FPL Line-Up Lessons – Gameweek 3 – Part One

Part one of our Line-up Lessons assesses the teamsheets and formations of ten Premier League clubs’ Gameweek 3 matches, with the second instalment to follow tomorrow.

Alexandre Lacazette was on the bench for Arsenal yet again, with Mesut Ozil missing from the squad altogether.

Eden Hazard and Mateo Kovacic were given their first starts of the season for Chelsea, but Ryan Sessegnon and Pascal Gross were dropped to the bench by their respective managers.

The introduction of Max Meyer could lead to a change in system for Crystal Palace, meanwhile, and have implications for Wilfried Zaha and Jeffrey Schlupp.

Arsenal

Starting XI (4-3-3): Cech; Monreal, Mustafi, Sokratis, Bellerin; Guendouzi (Torreira 56’), Xhaka, Ramsey; Iwobi (Lacazette 45’), Aubameyang (Welbeck 75’), Mkhitaryan

• What we saw: Mesut Ozil missed out on Arsenal’s win over West Ham United through illness, with Aaron Ramsey taking the German’s place as the most advanced of the three central midfielders in a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 – that was Unai Emery’s only change to the side that lost to Chelsea in Gameweek 2. Alex Iwobi once again started on the left flank but was replaced at half-time by Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman’s introduction as the central striker, as usual, meant that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moved out to the wing to accommodate him. Danny Welbeck got his first minutes of the season after replacing Aubameyang in the last 15 minutes, meanwhile. Lucas Torreira was overlooked again in central midfield, but for the third match running was introduced as a second-half substitute.
• What we learned: Three matches into the season and we are still yet to see Lacazette start a league match for the Gunners. The trip to Cardiff next weekend could be the fixture in which Emery decides to start Lacazette up top, though we have speculated on that prospect for several weeks now. Aubameyang’s indifferent start to the season means Emery may even be thinking the unthinkable: dropping the Gabonese forward to the bench. That improbable eventuality may still be a week or two of poor performances away, however, and Iwobi – who was hooked at half-time in the win over the Hammers – would perhaps be the likeliest candidate at risk from Lacazette’s introduction in attack. Youngster Matteo Guendouzi has impressed in recent weeks but perhaps had his worst game of the season on Saturday, with Arsenal looking more comfortable with substitute Lucas Torreira alongside Granit Xhaka. Torreira for Guendouzi, then, might be a change we see in south Wales next weekend. The Gunners’ back four remained unchanged, although looked far from secure as West Ham peppered Petr Cech’s goal with 13 shots at the Emirates.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Central midfield, left wing

Bournemouth

Starting XI (4-4-2): Begovic; Daniels, S Cook, Ake, A Smith; Fraser, Surman (L Cook 76’), Gosling, Brooks (Ibe 64’); King (Mousset 90+12’), Wilson

• What we saw: Eddie Howe rolled out the same line-up and 4-4-2 formation as he had done in the previous two Gameweeks, with Diego Rico serving the last match of his suspension, Jefferson Lerma only among the substitutes and Junior Stanislas still injured. Adam Smith was dismissed on the hour mark for a professional foul but his one-match ban will be served in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
• What we learned: Bournemouth are still unbeaten in the league and Howe may seek to roll out an unchanged starting XI for the fourth league match in a row when the Cherries visit Chelsea next weekend. Given the calibre of the opposition, however, Howe could consider shoring things up in the centre of the park. A start for Lerma is a possibility, though Lewis Cook was the man sent on in Andrew Surman’s stead on Saturday as Bournemouth chased the game. Howe could sacrifice Josh King to blood an extra midfielder in the middle, or even switch King out to David Brooks’ right-wing position and drop the former Sheffield United winger to the bench. The Cherries won 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last season playing a 3-4-2-1, so Howe may take inspiration from that performance as he formulates a plan to stop Maurizio Sarri’s impressive side. Daniels is now at risk from Rico after the end of the latter’s suspension, though it remains to be seen how quickly Howe integrates the new left-back into his squad.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left-back, central midfield

Brighton and Hove Albion

Starting XI (4-5-1): Ryan; Montoya, Duffy, Balogun, Bong; Knockaert (Jahanbakhsh 75′), Stephens, Bissouma (Gross 80′), Propper, March (Locadia 75′); Murray

• What we saw: Chris Hughton battened down the hatches for the trip to Anfield, sacrificing Christian Gross in order to bolster his midfield with Yves Bissouma. The only other alteration to the Seagulls’ side saw Leon Balogun come in for the injured Lewis Dunk. After their impressive displays in the win over Manchester United, Anthony Knockaert and Solly March were given another run-out on the flank but were replaced by Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Jurgen Locadia with 15 minutes to go. With Brighton still in the game with ten minutes remaining, Gross was introduced at Bissouma’s expense and almost grabbed an unlikely equaliser late on.
• What we learned: Hughton’s pre-match press conference later in the week will tell us if the injured Dunk, Bruno, Florin Andone, Jose Izquierdo are ready to feature for the visit of Fulham next weekend, but the talismanic Gross will surely come back into the team given that the Seagulls are at home. Who he will replace is another matter – while Bissouma was culpable for Liverpool’s goal, the Ivorian had a solid full debut for Brighton and Hughton said he was “pleased” with Bissouma’s display. The Seagulls, like many Premier League sides, are in Carabao Cup action in midweek and their line-up in Tuesday’s clash with Southampton could provide us with further clues as to who is contention for the more important encounter with Slavisa Jokanovic’s side next weekend. The likes of Jahanbakhsh, Locadia and Beram Kayal may be given a start in the League Cup in a bid to build up their match fitness.

Current Status: Fairly settled
Risk Areas: Attacking midfield, wingers

Burnley

Starting XI (4-5-1): Hart; Lowton, Mee, Tarkowski, Ward (Vokes 66′); Lennon, Cork, Westwood, Gudmundsson (Taylor 19′); Hendrick; Wood (Barnes 66′)

• What we saw: Sean Dyche named an unchanged line-up in the league for the third successive time, with rotation continuing in the Europa League in between their domestic fixtures. Jeff Hendrick was the furthermost forward of the three central midfielders and supported Chris Wood in attack, as Dyche persisted with a 4-5-1. An injury to Johann Berg Gudmundsson early in the first half meant that substitute (and FPL defender) Charlie Taylor played on the left of midfield, switching to left-back later in the game when Ashley Barnes and Sam Vokes came on for Stephen Ward and Chris Wood. Burnley went to a 4-4-2 from this point as they attempted to turn around a 3-2 deficit. Joe Hart was once again preferred in goal after Tom Heaton’s start in Greece last Thursday.
• What we learned: The Clarets will almost certainly rotate for their Europa League play-off second leg against Olympiakos this Thursday, with the starting XI for the visit of Manchester United next Sunday likely to closely resemble the side that lost at Craven Cottage. News is awaited on the severity of Gudmundsson’s hamstring strain, so with Robbie Brady and Stephen Defour still out injured, Taylor may once again find himself “out of position” on the left of midfield. Sacrificing a body in the engine room in order to play two of Wood, Barnes or Vokes up front is a possibility, but Hendrick was a rare shining light in an attacking midfield position at Fulham and would surely hold on to his starting berth for the visit of Jose Mourinho’s side. Ben Gibson will be suspended for the visit of Olympiakos, so one of Ben Mee or James Tarkowski may have to play in his stead on Thursday night. Gibson could instead come into contention next Sunday, given that the Clarets have shipped seven goals in their last two league fixtures. Phil Bardsley and Kevin Long are other options should Dyche decide to shake up his porous backline.

Current Status: Fairly settled
Risk Areas: Left midfield, forwards

Cardiff City

Starting XI (4-3-3): Etheridge; Bennett, Bamba, Morrison, Manga; Ralls, Camarasa (Reid 75’), Arter; Murphy, Zohore (Ward 59’), Mendez-Laing (Paterson 9’)

• What we saw: After a patched-up line-up in Gameweek 1 and the mass rotation of Gameweek 2, Neil Warnock’s team selection was remarkably unremarkable for the trip to Huddersfield on Saturday. The only change was enforced, too: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in for the injured Junior Hoilett on the right wing. Mendez-Laing lasted all of nine minutes of the encounter at the John Smith’s Stadium before succumbing to injury himself, with Callum Paterson – in the absence of any genuine wide-men – replacing the unfortunate winger on the flank. Danny Ward was given half an hour in attack as a second-half replacement for Kenneth Zohore, while Bobby Reid was sent on for Victor Camarasa as Warnock pushed for a winner against Cardiff’s ten-man opposition.
• What we learned: After successive clean sheets, Warnock will surely be tempted to keep the same back four and midfield three for the visit of Arsenal next weekend, though Aron Gunnarsson – if recovered from injury – would be an option to add more steel in the engine room. Changes appear likely in the front three, with Mendez-Laing joining Hoilett in the treatment room and Zohore’s place looking at risk from Ward or Gary Madine. Warnock, indeed, talked up interchanging those three strikers in his press conference last Friday. The City manager name-checked Kadeem Harris in his post-match interviews, so the youngster could well be involved in the squad of 18 for the visit of the Gunners next Sunday. Warnock will surely use the EFL Cup match against Norwich on Tuesday to experiment with personnel and system ahead of the encounter with Unai Emery’s side in Gameweek 4.

Current Status: Fairly settled
Risk Areas: Wingers, forwards

Chelsea

Starting XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic (Barkley 79′); Pedro (Willian 69′), Morata (Giroud 65′), Hazard

• What we saw: Eden Hazard and Mateo Kovacic got their first starts of the season in place of Willian and Ross Barkley, with Hazard completing the full 90 minutes. There were no changes elsewhere as Maurizio Sarri once again sent his team out in a 4-3-3, with all of his second-half substitutes being like-for-like replacements. Newcastle’s defensive set-up meant that there was ample opportunity for full-backs Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta to push on into attacking positions, with David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger the only Chelsea players whose average positions were inside their own half. Cesc Fabregas remained out through injury.
• What we learned: The team we saw at Newcastle on Sunday could well be Sarri’s first-choice XI for the foreseeable future, with Kovacic and Hazard now deemed fit enough to play from the start. Ten of Sarri’s first-choice starting XI at Napoli played at least 30 Serie A matches last season, with the new Chelsea boss fond of a settled side. A lack of Champions League participation would surely only alleviate the rotation risk further. Willian and Pedro might, as they have done for a while now, end up sharing pitch-time this season, while Sarri could theoretically decide to manage Kovacic and Hazard’s minutes in the forthcoming double-header at Stamford Bridge. The likes of Danny Drinkwater, Victor Moses, Gary Cahill and Emerson Palmieri failed to make the match-day squad and would appear to be a long way from Sarri’s thoughts at the present.

Current Status: Fairly settled
Risk Areas: Wingers

Crystal Palace

Starting XI (4-4-2): Hennessey; Ward, Kelly, Sakho, Van Aanholt; Townsend, Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp (Meyer 75′); Benteke (Sorloth 85′), Zaha

• What we saw: Joel Ward in for the suspended Aaron Wan-Bissaka was set to be Roy Hodgson’s only change to his side for the trip to Watford, but an injury to James Tomkins in the warm-up meant that Martin Kelly was forced to line up at centre-half alongside Mamadou Sakho. Hodgson’s 4-4-2 was otherwise unchanged, with “out of position” defender Jeffrey Schlupp playing on the left of midfield and Wilfried Zaha once again joining Christian Benteke in attack. The introduction of Max Meyer led to a change in system, with Schlupp sacrified, Zaha moving to the left flank and Meyer joining James McArthur and Luka Milivojevic in a midfield three.
• What we learned: Only line-up changes enforced by injury and suspension have been made by Hodgson this season, but the veteran manager may decide to alter his starting XI for tactical reasons when Southampton visit Selhurst Park next weekend. Meyer’s introduction and Zaha’s redeployment on the left wing led to a goal within three minutes and Hodgson may be tempted to include the Germany international in Gameweek 4 having said he was “ready to start” in last Friday’s press conference. Schlupp is the likely candidate to make way, with Palace possibly lining up as they did for the last 15 minutes of the defeat at Watford. Further news is awaited on Tomkins’ calf problem, but Wan-Bissaka will surely reclaim the right-back slot after Ward’s shaky display on Sunday afternoon.

Current Status: Fairly settled
Risk Areas: Left-midfield, centre-midfield

Everton

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Baines, Keane (Zouma 90+6’), Holgate, Coleman; Gueye, Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Walcott (Bernard 85’); Tosun (Calvert-Lewin 84’)

• What we saw: The inclusion of Tom Davies in place of the injured Morgan Schneiderlin was Marco Silva’s only change to his 4-2-3-1 set-up, though Michael Keane had to be replaced by Kurt Zouma in stoppage time after fracturing his skull. Deadline-day signings Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes weren’t ready to feature, although fellow summer capture Bernard got a run-out for the final five minutes of the draw at Bournemouth. Richarlison’s first-half dismissal means that the former Watford winger will now miss Everton’s next two league fixtures plus the midweek Carabao Cup match against Rotherham United.
• What we learned: While Silva’s system appears to be fairly settled, the Everton manager will be forced into making at least two changes next weekend. Richarlison’s suspension could mean that Bernard gets his first start in an Everton shirt, with the pint-sized Brazilian a natural fit on the left flank. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is another option there, should Bernard not be quite ready to play from the start. Silva should bring us up to speed in his press conference later this week as to whether Mina is ready to feature, with Keane certain to miss out. Zouma is the likelier deputy alongside Mason Holgate, at this stage. Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines once again gave unflattering performances and the latter especially is at risk from left-back Lucas Digne’s arrival. The lack of alternatives to Coleman, except for perhaps Jonjoe Kenny, might save the Irish international from the ignominy of bench duty, however. Should Schneiderlin win his fitness battle this week, then he will surely oust Davies in the double-pivot for the visit of Huddersfield Town.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Central defence, central midfield, left wing

Fulham

Starting XI (4-3-3): Bettinelli; Fosu-Mensah, Odoi, Le Marchand, Bryan (Chambers 71′); Seri, McDonald, Cairney (Anguissa 78′); Schurrle (Sessegnon 89′), Mitrovic, Vietto

• What we saw: While Slavisa Jokanovic remains committed to a 4-3-3, the personnel within that system is ever-changing. Jokanovic made five alterations to his starting XI, with all of the players dropping out demoted to bench duty rather than injured or suspended. Marco Bettinelli replacing Fabri was a slight surprise, though the biggest shock was perhaps Ryan Sessegnon’s omission. He and Aboubakar Kamara were replaced by Andre Schurrle and Luciano Vietto on the flanks, while Kevin McDonald and Denis Odoi were favoured over Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Calum Chambers respectively. Vietto and Schurrle dovetailed nicely with Aleksandar Mitrovic, either cutting inside from their respective stations or swapping flanks altogether. Chambers’ introduction at centre-half in the second 45 saw Maxime Le Marchand move out to left-back in place of the hooked Joe Bryan. Tom Cairney limped off late on and will be assessed.
• What we learned: Only Le Marchand, Bryan, Cairney, Mitrovic and Jean Michael Seri have started all three of Fulham’s matches this season so Jokanovic’s line-up for the trip to Brighton remains highly unpredictable. Further clues might be gleaned from the Cottagers’ line-up in the Carabao Cup match against Exeter City on Tuesday, with Fulham’s fringe players set to be given a chance at Craven Cottage. Sessegnon being restricted to a cameo off the bench was a blow to his FPL owners, particularly as Schurrle and Vietto excelled in his stead. Jokanovic will surely be tempted to roll out a similar eleven for the trip to Brighton next weekend, though could have defensive reinforcements in the shape of Alfie Mawson and Tim Ream available to him – only two sides have conceded more goals than the Cottagers this season. Anguissa will be pushing for a recall at the expense of McDonald, though Cairney’s still undetermined length of absence could force a rethink in central midfield.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, centre-back, central midfield, wingers

Huddersfield Town

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Hamer (Lossl 13’); Kongolo, Zanka, Schindler, Hadergjonaj; Hogg, Billing; Diahkaby (Mbenza 68’), Mooy, Van La Parra; Mounie (Depoitre 80’)

• What we saw: After rolling out a 3-5-1-1 and then a 4-4-1-1 in the first two Gameweeks of the season, David Wagner switched back to the 4-2-3-1 set-up that the Terriers largely employed in 2017/18. Five changes were made from the defeat to Manchester City, with Zanka, Aaron Mooy and Jonathan Hogg recovering from injury to reclaim their places and Rajiv van La Parra and Adama Diakhaby given starts on the flanks. Terence Kongolo moved over to left-back in place of Chris Lowe, while Alex Pritchard remained an unused substitute. An injury to Ben Hamer early in the first half gave Jonas Lossl a reprieve in goal, while Hogg was dismissed just after the hour-mark and will miss the Terriers’ next two league fixtures.
• What we learned: If Wagner continues with a 4-2-3-1 for the trip to Everton, then Hogg’s suspension will likely mean a return to the double-pivot for Aaron Mooy and a possible reprieve for Alex Pritchard in the hole. Alternatively, Florent Hadergjonaj or Jon Stankovic could be deployed “out of position” alongside Philip Billing, leaving Mooy in that advanced role. Another scenario could see Wagner change formation yet again and utilise the 3-5-1-1 formation that he reserved for the “big six” in 2017/18. That could see Kongolo return to centre-back, with Lowe and Tommy Smith/Hadergjonaj deployed as wing-backs. Lossl will replace Hamer if the latter is ruled out.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Wingers, attacking midfield, forwards

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