FPL Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 4 – Part One

Part one of our Line-up Lessons assesses the teamsheets and formations of ten Premier League clubs’ Gameweek 4 matches, with the second instalment to follow tomorrow.

Alexandre Lacazette made his first Arsenal start of the season as Henrikh Mkhitaryan dropped to the bench, while Willian got the nod over Pedro – who emerged as a second-half substitute to score – in Chelsea’s only change.

Injuries kept Wilfried Zaha and Tom Cairney out of their respective sides, while Theo Walcott succumbed to a rib problem and was substituted before the hour mark on Saturday afternoon.

Elsewhere, there were notable formation changes for Bournemouth, Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town.

Arsenal

Starting XI (4-2-3-1):  Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal; Guendouzi (Torreira 70′), Xhaka; Ozil (Welbeck 84′), Ramsey, Aubameyang (Mkhitaryan 89′); Lacazette

• What we saw: Alexandre Lacazette was given his first start of the season as the spearhead of the Arsenal attack, which meant a shift to the left flank for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang; the previous incumbent of that role, Alex Iwobi, missed out through illness. Mesut Ozil returned from his own ailment to take Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s place on the right of midfield, with Aaron Ramsey once again stationed in “the hole”. The seven players behind the front four were all unchanged, with Lucas Torreira having to make do with another substitute appearance.
• What we learned: This could be a season of frustration for owners of Arsenal’s attacking assets, given how frequently Unai Emery has altered his starting XI so far – whether this is because he is still unsure of his best side, or if he plans to rotate regardless, remains to be seen. A goal-and-assist return from Lacazette furthers his case for continued inclusion, while Emery’s positive post-match words about Ozil – not for the first time this season – suggests Mkhitaryan might be hard-pressed to reclaim his midfield spot for the trip to Newcastle in Gameweek 5. With Iwobi and Danny Welbeck alternative options on the flank, the picture is muddied further. Emery seems to have settled on his back seven, though the Gunners’ continued fragility in defence is cause for concern and Torreira must be wondering what he has to do get a start in the double-pivot. Petr Cech’s distribution continues to be an Achilles’ heel and with a ball-playing goalkeeper in Bernd Leno waiting in the wings, Cech is perhaps only a handling error or two away from his position being under serious threat.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Wingers, forward

Bournemouth

Starting XI (3-4-3):  Begovic; S Cook, Ake, Francis; Rico, Lerma (L Cook 88’), Gosling, A Smith (Ibe 80’); Fraser, Wilson, King (Mousset 80’).

• What we saw: Having named an unchanged starting XI for the first three matches this season, Eddie Howe tweaked system and personnel for the trip to Stamford Bridge. Simon Francis came into a back three alongside Nathan Ake and Steve Cook, while Diego Rico replaced Charlie Daniels and lined up at left wing-back on the opposite flank to Adam Smith. Jefferson Lerma ousted Andrew Surman in the central midfield two, while Ryan Fraser and Josh King flanked Callum Wilson in attack. David Brooks was the third Bournemouth player to miss out on Saturday.
• What we learned: A positive performance in defeat gives Howe plenty to think about for the visit of Leicester City in Gameweek 5, as do the displays of new-boys Lerma and Rico. While the Cherries were unbeaten in a 4-4-2 before last weekend, the south coast side could consider themselves unfortunate not to leave London with a point after not allowing the Blues a single “big chance” and carving out two of their own. Daniels was missing from the match-day squad at the weekend and news is awaited on any injury the long-serving full-back may have been carrying, but Rico may now have the upper hand in whatever formation Howe rolls out against the Foxes in Gameweek 5. If the Cherries revert back to a 4-4-2, Brooks would come back into contention possibly at the expense of extra centre-back Simon Francis. Lerma, Dan Gosling, Surman and Lewis Cook will compete for the two central midfield spots going forward, with Howe perhaps handling the personnel choice on a game-by-game basis depending on the opposition. Given the amount of money spent on Lerma, however, the Colombian defensive midfielder is perhaps the favourite out of this quartet to be granted more pitch-time.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-back, centre-back, central midfield, right-wing

Brighton and Hove Albion

Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Ryan; Bong, Dunk, Duffy, Montoya; March, Propper (Locadia 74’), Stephens, Knockaert (Jahanbakhsh 74’); Gross (Bissouma 60’); Murray.

• What we saw: Lewis Dunk returned from injury to replace Leon Balogun at centre-back, while Pascal Gross was in for Yves Bissouma as the support for Glenn Murray in attack. The Seagulls once again adopted a 4-4-1-1, with Solly March and Anthony Knockaert continuing on the flanks. Gross was replaced on the hour-mark by Bissouma, who then dropped back into central midfield alongside Dale Stephens when Davy Propper was hauled off with a quarter of an hour remaining. Propper’s replacement, Jurgen Locadia, joined Murray in attack as Chris Hughton switched to a 4-4-2 with his side pushing for an equaliser against Fulham.
• What we learned: With Brighton away from home in Gameweek 5, Bissouma could once again replace Gross to shore up the Seagulls’ midfield – as he had done in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool. Even if Jose Izquierdo recovers from injury to come into contention for the trip to Southampton, he – along with Alireza Jahanbakhsh – might struggle to oust the form wingers ahead of them in the queue. Hughton’s faith in the “old guard” was demonstrated by Dunk returning straight into the starting XI, despite Balogun’s decent displays in the previous two matches. Bruno, then, could threaten Martin Montoya’s start at right-back when the veteran likely returns from injury in Gameweek 5, despite his replacement barely putting a foot wrong in his three starts for the Seagulls.

Current Status: Fairly settled
Risk Areas: Attacking midfield, right-back

Burnley

Starting XI (4-5-1):  Hart; Bardsley, Mee, Tarkowski, Taylor; Lennon, Cork, Westwood, McNeil (Barnes 80′), Hendrick (Vokes 57′); Wood (Vydra 83′)

• What we saw: Sean Dyche changed his Premier League starting XI for the first time this season, replacing full-backs Stephen Ward and Matthew Lowton with Charlie Taylor and Phil Bardsley. Johann Berg Gudmundsson missed out through injury, so teenager Dwight McNeil was handed a start on the left flank. Jeff Hendrick was sacrificed in midfield just before the hour to allow Dyche to go 4-4-2, with Sam Vokes joining Chris Wood in attack. Matej Vydra and Ashley Barnes were also thrown on late in the match as Burnley attempted to claw their way back into the game against their ten-man opposition.
• What we learned: Historically one of the more settled Premier League teams, the Burnley side is in something of a flux at the moment, be it through injury or loss of form. Dyche had rotated his troops in Europe this season but had resisted the urge to do so domestically until Sunday, when he made three alterations to his starting XI. While the McNeil-for-Gudmundsson change was enforced, the full-back rotation was perhaps the first sign that Dyche has lost patience with his leaky defence – neither Lowton nor Ward were involved in the match against Olympiakos on Thursday either, so this was not a tactical decision based on fatigue. Ben Mee’s wobbly performance at centre-back suggests Ben Gibson or Kevin Long can’t be far away from challenging for a starting spot, meanwhile. The injured Gudmundsson, Robbie Brady and Steven Defour could well return after the international break to give Dyche some much-needed alternatives in midfield, though McNeil impressed again on the left flank. Wood’s struggles to lead the line himself may force Dyche into rethinking his 4-5-1, with Vokes’ introduction alongside the former Leeds man giving the Clarets more of a potent goal threat in the second half.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-backs, left midfield, forwards

Cardiff City

Starting XI (4-4-2):  Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Camarasa (Madine 89′), Ralls, Arter, Hoilett; Reid, Ward (Zohore 84′)

• What we saw: Neil Warnock switched from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 as the high-pressing Bluebirds took the game to Arsenal, with Junior Hoilett fit to return on the left of midfield and Victor Camarasa pushed out to the right flank. FPL midfielder Danny Ward joined Bobby Reid in the two-man attack, with Kenneth Zohore dropping to the bench. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing joined Aron Gunnarsson in the treatment room, while news is awaited on the reason for Josh Murphy’s absence from the match-day squad.
• What we learned: Neil Warnock’s comments after the match suggests that Cardiff may be intent on taking the game to their opposition in the coming weeks and, given that the Bluebirds broke their duck in front of goal against Arsenal, the City manager could decide to persist with this new system for the trip to Stamford Bridge. Ward has furthered his case for inclusion with a goal against the Gunners, while the excellent Camarasa drew praise from his manager after the match. Reid impressed alongside Ward, too, and with the back five and central midfield pairing of Joe Ralls and Harry Arter having played three successive league matches, changes could be at a minimum for the daunting Gameweek 5 fixture in west London. If fit, Gunnarsson offers more steel in the engine room, while Murphy and Zohore could come back into the reckoning with a switch back to a 4-3-3.

Current Status: Fairly settled
Risk Areas: Wingers, forwards

Chelsea

Starting XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Alonso, Rudiger, David Luiz, Azpilicueta; Kovacic (Loftus-Cheek 79’), Kante, Jorginho; Hazard, Willian (Pedro 65’), Morata (Giroud 61’).

• What we saw: Willian was preferred to Pedro on the right flank in Maurizio Sarri’s only change to his starting XI, as the Blues once again lined up in that familiar 4-3-3 shape. After making their first league starts of the season last weekend, Eden Hazard and Mateo Kovacic were back in the side for the visit of Bournemouth and impressed in their respective positions. Pedro replaced Willian midway through the second half and opened the scoring for the Blues, while Sarri’s other two changes – Olivier Giroud for Alvaro Morata and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for Kovacic – were also like-for-like. Cesc Fabregas remained out with a knee problem.
• What we learned: Little changes in Sarri’s system week on week, with no evidence – or need – for a Plan B as yet. The Willian/Pedro conundrum rolls on, as it has done for several seasons now: that seems to be the only real selection dilemma Sarri faces for the visit of Cardiff, with his side appearing settled elsewhere. The Chelsea head coach could incorporate both Willian and Pedro alongside Hazard, of course, with one of that trio playing as a false nine at the expense of the toiling Morata. David Luiz still fails to convince at centre-back, but Sarri is averse to making too many changes to a settled side and indeed the same back four have played every league match this campaign.

Current Status: Fairly settled
Risk Areas: Right-wing

Crystal Palace

Starting XI (4-4-2):  Hennessey; Van Aanholt, Sakho, Kelly, Wan-Bissaka; Schlupp (Meyer 76’), McArthur, Milivojevic, Townsend (Kouyate 72’); Ayew (Sorloth 76’), Benteke.

• What we saw: The only change to Roy Hodgson’s starting XI from the side that lost to Watford came up front, with the injured Wilfried Zaha replaced by Jordan Ayew. James Tomkins wasn’t fit to feature either, so Martin Kelly retained his position at centre-back. Max Meyer replaced Jeffrey Schlupp in the final quarter of an hour, with Alexander Sorloth also introduced at Ayew’s expense to give Christian Benteke some heavyweight support in attack.
• What we learned: News is awaited on the severity of Zaha’s groin problem, which could determine how Hodgson approaches the Gameweek 5 match against Huddersfield Town. If fit, Zaha could come straight back into the team at Ayew’s expense, but after three straight defeats, Hodgson might be re-thinking his 4-4-2 set-up. Schlupp looks most at risk for what surely is an imminent start for Meyer, which could see James McArthur move out to the left flank (if Zaha is ruled out) to accommodate the German international centrally. Cheikhou Kouyate is an option to replace the below-par Luka Milivojevic in the engine room, meanwhile. If Tomkins recovers over the international break, then he will surely oust Kelly at centre-back. Sorloth is another option up front, either instead of or alongside the struggling Benteke.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Centre-back, left-midfield, centre-midfield, forwards

Everton

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Digne (Baines 76’), Zouma, Holgate, Coleman; Davies, Schneiderlin; Calvert-Lewin, Sigurdsson (Niasse 76’), Walcott (Lookman 57’); Tosun.

• What we saw: Injury and suspension forced Marco Silva’s hand as he made three changes to his starting XI, though one of those alterations was Lucas Digne in at left-back for the dropped Leighton Baines. Richarlison (ban) and Idrissa Gueye (knee) missed out, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the fit-again Morgan Schneiderlin taking their places. Silva’s 4-2-3-1 set-up was otherwise unchanged, though a rib injury to Theo Walcott in the second half led to the Everton winger’s substitution.
• What we learned: Silva has been dealt a bad hand in recent weeks with the number of players unavailable to him, though his system has remained the same for the four league matches the Toffees have contested. Bernard (muscle injury) and Walcott have a fortnight to get fit before the visit of West Ham, with Silva struggling for numbers on the flanks. Calvert-Lewin, playing on the left wing, did his cause no harm with Everton’s equalising goal but will surely be ousted by Richarlison when the Brazilian returns from suspension in Gameweek 6. Should Walcott and Bernard fail to win their fitness races, then Ademola Lookman would seem set to start on the right flank. Tom Davies’ place in the double-pivot will very likely be taken by one of Gueye or Andre Gomes, meanwhile, should either central midfielder recover from their respective issues during the international break. Kurt Zouma impressed at centre-back at the weekend, so Mason Holgate would appear most at risk when Yerry Mina and Michael Keane are given a clean bill of health. Baines and Digne continue to tussle for the left-back role, with the Frenchman given his first league start of the season at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Left-back, central defence, central midfield, wingers

Fulham

Starting XI (4-3-3): Bettinelli; Le Marchand, Odoi, Mawson, Fosu-Mensah; Zambo Anguissa (Johansen 74’), McDonald, Seri; Vietto (R Sessegnon 74’), Mitrovic, Schurrle (Chambers 87’)

• What we saw: Tom Cairney (ankle) missed Fulham’s 2-2 draw with Brighton, with Slavisa Jokanovic opting for the steel of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa over the creativity of Stefan Johansen in his stead. Alfie Mawson was handed his first league start for the Cottagers at centre-half, with Maxime Le Marchard moving over to left-back in place of the benched Joe Bryan. The front three were unchanged as expected, though Luciano Vietto and Andre Schurrle did swap flanks to play as “inverted wingers” – a tactic Jokanovic had also employed in Fulham’s previous away match at Spurs.
• What we learned: While the 4-3-3 has remained a constant throughout August and into September, Jokanovic has made changes to his starting XI in each Premier League match this season and it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see further alterations for the trip to the Etihad in a fortnight’s time. Bryan could earn a reprieve at left-back to contend with the pace on City’s right flank, with Le Marchand and Denis Odoi perhaps competing for a spot alongside the fit-again Mawson. Jokanovic may consider playing both of Anguissa and Kevin McDonald again to stem the City tide, while Ryan Sessegnon will hope to get a reprieve at the expense of Vietto on the flank. Given the goalscoring exploits of both Schurrle and Aleksandar Mitrovic, these two in-form attackers would seem likely to be secure in their respective roles.

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

Huddersfield Town

Starting XI (5-4-1):  Lossl; Lowe, Schindler, Zanka, Kongolo, Hadergjonaj (Durm 76’); Mooy, Billing, Diakhaby (Kachunga 60’), van La Parra; Mounie (Depoitre 92’).

• What we saw: David Wagner employed a Newcastle-esque 5-4-1 for the trip to Goodison Park, with the Terriers happy to soak up the pressure and allow Everton time on the ball. Terence Kongolo moved to centre-half alongside Zanka and Christopher Schindler, with Chris Lowe coming into the side at left-back. Aaron Mooy and Philip Billing were the midfield pair in the absence of the suspended Jonathan Hogg, with Rajiv van La Parra and Adam Diakhaby continuing on the flanks in support of lone striker Steve Mounie. Jonas Lossl replaced the injured Ben Hamer in goal.
• What we learned: While the defensive set-up suited an away match at Goodison Park, Wagner may decide to revert back to a 4-2-3-1 for the visit of Crystal Palace in Gameweek 4. Alex Pritchard could get a reprieve in the hole with such a system change, with Lowe perhaps dropping out again and Kongolo moving over to left-back. Mounie has started every league match this season at the expense of Laurent Depoitre and seems secure in the short-term, though van La Parra and Diakhaby could be at risk from Isaac Mbenza, Elias Kachunga and – if fit – Ramadan Sobhi on the flanks. The goalkeeper situation is one to monitor when Hamer returns to fitness, with it being far from certain that the £4.0m-rated custodian automatically returns in place of Lossl.

Current Status: Fairly unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, left-back, wingers, attacking midfield, forwards

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