Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 3 – Part One

Next on this Monday afternoon we take a run through the team sheets and tactics for signs of lessons learned over the weekend. We get underway with the first 10 teams before rolling out part two tomorrow.

Arsenal

Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Holding, Koscielny, Monreal (Gibbs 74); Xhaka, Cazorla; Walcott, Ozil (Wilshere 70), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Elneny 70); Sanchez.

• Arsene Wenger made one adjustment for the trip to Watford, with Mesut Ozil making his first start of the season, coming in for Francis Coquelin.
• Ozil started in his usual number ten role in Wenger’s standard 4-2-3-1 formation, flanked by Theo Walcott (right) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (left) in the advanced midfield positions. Alexis Sanchez continued as the lone striker for the Gunners, while Santi Cazorla dropped back into the double-pivot alongside Granit Xhaka.
• Wenger made a double substitution with 20 minutes remaining, with Mohamed Elneny and Jack Wilshere replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ozil. Elneny dropped in alongside Xhaka in central midfield, with Wilshere and Cazorla playing slightly in advance of the two sitting midfielders. Nacho Monreal had to be substituted four minutes later after picking up a knock, with Kieran Gibbs replacing the Spaniard in a straight swap.
• With the signings of Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez to be confirmed imminently, Wenger will have plenty of options ahead of the home clash against Southampton. The German defender could replace Rob Holding in central defence, while Gibbs will fill in for Monreal should his injury be more serious than initially feared. Perez could feature as the lone striker, although Olivier Giroud is continuing to build up his match fitness and is another option in that position, with Sanchez then likely to be moved back to one of the wide positions. That would leave one of either Walcott or Oxlade-Chamberlain at risk. Wenger also has a plethora of options in central midfield, with Coquelin, Elneny and Wilshere all available, while Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) may also be close to a return after the international break.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Left-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Lone Striker

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc; Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels; Surman, Arter; Ibe (Gosling 59), King, Fraser (Ake 88); Wilson (Grabban 70).

• Eddie Howe named an unchanged side from the one that lost 1-0 at West Ham for the trip to Selhurst Park.
• Howe did alter the shape of his side, though, opting for a 4-2-3-1 instead of the 4-4-1-1 used against the Hammers – wingers Jordon Ibe (right) and Ryan Fraser (left) were far more advanced for the Cherries.
• For the third successive match, Ibe was substituted, with Dan Gosling this time replacing the former Liverpool man just before the hour mark. That change, with Bournemouth holding a 1-0 lead, saw Howe revert to more of a 4-3-3, with Gosling alongside Harry Arter and Andrew Surman in midfield, with King moving to the right side of the front three. With 20 minutes remaining, Callum Wilson made way for Lewis Grabban in a straight swap, while with Palace continuing to press for a late equaliser, Nathan Ake came on in place of Fraser for the final few minutes.
• The Cherries are still struggling for inspiration in attack, so Wilson’s starting position still appears in a little doubt, with Grabban and Benik Afobe the main alternatives, while Max Gradel could push for a start in one of the wide positions. After an improved performance in general, Howe may stick with the same back four and central midfield pairing.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks, Lone Striker

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton; Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward; Boyd, Marney (Tarkowski 72), Defour (O’Neill 57), Arfield (Gudmundsson 57); Gray, Vokes.

• Sean Dyche unsurprisingly named an unchanged starting XI from the one that beat Liverpool 2-0 for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
• He kept faith in his usual 4-4-2 formation, then, with Andre Gray and Sam Vokes combining in attack for the Clarets.
• With his side trailing 2-0, Dyche made a double substitution just before the hour mark, with Aiden O’Neill and Johann Berg Gudmundsson replacing Steven Defour and Scott Arfield in straight swaps. Dyche’s final change saw James Tarkowski introduced for Dean Marney, who had picked up a slight knock. Tarkowski, usually a centre-back, was stationed in front of the back four as Burnley looked to tighten up.
• With Dyche very loyal to his favoured starting XI, he could again name an unchanged starting XI for the home fixture against Hull in Gameweek 4. Gudmundsson does provide an alternative out wide though, with the Iceland international putting pressure on both Arfield and George Boyd for a starting spot.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Flanks

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Kante; Willian (Moses 77), Oscar, Matic, Hazard (Pedro 80); Costa (Batshuayi 80).

• Antonio Conte only made one alteration for the home clash against Burnley, with the fit-again Willian coming in for Pedro.
• The Brazilian returned in his usual position on the right flank, with the usual 4-1-4-1 formation looking more like a 4-1-2-3 system this weekend, perhaps due to the Blues being at home and taking on one of the lesser sides. Eden Hazard started on the left, with Diego Costa the central striker, while Oscar and Nemanja Matic operated just in front of holding midfielder N’Golo Kante.
• With the match won, Conte introduced Victor Moses, Pedro and Michy Batshuayi during the final 15 minutes, replacing Willian, Hazard and Costa in straight swaps.
• Providing none of his international players pick up injuries over the next 10 days, Conte may well name an unchanged starting XI for the trip to Swansea. Cesc Fabregas, Pedro and Moses do provide other options in central midfield and on the right wing, but Oscar, Matic and Willian should hold onto their starting positions.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Right Wing

Crystal Palace

Starting XI: Mandanda; Ward (Kelly 88), Dann, Delaney, Souare; Townsend, McArthur (Lee Chung-yong 66), Cabaye, Puncheon; Benteke, Wickham (Zaha 66).

• Alan Pardew made four changes from the side that lost 1-0 at Tottenham for the home encounter against Bournemouth, with Steve Mandanda, James McArthur, Yohan Cabaye and Christian Benteke coming in for Joe Ledley, Lee Chung-yong, Wilfried Zaha and the injured Wayne Hennessey.
• Pardew opted to change from his usual 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2 against the Cherries, with club-record signing Benteke partnering Connor Wickham in attack. McArthur and Cabaye combined in the middle of the park, flanked by Andros Townsend (right) and Jason Puncheon (left).
• With his side a goal behind, Pardew made a double substitution after 66 minutes, with Lee and Zaha entering the fray in place of McArthur and Wickham. Those changes saw Pardew revert back to the 4-2-3-1, with Zaha on the right, Townsend left and Puncheon in the number ten role. Lee partnered Cabaye at the base of midfield. Martin Kelly came on for Joel Ward at right-back for the final few minutes.
• Hennessey was ruled out with a leg injury on the weekend, and with Mandanda always expected to be Palace’s first choice keeper, the France international may now get the chance to establish himself in the side. James Tomkins is now fully fit, and after the international break could put pressure on Damien Delaney at centre-back. Should Zaha stay at the club beyond the transfer window, with Tottenham interested in the winger, he should return to the starting XI, with Wickham possibly dropping out – seeing Pardew revert back to his favoured 4-2-3-1 from the start for the trip to Middlesbrough.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Central Defence, Left Wing, Strikers

Everton

Starting XI: Stekelenburg: Holgate, Jagielka, Williams, Baines: Barry, Gueye: Bolasie (Davies 88), Barkley (Funes Mori 84), Mirallas (Kone 70): Lukaku.

• Ronald Koeman made three changes from the side that beat West Brom 2-1 for the visit of Stoke to Goodison Park, with Ashley Williams, Yannick Bolasie and Romelu Lukaku starting in place of Ramiro Funes Mori, James McCarthy and Gerard Deulofeu.
• Koeman started with the 4-2-3-1 formation he finished the match against West Brom with, meaning Williams partnered Phil Jagielka in central defence, with Mason Holgate playing at right-back. Bolasie (right), Ross Barkley (number ten) and Kevin Mirallas (left) formed the attacking midfield trio behind lone striker Lukaku.
• For his first substitution, Koeman turned to Arouna Kone, with the former Wigan player taking over from Mirallas for the final 20 minutes. Funes Mori came in in place of Barkley with six minutes left to form a five-man backline as the Toffees looked to hold onto their 1-0 lead, with youngster Tom Davies was handed a few minutes at the death, replacing Bolasie.
• With Williams and Bolasie now integrated into the side, Koeman’s preferred starting XI appears to be emerging. Seamus Coleman may not quite be ready to return against Sunderland in Gameweek 4, so Holgate could keep his starting spot at right-back for another week. Deulofeu offers an another option on the flanks, but Bolasie and Mirallas appear the first choices for the time being.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Right-Back, Flanks

Hull City

Starting XI: Jakupovic; Elmohamady, Davies, Livermore, Robertson; Huddlestone, Meyler, Clucas; Snodgrass (Maloney 48), Hernandez (Maguire 83), Diomande.

• Following back-to-back victories, caretaker manager Mike Phelan unsurprisingly named an unchanged starting XI for the home encounter against Man United.
• Phelan once again rolled out the 4-1-4-1 formation, then, with Robert Snodgrass (right) and Adama Diomande (left) trying to support lone striker Abel Hernandez.
• Phelan was forced into making a substitution just three minutes into the second half, with Snodgrass forced off due to a calf injury. He was replaced by Shaun Maloney in a straight swap. With the Tigers under siege from United with the match still goalless, Phelan brought on centre-back Harry Maguire in place of Hernandez, forming a five-man backline, while Diomande moved to the lone striker role.
• Snodgrass is a doubt for the Gameweek 4 trip to Burnley, so Maloney will be on standby should the former Norwich player be ruled out. Otherwise, it’s only new faces arriving at the KCOM Stadium that are likely to see further changes to the Hull side.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Right Wing

Leicester

Starting XI: Schmeichel (Zieler 57); Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Mahrez, Drinkwater, Amartey, Albrighton (Musa 75); Vardy, Okazaki (Ulloa 80).

• Claudio Ranieri was forced into making one alteration from the side that drew 0-0 against Arsenal for the home clash against Swansea, with Daniel Amartey coming in for the injured Nampalys Mendy.
• Amartey started alongside Danny Drinkwater in centre midfield in the usual 4-4-1-1 formation, with Shinji Okazaki in the support striker role behind Jamie Vardy.
• Kasper Schmeichel aggravated an existing hernia injury, and had to be replaced after 57 minutes, with Ron-Robert Zieler taking over in goal for the Foxes. Ahmed Musa and Leonardo Ulloa made late appearances, replacing Marc Albrighton and Okazaki in straight swaps.
• Schmeichel will undergo a minor operation on his hernia injury over the international break, and is expected to be fit in time to start against Liverpool in Gameweek 4. Amartey did a decent job filling in in central midfield against the Swans, but Mendy (ankle) could be fit to face the Reds, while Andy King offers another option in that position. After getting their first win of the season on Saturday, the likes of Musa, Demarai Gray and Ulloa appear unlikely to force their way into the side for the tough trip to Anfield.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Central Midfield

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner; Lallana (Stewart 90), Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mane (Sturridge 87), Firmino, Coutinho (Origi 68).

• Jurgen Klopp made two changes for the trip to White Hart Lane, with Joel Matip and the fit-again Sadio Mane coming in for Ragnar Klavan and Daniel Sturridge.
• Matip partnered Dejan Lovren in central defence for the Reds, while Mane started on the right of the front three, with Roberto Firmino continuing in the “false nine” role.
• Having been a slight doubt before the match due to a muscle injury, Philippe Coutinho was the first player to be replaced, with Divock Origi introduced after 68 minutes. The Belgian operated as the central striker, with Firmino moving over to the left flank. Sturridge was only handed a brief substitute appearance, taking over from Mane on the right of the front three, with Kevin Stewart replacing Adam Lallana during stoppage time as Liverpool appeared happy to hold on for a point.
• Should Emre Can recover from an ankle injury, he could be an option in central midfield when the Reds host Leicester at Anfield after the international break. The German international has had a disrupted opening month of the season, though, so Klopp could stick with Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Lallana in those positions. Origi and Sturridge offer great options in attack, but they may only be named in the side should Klopp switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Firmino then dropping back into the number ten role. Matip would seem likely to retain his start in central defence ahead of Klavan even when the Estonian returns from the minor knee problem that saw him miss the White Hart Lane trip.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Central Striker, Central Defence

Man City

Starting XI: Caballero; Zabaleta, Stones (Kolarov 59), Otamendi, Clichy; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva; Sterling, Aguero (Fernando 88), Nolito (Nasri 75).

• Pep Guardiola made two changes from the side that beat Stoke 4-1 for the home fixture against West Ham, with Gael Clichy and Nolito coming in for Aleksandar Kolarov and Jesus Navas.
• Clichy came in at left-back for City, while Nolito returned on the left of the four-man midfield, with Raheem Sterling back onto the right flank in the same 4-1-4-1 formation.
• After suffering a knock during the first half, and an eye injury early in the second half, John Stones was replaced by Kolarov in a straight swap just before the hour mark. Samir Nasri then took over from Nolito on the left for the final 15 minutes, with Fernando the final substitute, coming on in central midfield in place of Sergio Aguero as Guardiola looked to hold onto City’s 2-1 lead.
• With Stones named in the England squad, he should be fine to face Man United following the international break. Bacary Sagna (hamstring) could be available for that match though, while Kolarov could also push for a recall, leaving some doubt as to who will play in the full-back positions. Claudio Bravo could come in for Willy Caballero in goal after arriving from Barcelona. It remains to be seen whether Sergio Aguero will face any retrospective FA charge following an incident involving Winston Reid – if he earns a ban, Kelechi Iheanacho could step in up top or Guardiola could even use a “false nine” system. Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane will be looking to step up their fitness in time to offer options against United.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Full-Backs, Flanks