Every week this new series will take a look at the predicted starting line-ups for clubs in the English Premier League. Knowing which players are expected to play each weekend is a crucial element for every active Fantasy Football manager. The starting XIs for the EPL clubs is increasingly hard to predict, due to congested fixture calendars and the quality of squad depths as a result of the vast amounts of money the EPL clubs generate.
For the moment, we will consider the lineups of the top-10 teams in the Premier League as it stands by the start of the upcoming gameweek, divided over two articles (this part 1 covers the teams in positions 1 to 5, part 2 covers the lineups for positions 6 to 10). We might analyse the lineups of all teams at a later stage, based on the interest shown in this series. As far as gameweek 14 goes, we will take a look at confirmed starting lineups for the top-10 teams in gameweek 13, compare those to our predictions for that gameweek, and then predict their lineups for gameweek 14.
For much of the injury news mentioned in these pieces, we consult, among other club-specific sources, the excellent Twitter account and website of Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery). Lineups are written down from left to right, as seen from the goalkeeper’s perspective (so in defence, for example, from left-back to right-back).
Factors potentially affecting lineups per team in the build-up to GW14
| Liverpool | Champions League group stage vs Napoli (H) on Wed 27/11 (1-1) |
| Leicester City | None |
| Manchester City | Champions League group stage vs Shahktar Donetsk (H) on Tue 26/11 (1-1) |
| Chelsea | Champions League group stage vs Valencia (a) on Wed 27/11 (2-2) |
| Wolves | Europa League group stage vs SC Braga (a) on Thu 28/11 (3-3) |
The Premier League at the start of gameweek 14 (positions 1 to 5)
| 1 | Liverpool | 37 pts |
| 2 | Leicester City | 29 pts |
| 3 | Manchester City | 28 pts |
| 4 | Chelsea | 26 pts |
| 5 | Wolves | 19 pts |
Lineups for gameweek 13: Predicted vs. confirmed
LIVERPOOL (away vs. Crystal Palace, 1-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 13 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 13 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 3 – 3 | 4 – 3 – 3 | |
| FOR | Mané, Firmino, Origi | Mané, Firmino, O. Chamberlain | |
| MID | Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Henderson | Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Henderson | |
| DEF | Milner, Van Dijk, Lovren, A.-Arnold | Robertson, Van Dijk, Lovren, A.-Arnold | |
| GK | Alisson | Alisson | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) Origi > O. Chamberlain, Milner > Henderson, Gomez > Firmino | |
| Goals | /// | Mané (Robertson), Firmino |
LEICESTER CITY (away vs. Brighton, 0-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 13 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 13 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 1 – 4 – 1 | 4 – 1 – 4 – 1 | |
| FOR | Vardy | Vardy | |
| MID | H. Barnes, Maddison, Tielemans, Ayoze | H. Barnes, Maddison, Tielemans, Ayoze | |
| DEF MID | Ndidi | Ndidi | |
| DEF | Chilwell, Söyüncü, Evans, Ricardo Pereira | Chilwell, Söyüncü, Evans, Ricardo Pereira | |
| GK | Schmeichel | Schmeichel | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) Morgan > Evans, Praet > Ayoze, D. Gray > H. Barnes | |
| Goals | /// | Ayoze (Vardy), Vardy (D. Gray) |
MANCHESTER CITY (home vs. Chelsea, 2-1)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 13 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 13 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 3 – 3 | 4 – 3 – 3 | |
| FOR | Sterling, Aguero, Mahrez | Sterling, Aguero, Mahrez | |
| MID | David Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne | David Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne | |
| DEF | Angeliño, Fernandinho, Stones, Walker | Mendy, Fernandinho, Stones, Cancelo | |
| GK | Ederson | Ederson | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) Gundogan > Rodri, Foden > D. Silva, G. Jesus > Aguero | |
| Goals | /// | De Bruyne, Mahrez (Rodri) |
CHELSEA (away vs. Manchester City, 2-1)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 13 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 13 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 3 – 3 | |
| FOR | Abraham | Pulisic, Abraham, Willian | |
| MID | Pulisic, Mount, Willian | /// | |
| DEF MID | Kovacic, Kanté | Kovacic, Jorginho, Kanté | |
| DEF | Emerson, Tomori, Zouma, Azpilicueta | Emerson, Tomori, Zouma, Azpilicueta | |
| GK | Kepa | Kepa | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) R. James > Emerson, Batshuayi > Abraham, Mount > Jorginho | |
| Goals | /// | Kanté (Kovacic) |
WOLVES (away vs. Bournemouth, 1-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 13 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 13 | ||
| Form. | 5 – 2 – 3 | 5 – 2 – 3 | |
| FOR | Jota, Jimenez, Traoré | Jota, Jimenez, Traoré | |
| MID | Moutinho, Neves | Moutinho, Neves | |
| DEF | Jonny, Saiss, Coady, Dendoncker, Doherty | Jonny, Saiss, Coady, Dendoncker, Doherty | |
| GK | Patricio | Patricio | |
| Subs | /// | (late 2nd half) Vinagre > Jonny | |
| Goals | /// | Moutinho (Jota), Jimenez (Traoré) |
Predicted lineups for gameweek 14
LIVERPOOL (home vs. Brighton)
| Form. | 4 – 3 – 3 |
| FOR | Mané, Firmino, Salah |
| MID | Wijnaldum, Keita, Henderson |
| DEF | Robertson, Van Dijk, Lovren, Alexander-Arnold |
| GK | Alisson |
| Ruled out | Fabinho, Clyne, Matip |
| Doubtful | Keita |
| Notes | The biggest team news for the Reds is the fresh injury of central midfielder Fabinho, who could be out until after the Christmas period. Matip remains sidelined as well, but Jurgen Klopp has no other important injuries in his team to worry about. Keita would be a logical replacement for Fabinho, but considering Liverpool are facing Brighton at home, Oxlade-Chamberlain might come into the picture as well. Lovren, who scored the important equaliser against Napoli on Wednesday will keep replacing Matip. Alexander-Arnold and Wijnaldum were spared mid-week, though the Dutchman did have to come on for the injured Fabinho after 19 minutes. TAA came on for Milner after 78 minutes. |
LEICESTER CITY (home vs. Everton)
| Form. | 4 – 1 – 4 – 1 |
| FOR | Vardy |
| MID | H. Barnes, Maddison, Tielemans, Ayoze Perez |
| DEF MID | Ndidi |
| DEF | Chilwell, Söyüncü, Evans, Ricardo Pereira |
| GK | Schmeichel |
| Ruled out | None |
| Doubtful | Evans |
| Notes | As has been the case for an extended run of fixtures now, manager Brendan Rodgers has no relevant injury concerns to worry about. Evans is a small doubt after some discomfort during the last game, but Rodgers has stated that he is OK again and ready to feature against Everton. We expect the same starting eleven as last weekend. |
MANCHESTER CITY (away vs. Newcastle)
| Form. | |
| FOR | Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva |
| MID | David Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne |
| DEF | Mendy, Fernandinho, Stones, Walker |
| GK | Ederson |
| Ruled out | Zinchenko, Sané, Laporte, Aguero |
| Doubtful | None |
| Notes | Sergio Aguero is expected to be out for about three weeks, during which Gabriel Jesus should be replacing him, starting with Saturday’s opening game at Saint James’ Park. He is likely to be accompanied in attack by Sterling and either Mahrez, who netted the winning goal versus Chelsea last week or, after playing the full 90 minutes in the Champions League this week, Bernardo Silva who was suspended in the EPL last weekend. The midfield could very well be a copy of last weekend’s starters, with David Silva (who came on in the 70th minute for KDB mid-week), Rodri (replaced by Foden in minute 76 mid-week) and De Bruyne (replaced by David Silva in minute 70). At the back, the centre will probably be formed by Fernandinho and Stones, as the latter was replaced by Otamendi for the mid-week game against Shakhtar. In that game, Angeliño and Cancelo started as full-backs, so we consider it very possible that Mendy will start on the left and Walker on the right against Newcastle. |
CHELSEA (home vs. West Ham)
| Form. | 4 – 3 – 3 |
| FOR | Pulisic, Batshuayi, Willian |
| MID | Mount, Jorginho, Kanté |
| DEF | Emerson, Tomori, Zouma, Azpilicueta |
| GK | Kepa |
| Ruled out | Loftus-Cheek, Abraham, Rüdiger, |
| Doubtful | Hudson-Odoi, Barkley |
| Notes | The 48.3% of FPL managers who own Abraham won’t be happy about Lampard’s news regarding his striker’s injury and subsequent confirmed absence in gameweek 14. Batshuayi is expected to replace him, though Giroud is also an option up front. Barkley and Loftus-Cheek remain sidelined, while Rüdiger and Hudson-Odoi are working on their match fitness. Kovacic has been outstanding of late, but he seemed to be conditionally suffering in the final minutes against Valencia (he did score in the 41st min), after a run of many games in a relatively short amount of time for club and country. Combined with Mount’s absence from the starting line-up in the past two Premier League games while he was recovering from injury, we feel that Mount could replace Kovacic against West Ham. Tomori and Emerson were spared against Valencia, and should return this weekend. |
WOLVES (home vs. Sheffield United)
| Form. | 5 – 2 – 3 |
| FOR | Jota, Jimenez, Traoré |
| MID | Moutinho, Neves |
| DEF | Jonny, Bennett, Coady, Dendoncker, Doherty |
| GK | Patricio |
| Ruled out | Boly, Saiss (suspension, 5 yellow cards) |
| Doubtful | Gibbs-White, Bennett |
| Notes | For the mid-week Europa League against SC Braga, manager Espirito Santo started with what probably is his strongest possible line-up at the moment. In comparison to our prediction, only Saiss was playing instead of Bennett on Thursday. This weekend, Saiss is suspended and will most likely be replaced by Bennett. Jota (80th min), Jimenez (69th min) and Traoré (75th min) were all taken off early against Braga, so they are expected to start versus Sheffield United. Besides Boly, Wolves are not dealing with other major injury concerns. |
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