes for the home fixture against Hull City. He could return to his favoured, and more attacking, 4-2-3-1, though, with either Adam Clayton or Marten de Roon making way for another attacking midfielder, likely to be Stuani or Fischer. Stewart Downing also provides another option in the final third.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Flanks
Southampton
Starting XI: Forster; Cedric, Jose Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Hojbjerg, Romeu, Ward-Prowse; Sims (McQueen 84), Austin (Long 89), Redmond (Clasie 79).
- Saints boss Claude Puel made two changes from the side that drew 0-0 against Liverpool for the visit of Everton to St Mary’s, with James Ward-Prowse and youngster Josh Sims coming in for the injured duo Steven Davis and Sofiane Boufal.
- Ward-Prowse joined Oriol Romeu and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the three-man midfield, while Sims was stationed on the right of the front three, with Nathan Redmond on the left and Charlie Austin operating as the central striker.
- With Puel looking to protect Southampton’s 1-0 lead, he turned to Jordy Clasie off the bench, with Redmond making way for the final 11 minutes, seeing Saints switch to more of a 4-5-1. Ward-Prowse shifted more to the left, before Sam McQueen was introduced in place of Sims. The substitute was deployed on the left, switching flanks with Ward-Prowse. Shane Long provided fresh legs as the lone striker in place of Austin for the last few minutes.
- Davis missed out on Sunday due to illness but may well be able to return against Crystal Palace on Saturday to potentially reclaim a starting spot in place of Ward-Prowse. Boufal was also unavailable due to illness: he could compete with the impressive Sims for a starting berth in attack if passed fit. Doubt remains over when Dusan Tadic will be available after breaking his nose and he’s another who could challenge for a place in the front three if he’s available.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks
Stoke City
Starting XI: Grant; Johnson, Martins Indi, Muniesa, Pieters; Imbula, Adam; Diouf, Shaqiri, Arnautovic (Crouch 81); Walters.
- Stoke City manager Mark Hughes made five changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Bournemouth for the trip to Vicarage Road, with Glen Johnson, Marc Muniesa, Jon Walters and Mame Biram Diouf coming in for Phil Bardsley, Ryan Shawcross, Bojan and Wilfried Bony, while Giannelli Imbula earned a recall in place of the suspended Joe Allen.
- Johnson and Muniesa started at as part of a back three along with Bruno Martins Indi as Hughes rolled out a 3-5-2 formation. Diouf and Erik Piers were utilised as wing-backs, with Imbula and Charlie Adam in midfield. Xherdan Shaqiri and Walters took up the most advanced positions up top.
- Stoke’s performance was so strong that Hughes only made one substitution, with Peter Crouch replacing Marko Arnautovic for the final nine minutes. Crouch played as the lone striker, with Walters shifting to a more withdrawn role.
- After winning 1-0, Hughes will have plenty to ponder in terms of selection for Saturday’s home fixture against Burnley. Shawcross missed out with a calf injury on Sunday so Muniesa could keep his place in central defence. Imbula’s return to form may also see him retain a starting berth, even if one of Glenn Whelan (calf) or Geoff Cameron (knee) are passed fit. Allen will be available after serving his one-match ban and would seem likely to return in the No 10 role, with a move back to 4-2-3-1 perhaps on the cards. That would see Shaqiri take over from Diouf on the right wing. Bony was surprisingly dropped to the bench on Sunday, suggesting that Walters may again lead the line against the Clarets.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Right Wing, Central Striker
Sunderland
Starting XI: Pickford; Jones, Kone, Van Aanholt, O’Shea, Ndong, Denayer, Pienaar (Gooch 79), Anichebe, Watmore (Januzaj 79), Defoe.
- David Moyes made two changes from the side that beat Hull City 3-0 for the trip to Anfield, with John O’Shea coming in for the suspended Papy Djilobodji, while Steven Pienaar returned from a one-match ban to replace the injured Paddy McNair.
- O’Shea partnered Lamine Kone in central defence, while Pienaar was part of the three-man midfield alongside Didier Ndong and Jason Denayer. Victor Anichebe (left) and Duncan Watmore (right) flanked central striker Jermain Defoe.
- With his side trailing 1-0, Moyes turned to Lynden Gooch and Adnan Januzaj, with the pair replacing Pienaar and Watmore in straight swaps for the final 11 minutes.
- While the Black Cats lost 2-0, they performed reasonably well, so Moyes appears unlikely to make wholesale changes for Saturday’s home clash with Leicester City. Djilobodji will be available after serving his one-match suspension and may return in place of O’Shea at centre-back, while Januzaj offers a more attacking alternative to Pienaar out wide if Moyes looks to return to a 4-4-2 against the champions, with Anichebe joining Defoe up front.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks
Swansea City
Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton (Montero 86), Fernandez, Amat, Taylor; Cork, Fulton, Fer; Barrow (Rangel 80), Sigurdsson, Routledge (Llorente 66).
- Bob Bradley decided to name an unchanged starting XI from the one that drew 1-1 against Everton for the home clash against Crystal Palace.
- The American continued with Gylfi Sigurdsson in the “false nine” role, then, while Jay Fulton, Jack Cork and Leroy Fer again formed the three-man midfield.
- With the match evenly poised at 1-1, Bradley made an attacking first substitution, with Fernando Llorente brought on to replace Wayne Routledge. The Spaniard took over as the central striker, with Sigurdsson moving to the left of the front three. Then, after Palace pulled a goal back to make it 3-2, Angel Rangel was introduced in place of Modou Barrow. Rangel played at right-back, with Kyle Naughton operating just ahead of him on the right flank to double-up against the threat of Wilfried Zaha. But after Palace took a 4-3 lead, Bradley turned to Jefferson Montero, who came on for Naughton. The Ecuadorian played on the left wing, with Sigurdsson returning to the No 10 role. Cork pushed forward slightly on the right as the Swans looked to find a way back into the match.
- While Llorente made a huge impact off the bench, the Spaniard may have to be patient to force his way back into the starting XI. Sigurdsson appears likely to continue in the false nine position this weekend given that the Welsh outfit head to White Hart Lane. Montero offers an alternative on the left wing but is probably unlikely to get the nod over Routledge or Barrow for the time being. Federico Fernandez was at fault for a few of the Palace goals, so Mike van der Hoorn or Alfie Mawson could be options to replace the Argentinian. Borja Baston missed out with a minor calf problem but, at best, only looks to have a chance at being named among the substitutes on Saturday.
Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Flanks, Central Striker
Tottenham Hotspur
Starting XI: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Wimmer, Wanyama, Dembele (Janssen 83) , Eriksen, Alli (Nkoudou 73), Son Heung-min (Winks 65), Kane.
- Mauricio Pochettino made three changes for the trip to Stamford Bridge, with Kevin Wimmer coming in for the suspended Danny Rose, while Dele Alli and Son Heung-min replaced Harry Winks and Vincent Janssen.
- Those changes saw Pochettino return to the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele combining in the double-pivot, while Christian Eriksen (right), Alli (No 10) and Son (left) formed the attacking midfield trio. Wimmer slotted in at left-back, with Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier continuing in central defence.
- Pochettino’s first substitution saw Winks come on in place of Son with 25 minutes remaining. Eight minutes later, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou replaced Alli, with Nkoudou playing on the left, while Winks slotted in next to Wanyama, allowing Dembele to push forward a little more. As a final bid for a late equaliser, Pochettino turned to Janssen, with the forward sent on in place of Dembele, seeing Spurs end the match in a 4-4-2.
- Rose will be available to face Swansea City after serving his one-match ban, and should replace Wimmer at left-back. Pochettino could consider deploying Janssen alongside Kane in attack, perhaps starting with a 4-4-2, or in the 4-2-3-1 we could see the same front six that lined up last Saturday if Erik Lamela sidelined with a hip injury. If Toby Alderweireld (leg) were to be passed fit, he’d be expected to return alongside Vertonghen in defence, with Dier then an option to play in midfield.
Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks, Forwards
Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Kaboul (Kabasele 21), Prodl, Britos; Janmaat, Capoue, Behrami, Holebas (Ighalo 56); Amrabat (Okaka 78), Deeney, Pereyra.
- Walter Mazzarri only made one adjustment from the side that beat Leicester City 2-1 for the home encounter against Stoke City, with Jose Holebas returning from his one-match ban to replace Juan Zuniga.
- Holebas returned at left wing-back for the Hornets, in what was a 3-4-3 used by the Italian once again, with Roberto Pereyra (left) and Nordin Amrabat (right) flanking central striker Troy Deeney.
- Younes Kaboul had been a doubt pre-match due to a calf problem and the defender only lasted 21 minutes before being replaced by Christian Kabasele. Holebas was then forced off with a knock before the hour mark, with Mazzarri deciding to make an attacking change given his side were 1-0 down, with Odion Ighalo replacing the defender. Ighalo joined Deeney in attack in what was more of a 3-4-1-2, with Janmaat moving to left wing-back, while Amrabat played at right wing-back. Pereyra moved into a central attacking midfield position behind the front two. Stefano Okaka was brought on in place of Amrabat as Watford battled for an equaliser. That left the home side with three strikers on the pitch, but with little width down the right-hand side.
- Should Kaboul and Holebas be unavailable for Saturday’s trip to the Hawthorns, Kabasele and Zuniga appear the obvious replacements. Mazzarri will also be without the suspended Miguel Britos, though, after he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. Janmaat also offers an option in central defence, although he’s unlikely to go down that route after the Dutch international struggled in that position during the 6-1 defeat to Liverpool. Ighalo or perhaps even Okaka could come into the reckoning if Mazzarri looks to play with two strikers, either in a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 system.
Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Left Wing-Back, Flanks, Forwards
West Bromwich Albion
Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Fletcher (McClean 64), Yacob, Brunt, Morrison (Chadli 79), Phillips (Robson-Kanu 83); Rondon.
- Baggies head coach Tony Pulis named an unchanged side from the one the beat Burnley 4-0 for the trip to the KCOM Stadium.
- Despite being fit enough to be named among the substitutes, Pulis decided to leave Nacer Chadli on the bench, instead sticking with Chris Brunt, James Morrison and Matt Phillips in the three advanced midfield positions in the 4-2-3-1 formation.
- Pulis’ first substitution was an attacking one bearing in mind his side were holding a 1-0 lead, with James McClean introduced in place of Darren Fletcher. McClean was stationed on the left wing, with Brunt dropping back into central midfield. Chadli then took over from Morrison in the No 10 role for the final 11 minutes, with Pulis’ final change seeing Hal Robson-Kanu replace Phillips in a straight swap down the right flank for the final seven minutes.
- With another week’s training behind him, it’s likely that Pulis will look to find a spot in the starting XI for Chadli when West Brom host Watford on Saturday. It could be Morrison who makes way, although Brunt and Phillips may also be slightly at risk. Morrison could also potentially play in a deeper midfield role, but it’s unlikely Pulis will drop either Claudio Yacob or Fletcher.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Attacking Midfield
West Ham United
Starting XI: Randolph, Kouyate, Collins, Ogbonna, Antonio, Obiang, Noble, Cresswell, Lanzini (Ayew 74), Payet (Feghouli 90), Sakho (Fletcher 66).
- Slaven Bilic made two alterations for the trip to Old Trafford, with Mark Noble returning from his one-match ban to replace Andre Ayew, while James Collins earned a recall in place of the suspended Winston Reid.
- Collins slotted in alongside Angelo Ogbonna and Cheikhou Kouyate in the three-man defence, while Noble partnered Pedro Obiang in central midfield. Manuel Lanzini returned to his more familiar attacking midfield role alongside Dimitri Payet in the 3-4-2-1 system, with Diafra Sakho operating as the lone striker for the Hammers.
- Sakho lasted 66 minutes before being replaced by Ashley Fletcher after picking up a hamstring problem. Ayew then came on in place of Lanzini in a straight swap for the final 16 minutes, while Sofiane Feghouli was handed a brief run-out in place of Payet.
- Reid will be available to face Arsenal on Saturday after serving his one-match ban and should come back into the starting XI at the expense of Collins. After a solid performance against Man United, both Lanzini and Sakho could well keep hold of their starting spots providing the latter is passed fit, although Ayew does offer a viable alternative in both positions. Andy Carroll was close to being in contention for the Old Trafford trip and could yet be a factor for Arsenal’s visit.
Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Attacking Midfield, Lone Striker
