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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 16 goes, we will take a look at confirmed starting lineups for the top-10 teams in gameweek 15, compare those to our predictions for that gameweek, and then predict their lineups for gameweek 16.
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 GW16
| Crystal Palace | Gameweek 15 taking place mid-week |
| Spurs | Gameweek 15 taking place mid-week |
| Sheffield United | Gameweek 15 taking place mid-week |
| Arsenal | Gameweek 15 taking place mid-week |
The Premier League at the start of gameweek 16 (positions 6 to 11)
| 6 | Manchester United | 21 pts |
| 7 | Crystal Palace | 21 pts |
| 8 | Spurs | 20 pts |
| 9 | Sheffield United | 19 pts |
| 10 | Arsenal | 19 pts |
| 11 | Newcastle United | 19 pts |
Lineups for gameweek 15: Predicted vs. confirmed
CRYSTAL PALACE (home vs. Bournemouth, 1-0)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 15 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 15 | ||
| Form. | /// | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | |
| FOR | /// | Zaha, Ayew, Townsend | |
| MID | /// | McArthur, Milivojevic, Kouyaté | |
| DEF | /// | Van Aanholt, Sahko, Tomkins, Kelly | |
| GK | /// | Guaita | |
| Subs | /// | (1st half) Schlupp > Van Aanholt (2nd half) McCarthy > Townsend | |
| Goals | /// | Schlupp (McArthur) |
SPURS (away vs. Manchester United, 2-1)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 15 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 15 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | |
| FOR | Kane | Kane | |
| MID | Son, Alli, Sissoko | Son, Alli, Moura | |
| DEF MID | Ndombele, Dier | Winks, Sissoko | |
| DEF | Vertonghen, Alderweireld, D. Sanchez, Aurier | Vertonghen, Alderweireld, D. Sanchez, Aurier | |
| GK | Gazzaniga | Gazzaniga | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) Eriksen > Moura, Ndombele > Winks, Lo Celso > Sissoko | |
| Goals | /// | Alli (Aurier) |
SHEFFIELD UNITED (home vs. Newcastle, 0-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 15 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 15 | ||
| Form. | 5 – 3 – 2 | 5 – 3 – 2 | |
| FOR | McGoldrick, Mousset | Sharp, McBurnie | |
| 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) Mousset > Sharp, McGoldrick > Norwood, Freeman > Basham | |
| Goals | /// | /// |
ARSENAL (home vs. Brighton, 1-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 15 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 15 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 3 – 3 | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | |
| FOR | Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe | Lacazette | |
| MID | Willock, Xhaka, Guendouzi | Özil, Willock, Aubameyang | |
| DEF MID | /// | Torreira, Xhaka | |
| DEF | Tierney, D. Luiz, Holding, Bellerin | Kolasinac, D. Luiz, Sokratis, Bellerin | |
| GK | Leno | Leno | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) Pepe > Willock, Tierney > Kolasinac, Martinelli > Lacazette | |
| Goals | /// | Lacazette (Özil) |
Predicted lineups for gameweek 6
CRYSTAL PALACE (away vs. Watford)
| Form. | 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 |
| FOR | Zaha, Ayew, Townsend |
| MID | Kouyaté, Milivojevic, McArthur |
| DEF | Schlupp, Tomkins, Cahill, Kelly |
| GK | Guaita |
| Ruled out | Van Aanholt, Ward, Sakho (red card suspension) |
| Doubtful | Meyer, Cahill, Dann |
| Notes | Manager Roy Hodgson is finding himself in the middle of a defensive injury crisis, with Ward and Van Aanholt out injured, Dann and Cahill doubtful for Saturday’s game, and Sakho out suspended for three games. As he did in GW15, Schlupp is expected to fill at left-back, while cheap FPL player Kelly should start on the opposite side. The central pair can be formed by Tomkins and possibly Cahill, who looks set to feature. In the middle, captain Milivojevic is joined by Kouyaté and McArthur, like in gameweek 15. Up front, Zaha and Townsned are expected to support striker Ayew, from the left and the right, respectively. Guaita should continue in goal against Watford. |
SPURS (home vs. Burnley)
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 |
| FOR | Kane |
| MID | Son, Alli, Lo Celso |
| DEF MID | Ndombele, Dier |
| DEF | Rose, Alderweireld, D. Sanchez, Aurier |
| GK | Gazzaniga |
| Ruled out | Lloris, Davies |
| Doubtful | Lamela, Vorm |
| Notes | A tough defeat at Old Trafford last round and just two full days of rest might result in manager José Mourinho making some changes to the starting lineup. Gazzaniga will start in goal, protected by central defenders Sanchez and Alderweireld. On the left, the rested Rose could replace Vertonghen, who is playing a little out of position at left-back and who has played several games in a short period of time now. On the right we expect the improving Aurier. The central midfield block was formed by Winks and Sissoko in GW15, and seeing as Mourinho has been tinkering with these positions, we believe Ndombele and Dier could start against Burnley on Saturday. Three of the four offensive positions are pretty much filled in, with Son, Alli and Kane retaining their starting spots and Alli playing in quite an advanced role. Moura hasn’t been completely convincing at the right side of the midfield, so Mou might see this as a good opportunity to start with Real Betis-loanee Lo Celso in front of his own fans. |
SHEFFIELD UNITED (away vs. Norwich)
| 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 surprised a few of us at the start of this week by beginning with Sharp and McBurnie up front against Newcastle, instead of the usual McGoldrick and Mousset. The disappointing result against the Magpies, the lack of serious injuries in the squad and Wilder’s tendency to stick to a so far proven concept have us expecting a very familiar Blades lineup. We believe McGoldrick and Mousset will be restored at Carrow Road, while it would be logical for Sheffield United to want to bounce back after Thursday’s home loss. Therefore, we expect the strongest eleven and no surprises this weekend. |
ARSENAL (away vs. West Ham)
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 |
| FOR | Lacazette |
| MID | Aubameyang, Özil, Pepe |
| DEF MID | Torreira, Guendouzi |
| DEF | Tierney, David Luiz, Sokratis, Bellerin |
| GK | Leno |
| Ruled out | Ceballos |
| Doubtful | Holding |
| Notes | For caretaker manager Ljungberg, it’s currently a balancing exercise between rotating players due to the congested schedule and sticking to his best players in the middle of this gigantic slump in which the Gunners find themselves at the moment. The home loss against Brighton on Thursday evening did not do their already brittle confidence any good and Ljungberg might want to make a statement by benching a few players. In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Lacazette and Aubameyang seem to be nailed-on starters, which leaves two offensive spots open. Against West Ham, we feel these will be filled by Özil and Pepe who did look lively when coming on against Brighton. After being rested in GW15, Guendouzi is expected back in midfield, probably to partner Torreira. With Leno in goal, we predict the defence might be formed by Tierney on the left (he replaced Kolasinac in the 73rd minute in GW15), D. Luiz and Sokratis centrally, and Bellerin at right-back (who also started and completed the 90 minutes mid-week). It’s also possible that Ljungberg will opt for Chambers on the right with fatigue and the busy schedule in mind. |