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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 three articles. This part 3 covers the teams in positions 7 to 10, part 1 covers the lineups for positions 1 to 3, and part 2 looks at the formations for positions 4 to 6. We might analyse the lineups of all teams at a later stage, based on the interest shown in this series. As far as gameweek 15 goes, we will take a look at confirmed starting lineups for the top-10 teams in gameweek 14, compare those to our predictions for that gameweek, and then predict their lineups for gameweek 15.
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 GW15
| Sheffield United | GW14 |
| Arsenal | GW14 |
| Manchester United | GW14 |
| Burnley | GW14 |
The Premier League at the start of gameweek 15 (positions 7 to 10)
| 7 | Sheffield United | 19 pts |
| 8 | Arsenal | 19 pts |
| 9 | Manchester United | 18 pts |
| 10 | Burnley | 18 pts |
Lineups for gameweek 14: Predicted vs. confirmed
SHEFFIELD UNITED (away vs. Wolves, 1-1)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 14 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 14 | ||
| Form. | 5 – 3 – 2 | 5 – 3 – 2 | |
| FOR | McGoldrick, Mousset | McGoldrick, Mousset | |
| MID | Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram | Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram | |
| DEF | Stevens, O’Connell, Egan, Basham, Baldock | Stevens, O’Connell, Egan, Basham, Baldock | |
| GK | Henderson | Henderson | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) McBurnie > McGoldrick, Robinson > Mousset, Freeman > Lundstram | |
| Goals | /// | Mousset (Baldock) |
ARSENAL (away vs. Norwich, 2-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 14 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 14 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 3 – 3 | |
| FOR | Lacazette | Özil, Lacazette, Aubameyang | |
| MID | Aubameyang, Özil, Pepe | Guendouzi, Xhaka, Willock | |
| DEF MID | Torreira, Guendouzi | /// | |
| DEF | Tierney, David Luiz, Sokratis, Bellerin | Kolasinac, D. Luiz, Mustafi, Chambers | |
| GK | Leno | Leno | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) Torreira > Willock, Saka > Guendouzi, Martinelli > Özil | |
| Goals | /// | Aubameyang (Mustafi), Aubameyang (Özil) |
MANCHESTER UNITED (home vs. Aston Villa, 2-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 13 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 13 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | |
| FOR | Martial | Martial | |
| MID | Rashford, Pereira, James | Rashford, Mata, James | |
| DEF MID | Matic, Fred | Pereira, Fred | |
| DEF | B. Williams, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka | B. Williams, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka | |
| GK | De Gea | De Gea | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) Lingard > Mata, Shaw > B. Williams, Greenwood > Martial | |
| Goals | /// | Heaton (OG, Rashford), Lindelof |
BURNLEY (home vs. Crystal Palace, 0-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 14 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 14 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 4 – 2 | 4 – 4 – 2 | |
| FOR | Barnes, Wood | Barnes, Wood | |
| MID | Brady, Cork, Hendrick, McNeil | McNeil, Cork, Hendrick, Brady | |
| DEF | Taylor, Mee, Tarkowski, Bardsley | Taylor, Mee, Tarkowski, Bardsley | |
| GK | Pope | Pope | |
| Subs | /// | (1st half) Pieters > Taylor (2nd half) Rodriguez > Barnes, Lennon > Brady | |
| Goals | /// | /// |
Predicted lineups for gameweek 15
SHEFFIELD UNITED (home vs. Newcastle)
| Form. | 5 – 3 – 2 |
| FOR | McGoldrick, Mousset |
| MID | Fleck, Norwood, Lundstram |
| DEF | Stevens, O’Connell, Egan, Basham, Baldock |
| GK | Henderson |
| Ruled out | None |
| Doubtful | None |
| Notes | Manager Chris Wilder has no new injury concerns that are relevant to the starting eleven. With Egan back fit, Jagielka will remain on the bench. Despite the short turn-around time between matches, we expect Sheffield United to extend their current unbeaten run to 8 Premier League games with the same starting eleven as in gameweek 14 although McBurnie could start instead of McGoldrick. |
ARSENAL (home vs. Brighton)
| Form. | 4 – 3 – 3 |
| FOR | Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe |
| MID | Willock, Xhaka, Guendouzi |
| DEF | Tierney, D. Luiz, Holding, Bellerin |
| GK | Leno |
| Ruled out | Ceballos |
| Doubtful | Holding, Bellerin |
| Notes | Without digressing too much from a familiar tactic, caretaker manager Ljungberg did make some personnel changes in gameweek 14 and he could do so again this week for his second game in charge. He chose a variation of the 4-3-3 formation, so we’re assuming he will continue to build on that. Mustafi was declared fit and started in place of Sokratis in GW14, but considering the German’s performance, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him replaced by either Sokratis, Chambers or (if fit again) Holding. We feel Tierney and Bellerin (if recovered from injury) will get their chance at the full-back positions, while D. Luiz seems to be the most assured starter out of all Gunners defenders. Ljungberg seems to have given Xhaka another chance and in a three-man midfield, he should have Guendouzi on his right side and we expect Willock (or possibly Saka) on his left. Up front, Lacazette leads the line, flanked by Aubameyang and one of Özil or Pepe. |
MANCHESTER UNITED (home vs. Spurs)
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 |
| FOR | Martial |
| MID | Rashford, Lingard, D. James |
| DEF MID | McTominay, Fred |
| DEF | Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka |
| GK | De Gea |
| Ruled out | Pogba, Bailly, Dalot, Fosu-Mensah, Rojo, Matic |
| Doubtful | McTominay |
| Notes | After a few roller-coaster weeks, young left-back B. Williams could lose his spot to Shaw, who is fit again after injury. Centrally, Maguire and Lindelof are expected to retain their spots, as is Wan-Bissaka on the right. Solskjaer has already stated that they are monitoring McTominay’s fitness and that he will return as soon as he is able, which might be this gameweek. Pogba is still out, so the Scot will be accompanied by Fred in the middle. Attacking impulses should come from Martial, Rashford and D. James, plus either Mata (who started gameweek 14 on 10) or Lingard (who replaced Mata after 74 minutes). |
BURNLEY (home vs. Manchester City)
| Form. | 4 – 4 – 2 |
| FOR | Barnes, Wood |
| MID | McNeil, Cork, Westwood, Hendrick |
| DEF | Pieters, Mee, Tarkowski, Bardsley |
| GK | Pope |
| Ruled out | None |
| Doubtful | Gudmundsson, Westwood, Pieters, Taylor |
| Notes | The Clarets went through a disappointing gameweek 14, but manager Sean Dyche is not expected to make any more changes than strictly necessary. Westwood is back from his suspension and, if fully fit, should slot right back in, at the cost of Brady. Hendrick will move back to the right side of the midfield as a result. In defence, Taylor was taken off injured in the 38th minute last weekend and replaced by Erik Pieters (who also picked up a knock). The Dutchman should keep his place at left-back. Up front, Barnes and Wood are going to battle out with Man City’s brittle defence. Will Fernandinho cope with their height and strength? |