Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 31 – Part Two

Mark Hughes rolls out a 4-4-2 in his first match in charge of Southampton. Son Heung-min leads the line in Harry Kane’s absence as Spurs clinch a place in the FA Cup semi-finals, while Paul Lambert freshens up his back-four for Stoke’s clash with Everton.

After checking out the first team teams yesterday, we turn to part two of Line-up Lessons, assessing the teamsheets and formations from Gameweek 31 and the FA Cup quarter-finals, with one eye on what’s to come after the international break as we look to Gameweek 32 and the upcoming European matches.

Manchester United

Starting XI: Romero; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Shaw (Young 46); McTominay, Matic; Mata (Rashford 74), Lingard (Fellaini 89), Martial; Lukaku. Subs not used: De Gea, Lindelof, Pogba, Sanchez.

• What we saw: Jose Mourinho named a fairly strong side for the FA Cup quarter-final against Brighton, although Sergio Romero and Luke Shaw were handed rare starts in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation while both Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez were relegated to the bench. Mourinho decided to make a tactical change at half-time, with Ashley Young replacing Shaw at left-back.
• What we learned: With a home fixture against Swansea City in Gameweek 32, Pogba and Sanchez, in particular, should return to the teamsheet. If Mourinho sticks with a 4-2-3-1, Pogba will be competing with Scott McTominay and Marouane Fellaini for a start at the base of midfield. Sanchez, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata appear to be battling it out for three spots, and perhaps only two positions should Mourinho deploy a 4-3-3 to incorporate Pogba alongside McTominay and Nemanja Matic. Sanchez, Lingard and Rashford may be favoured against the Swans. Young will return at left-back given Mourinho’s latest criticism of Shaw’s performances, while the international break could allow Phil Jones to return to full fitness, and possibly push again for a start in central defence.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central defenders, central midfield, flanks, attacking midfield

Southampton

Starting XI: McCarthy; Cedric Soares, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand; Hojbjerg, Lemina; Tadic, Boufal (Redmond 65), Carrillo (Long 82); Gabbiadini (Romeu 88). Subs not used: Yoshida, Ward-Prowse, Sims, Forster.

• What we saw: New Saints boss Mark Hughes decided to stick with many of the players who had been playing regularly under former manager Mauricio Pellegrino for his first match in charge against Wigan Athletic. Notably, he did deploy a 4-4-2 formation, however, pairing Guido Carrillo and Manolo Gabbiadini up front. Dusan Tadic and Sofiane Boufal were handed starts out wide, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Mario Lemina were preferred to Oriol Romeu in central midfield. Holding a 2-0 lead in the FA Cup quarter-final, Hughes decided to introduce Romeu late on, seeing Southampton finish the match in a more defensive 4-5-1.
• What we learned: Given the victory on Sunday, Hughes is likely to stick with the majority of the same starting XI. So Carrillo and Gabbiadini may form the front pairing for the crucial Gameweek 32 trip to West Ham United. Redmond is a possible alternative out wide, perhaps most likely in place of Boufal, while Romeu may have to again settle for a place on the bench. James Ward-Prowse is another who could remain among the substitutes. Maya Yoshida returned to the bench last weekend, and is a possible alternative in central defence, while Alex McCarthy looks set to be favoured over Fraser Forster in goal once again.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central midfield, flanks, forwards

Stoke City

Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Zouma, Shawcross, Stafylidis; Ndiaye, Adam, Allen; Shaqiri (Berahino 76), Crouch, Sobhi (Choupo-Moting 72, Jese Rodriguez 79). Subs not used: Haugaard, Bauer, Martins Indi, Fletcher.

• What we saw: Paul Lambert rolled out his favoured 4-1-4-1 system for the home clash against Everton, although he did make a host of changes following the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City. Peter Crouch was recalled in the lone striker role, while Ramadan Sobhi returned on the left side of midfield. Charlie Adam earned a rare start in central midfield. At the back, experienced duo Ryan Shawcross and Glen Johnson started in place of Bruno Martins Indi and Moritz Bauer respectively. But following Adam’s first-half sending off, the Potters lined up in more of a 4-1-3-1 formation. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored after coming on as a second-half substitute but was injured in the act of scoring, with Jese Rodriguez then taking over on the left side of midfield.
• What we learned: Adam will now serve a three-match suspension, starting with the Gameweek 32 trip to Arsenal. Geoff Cameron missed out last weekend due to a hamstring problem, but he will be the Scot’s likely replacement providing he’s passed fit. Darren Fletcher offers another option in the middle of the park. If available, Choupo-Moting could come in for Sobhi, while the two-week break should mean Mame Biram Diouf (shoulder) is fit for the trip to the Emirates. He would be the favourite to replace Crouch as the lone striker, with Choupo-Moting, Jese Rodriguez and Saido Berahino other possibilities. Bauer was somewhat surprisingly left out of the starting XI, but he may come back in for Johnson at right-back, while Shawcross could keep his place in central defence.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-back, central defenders, central midfield, left wing, lone striker

Swansea City

Starting XI: Nordfeldt; van der Hoorn (Roberts 80), Bartley, Mawson; Naughton (Narsingh 46), Ki Sung-yueng, Carroll, Olsson; Dyer (Routledge 86), Abraham, Clucas. Subs not used: Mulder, Fernandez, Britton, Byers.

• What we saw: Carlos Carvalhal was forced into making changes for the FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur. With Jordan Ayew suspended, Tammy Abraham started up front in the 5-4-1 formation, while Nathan Dyer and Tom Carroll earned starts due to Andre Ayew and Andy King being cup-tied. The Swans boss also chose to hand rests to Lukasz Fabianski and Federico Fernandez, allowing Kristoffer Nordfeldt and Kyle Bartley to start. With his side trailing 2-0, Carvalhal decided to switch to more of a 4-3-3, with substitute Luciano Narsingh (right) and Dyer (left) flanking Abraham in attack. Mike van der Hoorn moved to right-back, while Sam Clucas played as part of the three-man midfield.
• What we learned: With a trip to Manchester United up next in Gameweek 32, Carvalhal looks set to continue with the defensive 5-4-1 system. Andre Ayew and King should both come back into the side, most likely at the expense of Dyer and Carroll. Alternatively, Andre Ayew could start as the lone striker in place of Abraham, with Dyer retaining his start on the right side of midfield. Renato Sanches is closing in on a first-team return, and may soon be able to return to the bench to provide another midfield option.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central midfield, right wing, lone striker

Tottenham Hotspur

Starting XI: Vorm; Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Sissoko; Lucas Moura (Llorente 73), Lamela (Alli 81), Eriksen; Son Heung-min. Subs not used: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Dembele.

• What we saw: Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino also opted to make some changes for the trip to Swansea. Back-up players such as Michel Vorm, Moussa Sissoko, and Lucas Moura all earned starts, while regulars such as Hugo Lloris, Mousa Dembele and Dele Alli dropped to the bench. Son Heung-min was favoured as the lone striker over Fernando Llorente in the 4-2-3-1 system. The South Korean ended the match on the left wing after Llorente was brought on for Lucas.
• What we learned: With a trip to Chelsea up next in Gameweek 32, and following their UEFA Champions League exit, Pochettino will name his strongest possible starting XI. Son should retain his start as the lone striker in Harry Kane’s continued absence, then, meaning Erik Lamela may well keep his place in the side in one of the attacking midfield positions. Dembele should return alongside Eric Dier in the double-pivot, with the only contentious area in the starting XI perhaps being at right-back, where Serge Aurier could be preferred to Kieran Trippier. Should Toby Alderweireld feature for Belgium over the international break, he may come under consideration to replace Davinson Sanchez in central defence.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right-back, central defenders

Watford

Starting XI: Karnezis; Mariappa, Holebas, Britos (Janmaat 81); Femenia, Doucoure, Capoue, Prodl; Pererya, Deeney (Okaka 70), Richarlison (Hughes 65). Subs not used: Gomes, Cathcart, Carrillo, Gray.

• What we saw: After losing 3-0 to Arsenal using an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation, Javi Gracia decided to switch to a three-man defence for the trip to Liverpool. Miguel Britos was handed a recall in the back three, while Kiko Femenia and Jose Holebas played as wing-backs in the 3-4-3 system. Roberto Pereyra (right) and Richarlison (left) flanked central striker Troy Deeney. The Hornets ended the match in more of a 4-2-3-1, with Daryl Janmaat at right-back, Femenia on the right wing and Will Hughes joining Pereyra in the attacking midfield spots.
• What we learned: Given that Watford host Bournemouth in Gameweek 32, it’s likely that Gracia will revert back to his preferred 4-2-3-1 system. Femenia could be an option to start on the right wing, which would allow Janmaat to come in at right-back. Alternatively, Hughes or Andre Carrillo may join Pereyra and Richarlison in the advanced midfield positions. Britos could be the centre-back to make way. The international break should allow Tom Cleverley (hamstring) to move closer to a first-team return, and if available, he is a viable starter in both central midfield and the No 10 position.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Right-back, central defenders, flanks, attacking midfield

West Bromwich Albion

Starting XI: Foster; Dawson, Evans (Phillips 77), Hegazi; Nyom, Livermore, Yacob, Brunt (Field 82), Gibbs; Rodriguez (Robson-Kanu 86), Rondon. Subs not used: Myhill; Burke, Krychowiak, McClean.

• What we saw: Alan Pardew switched to a 3-5-2 formation for the trip to Bournemouth, pairing Salomon Rondon and Jay Rodriguez up front. Claudio Yacob was recalled in central midfield in place of Grzegorz Krychowiak, while Jonny Evans returned from illness to start in the back three. Allan Nyom and Kieran Gibbs took up the wing-back roles. Evans was replaced on 77 minutes due to cramp, making way for Matt Phillips. The substitute played at right wing-back, with Nyom moving inside to join Craig Dawson and Ahmed Hegazi in the three-man backline.
• What we learned: Following an improved performance, and given Rondon and Rodriguez combined for Albion’s goal, Pardew may well retain the 3-5-2 for the home meeting with Burnley in Gameweek 32. That would make changes unlikely, with Gareth Barry a possible starter in central midfield if he recovers from a knock. Sam Field and Krychowiak are other options in the middle of the park. Phillips is a more attacking alternative to Nyom at right wing-back, while if they are back in contention following injuries, James Morrison, Nacer Chadli and Daniel Sturridge could all feature, most likely from the bench.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right wing-back, central midfield