Line-up Lessons – Gameweek 32 – Part One

Antonio Conte brings in fit-again Victor Moses and reverts to Nemanja Matic in the Chelsea midfield. Craig Shakespeare rotates ahead of Leicester City’s European D-Day and Middlesbrough coach Steve Agnew switches to a defensive three but still can’t buy a win.

Here’s the first instalment of our Gameweek 32 teamsheet summary, outlining the trends and tactics on show and offering early insight into the likely line-ups to come next weekend.

Bournemouth

Starting XI: Boruc, Adam Smith, Francis, Steve Cook, Daniels, Fraser (Gradel 84), Arter, Wilshere, Pugh (Ibe 71), King, Afobe (Mousset 77).

• Eddie Howe made one change from the side that drew 2-2 against Liverpool for the home clash against Chelsea, with Ryan Fraser handed a recall in place of Jordon Ibe.
• Fraser returned on the right side of midfield in the 4-4-2 formation used by the Cherries’ boss. Josh King and Benik Afobe continued their blossoming partnership in attack.
• Howe’s first substitution saw Ibe brought on for Marc Pugh. Ibe played down the right flank, with Fraser temporarily moving to the left, although he made way for Max Gradel for the final six minutes. The other change saw youngster Lys Mousset take over from Afobe up front with 13 minutes remaining.
• Dan Gosling missed a second consecutive match due to a knock but, if he’s fit for Saturday’s trip to Spurs, could push for a recall in central midfield. Ibe appears to be edging back into favour under Howe, so he could be an option to start out wide at White Hart Lane in place of either Pugh or Fraser.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield, Flanks

Burnley

Starting XI: Heaton, Lowton, Mee, Keane, Ward, Boyd, Hendrick, Barton, Brady, Barnes (Tarkowski 90); Gray (Vokes 62).

• Clarets’ boss Sean Dyche made two changes from the side that beat Stoke City for the trip to Middlesbrough. Robbie Brady and Ashley Barnes were recalled in place of Sam Vokes and Steven Defour, with the latter missing out with a thigh problem.
• Brady started on the left of the four-man midfield, with Barnes stationed just behind lone striker Andre Gray in the 4-4-1-1 formation.
• Dyche made his first move just after the hour mark, with Vokes introduced in place of Gray in a straight swap. James Tarkowski then entered the fray late on, replacing Barnes in a defensive substitution. Tarkowski slotted in next to Michael Keane and Ben Mee in central defence to form a 5-4-1, with the visitors happy to hold on for a point by that stage.
• With Brady, Scott Arfield and Defour all vying for the starting spot on the left wing, Dyche could continue to rotate in that position. The Clarets face a trip to Everton next and Defour could push for a recall if available. Gray has been substituted in his last three appearances, so while he should keep hold of his starting role, Vokes is a viable alternative in attack.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Left Wing, Forwards

Chelsea

Starting XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses (Zouma 90+2), Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro (Willian 88), Costa, Hazard (Fabregas 84).

• Antonio Conte made two alterations for the trip to Bournemouth, with Nemanja Matic and the fit-again Victor Moses starting in place of Cesc Fabregas and Kurt Zouma.
• Matic returned alongside N’Gole Kante in central midfield in the usual 3-4-3 formation, with Moses slotting in at right wing-back. That allowed Cesar Azpilicueta to start in the three-man backline, alongside David Luiz and Gary Cahill.
• All three of Conte’s substitutions were made during the latter stages at the Vitality Stadium. Fabregas and Willian took over from Eden Hazard and Pedro in straight swaps, while Zouma was handed a brief run-out late on in place of Moses.
• With Moses back to full fitness, the only real selection dilemma likely to be faced by the Chelsea manager is who to start in the middle of the park alongside Kante. The Blues travel to Manchester United on Sunday, so that fixture could be more suited to the more defensive-minded Matic than Fabregas.

Current Status: Settled
Risk Areas: Central Midfield

Everton

Starting XI: Robles, Holgate, Pennington, Jagielka, Baines: Gueye, Schneiderlin (Barry 73), Mirallas, Barkley, Davies: Lukaku.

• Ronald Koeman made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Manchester United for the home fixture with Leicester City. Matthew Pennington replaced the suspended Ashley Williams, while the fit-again Morgan Schneiderlin came in for Gareth Barry.
• Pennington partnered Phil Jagielka in central defence and Schneiderlin formed part of a three-man midfield, playing just behind Idrissa Gueye and Tom Davies. Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas played as central attacking midfielders behind lone striker Romelu Lukaku, creating more of a 4-3-2-1 formation.
• Koeman only made one substitution, with Barry brought on to provide some fresh legs in place of Schneiderlin for the final 17 minutes.
• Williams will be available for the visit of Burnley to Goodison Park following his one-match ban, so he’s likely to return in place of Pennington in central defence. Koeman may keep faith in the same midfield trio, although Barry is a viable alternative. Likewise, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could challenge Mirallas for a starting spot.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield

Hull City

Starting XI: Jakupovic, Elmohamady, Dawson, Ranocchia, Robertson, Grosicki, N’Diaye, Clucas (Henriksen 58), Markovic, Niasse (Maloney 82), Evandro (Hernandez 58).

• Tigers’ head coach Marco Silva made two changes for the trip to The Etihad, with Michael Dawson replacing the injured Harry Maguire, while the fit-again Evandro was recalled in place of Abel Hernandez.
• Dawson started alongside Andrea Ranocchia in central defence and Evandro was stationed next to Alfred N’Diaye and Sam Clucas in a three-man midfield. Lazar Markovic (right) and Kamil Grosicki (left) flanked central striker Oumar Niasse.
• With his side trailing 2-0, Silva made a double substitution just before the hour mark, with Markus Henriksen and Hernandez introduced in place of Clucas and Evandro. Henriksen joined N’Diaye in central midfield and Hernandez played next to Niasse in attack, seeing the visitors switch to a 4-4-2 formation. The final substitution saw Shaun Maloney replace Niasse. Maloney played in more of a No 10 role as Hull ended the match in a 4-2-3-1.
• Maguire missed the trip to The Etihad with a knee injury picked up during the 4-2 win over Middlesbrough. If he remains out for Saturday’s trip to Stoke City, Dawson or Curtis Davies should partner Ranocchia in central defence. If Silva opts for a 4-3-3, the front six could stay unchanged. But if he wants to incorporate Hernandez in the starting XI, he may have to sacrifice Evandro, to allow the Uruguayan to partner Niasse in attack in a 4-4-2.

Current Status: Fairly Settled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield, Forwards

Leicester City

Starting XI: Schmeichel, Amartey, Benalouane, Huth, Chilwell, Albrighton (Ulloa 78), Drinkwater, King, Gray (Mahrez 61), Vardy (Musa 61), Slimani.

• Manager Craig Shakespeare made five changes for the trip to Goodison Park, with Daniel Amartey, Ben Chilwell, Marc Albrighton, Andy King and Islam Slimani replacing Danny Simpson, Christian Fuchs, Riyad Mahrez, Wilfred Ndidi and Shinji Okazaki.
• Amartey and Chilwell slotted in at right-back and left-back respectively, while Albrighton started on the right side of midfield. King joined Danny Drinkwater in the middle of the park and Slimani partnered Jamie Vardy up front in the 4-4-2 formation.
• Just after the hour mark, Shakespeare decided to introduce Mahrez and Ahmed Musa for Demarai Gray and Vardy. Mahrez played in his usual position on the right wing, with Albrighton switching flanks. Musa operated down the middle next to Slimani. As a final roll of the dice, Shakespeare brought on Leonardo Ulloa for Albrighton, with Musa then drifting over to the left to allow Ulloa to combine with Slimani up front.
• The Foxes’ Champions League quarter-final first leg clash against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday persuaded Shakespeare to rotate his side against Everton. With Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace sandwiched between the two European ties, there is a strong likelihood he’ll do something similar at Selhurst Park. Amartey and Chilwell could keep their places, then, with King and Slimani others who may be handed another start. Marcin Wasilewski and Musa could also come into the reckoning.

Current Status: Very Unsettled
Risk Areas: Full-Backs, Central Midfield, Flanks, Forwards

Liverpool

Starting XI: Mignolet, Lovren, Matip, Klavan; Alexander-Arnold (Coutinho 46), Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Clyne, Woodburn (Firmino 46), Origi (Sturridge 68).

• Jurgen Klopp made three alterations for the trip to Stoke City, with Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Woodburn replacing Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
• Those changes saw Liverpool line up in an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation. Matip joined Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan in central defence, with Alexander-Arnold (right) and Nathaniel Clyne (left) operating as wing-backs. James Milner was handed a central midfield role next to Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum, with Woodburn joining Divock Origi in attack.
• But with his side trailing 1-0 at half-time, Klopp decided to bring on Coutinho and Firmino in place of Alexander-Arnold and Woodburn. The Brazilian duo flanked central striker Origi, while Clyne moved to right wing-back, seeing the Reds switch to a 3-4-3. The final substitution saw Daniel Sturridge take over from Origi as the central striker for the final 22 minutes.
• After playing three matches in a week, Klopp could return to his usual 4-3-3 formation for Sunday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion. Coutinho and Firmino should start alongside Origi in attack, then, with Sturridge and Woodburn the alternatives. Lucas may be handed a recall in central midfield, unless the Liverpool manager considers using 3-4-3 from the start at The Hawthorns, with Can and Wijnaldum combining in central midfield.

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

Manchester City

Starting XI: Bravo, Navas, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy, Toure (Fernando 74), Delph, Sterling, Silva (Iheanacho 72), Sane (Nolito 66), Aguero.

• Pep Guardiola made four changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Chelsea for the home clash against Hull City, with Claudio Bravo, Aleksandar Kolarov, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling starting at the expense of Willy Caballero, Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho and Kevin De Bruyne.
• Kolarov returned to partner John Stones in central defence, while Toure sat alongside Fabian Delph at the base of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Sterling was stationed on the right of the attacking midfield trio, with Sergio Aguero operating as the lone striker for City.
• Guardiola’s first change saw Nolito take over from Leroy Sane on the left wing for the final 24 minutes. Kelechi Iheanacho then replaced David Silva in the No 10 role, with the final substitution seeing Fernando come on for Toure in a straight swap.
• It’s in central defence where Guardiola looks most likely to continue to rotate, with Nicolas Otamendi and Kompany viable alternatives to Stones and Kolarov. Jesus Navas and Gael Clichy have been regular starters in the full-back positions of late, and may continue to remain in favour. Fernandinho, along with De Bruyne, could well earn recalls when the Citizens travel to Southampton on Saturday, so they may replace Toure and Delph in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

Current Status: Slightly Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Central Midfield

Manchester United

Starting XI: Romero, Damian, Bailly, Rojo, Shaw (Blind 61), Fellaini, Herrera, Pogba, Lingard (Rashford 64), Mkhitaryan (Martial 78), Ibrahimovic.

• United boss Jose Mourinho made five changes for the trip to Sunderland, with Sergio Romero, Matteo Darmian, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan starting at the expense of David de Gea, Ashley Young, Daley Blind, Michael Carrick and Marcus Rashford.
• Mourinho switched to a 4-3-2-1 system at the Stadium of Light, with Pogba starting on the left of the central midfield trio. Mkhitaryan played in a central attacking midfield role behind lone striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Darmian and Shaw slotted in at right-back and left-back respectively.
• Shaw was the first player to make way for United, with Blind taking over at left-back shortly after the hour mark. Rashford then replaced Lingard, seeing United switch to a 4-3-1-2 as the youngster joined Ibrahimovic in attack. Anthony Martial was handed a few minutes late on in place of Mkhitaryan.
• Mourinho chose to rotate his side ahead of United’s Europa League quarter-final first leg at Anderlecht, but it remains to be seen if he’ll repeat the move next weekend, given that leaders Chelsea are the visitors to Old Trafford. De Gea missed out due to a minor hip problem, but he, along with Antonio Valencia, who sat out a second successive match, should be available if selected. Carrick provides another option in central midfield, while Rashford and Martial are viable alternatives in attack. Blind may also push for a recall at left-back in place of Shaw.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Goalkeeper, Full-Backs, Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield

Middlesbrough

Starting XI: Valdes, Bernardo (Bamford 83), Ayala, Gibson, Barragan, Clayton, Leadbitter, Forshaw, Downing, Gestede (Traore 69), Stuani (Negredo 58).

• Steve Agnew made four changes for the home encounter against Burnley, with Bernardo Espinosa, Grant Leadbitter, Adam Forshaw and Cristhian Stuani starting in place of James Husband, Marten de Roon, Adama Traore and Alvaro Negredo.
• Those changes saw Boro switch from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 system, with Bernardo joining Daniel Ayala and Ben Gibson in the three-man defence. Antonio Barragan and Stewart Downing operated in the wing-back positions, while Forshaw linked up with Adam Clayton and Grant Leadbitter in central midfield. Stuani partnered Rudy Gestede in attack.
• But with the match goalless, Agnew decided to introduce Negredo in place of Stuani just before the hour mark in a straight swap. Gestede then made way for Traore, although the substitute, who normally plays wide on the right, remained in a fairly central role. As a final roll of the dice, the Boro head coach threw on Patrick Bamford for Bernardo, seeing the home side end the match in a 4-4-2, with Bamford joining Negredo in attack, while Traore moved to the right wing.
• After failing to register three points once again, Agnew could consider changing systems for the visit of Arsenal to the Riverside a week today. Much will depend on whether Fabio (concussion) or George Friend (calf) are fit to return. Calum Chambers won’t be eligible to play against his parent club, though. But with matches running out, it’s likely Agnew will continue to play with two forwards, so Negredo may earn a recall in place of Stuani. If he opts for a 4-4-2, Traore should push for a start on the right, with Downing perhaps on the left if Fabio or Friend are available to play at left-back. Gaston Ramirez would be another option to play on the left if he can recover from an ankle injury. De Roon was surprisingly dropped last weekend, but after playing three matches in six days, that might have been due to fatigue. He should return to the starting XI against the Gunners, then, perhaps joining Clayton in the middle of the park.

Current Status: Unsettled
Risk Areas: Central Defence, Left-Back/Left Wing-Back, Central Midfield, Flanks, Forwards

Part Two of Lineup Lessons, covering the remaining ten teams, will be published tomorrow.