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 2 covers the teams in positions 4 to 6, part 1 covers the lineups for positions 1 to 3, and part 3 looks at the formations for positions 7 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 21 goes, we will take a look at confirmed starting lineups for the top-10 teams in gameweek 20, compare those to our predictions for that gameweek, and then predict their lineups for gameweek 21.
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 GW21
| Chelsea | None |
| Spurs | None |
| Sheffield United | None |
The Premier League at the start of gameweek 21 (positions 3 to 7)
| 3 | Manchester City | 41 pts |
| 4 | Chelsea | 35 pts |
| 5 | Manchester United | 31 pts |
| 6 | Spurs | 30 pts |
| 7 | Wolves | 30 pts |
Lineups for gameweek 20: Predicted vs. confirmed
CHELSEA (away vs. Arsenal, 1-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 20 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 20 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | 5 – 2 – 3 (until 35th minute!) | |
| FOR | Abraham | Mount, Abraham, Willian | |
| MID | Pulisic, Mount, Willian | /// | |
| DEF MID | Kovacic, Kanté | Kovacic, Kanté | |
| DEF | Emerson, Tomori, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta | Emerson, Tomori, Zouma, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta | |
| GK | Kepa | Kepa | |
| Subs | /// | (1st half) Jorginho > Emerson (2nd half) Lamptey > Tomori, Hudson-Odoi > Kovacic | |
| Goals | /// | Jorginho (Mount), Abraham (Willian) |
MANCHESTER UNITED (away vs. Burnley, 0-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 20 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 20 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | ||
| FOR | Martial. | Martial | |
| MID | Rashford, Lingard, D. James | Rashford, A. Pereira, D. James | |
| DEF MID | Fred, Pogba | Matic, Fred | |
| DEF | Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka | Williams, Maguire, Lindelof, Young | |
| GK | De Gea | De Gea | |
| Subs | /// | (2nd half) Lingard > A. Pereira, Shaw > Martial | |
| Goals | /// | Martial (A. Pereira), Rashford (D. James) |
SPURS (away vs. Norwich, 2-2)
| PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 20 | CONFIRMED GAMEWEEK 20 | ||
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 | |
| FOR | Kane | Kane | |
| MID | Moura, Alli, Lamela | Sessegnon, Alli, Eriksen | |
| DEF MID | Eriksen, Dier | Lo Celso, Ndombele | |
| DEF | Vertonghen, Alderweireld, D. Sanchez, Aurier | Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Foyth, Aurier | |
| GK | Gazzaniga | Gazzaniga | |
| Subs | /// | (early 2nd half) D. Sanchez > Foyth, Moura > Vertonghen (2nd half) Lamela > Lo Celso | |
| Goals | /// | Eriksen (Moura), Kane (pen) |
Predicted lineups for gameweek 21
CHELSEA (away vs. Brighton)
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 |
| FOR | Abraham |
| MID | Pulisic, Mount, Willian |
| DEF MID | Kovacic, Kanté |
| DEF | Emerson, Zouma, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta |
| GK | Kepa |
| Ruled out | Alonso, R. James, Giroud, Loftus-Cheek |
| Doubtful | Pulisic |
| Notes | Considering Chelsea played a horrible first half hour in GW20 and the way in which they improved once they went from a back five to a back four, we expect manager Frank Lampard to pick the more usual 4-2-3-1 approach against the Seagulls. Gazzaniga could be leading a defence consisting of Zouma and Rüdiger in the middle, flanked by Emerson on the left and Azpilicueta on the right. In the middle, we expect Kovacic and Kanté again, despite the positive impact of Jorginho’s early subbing-on in the previous round. Up front, Tammy Abraham starts, with Pulisic (who should be fit again), Mount, and Willian behind him. |
MANCHESTER UNITED (away vs. Arsenal)
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 |
| FOR | Martial |
| MID | Rashford, A. Pereira, D. James |
| DEF MID | Matic, Fred |
| DEF | Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka |
| GK | De Gea |
| Ruled out | McTominay, Rojo, Bailly, Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe |
| Doubtful | Dalot |
| Notes | Like all Premier League clubs, Man United are going through a more than congested playing schedule, but the question is whether manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can rotate much in GW21, seeing as the Red Devils are visiting Arsenal for the clash of the gameweek. We don’t think the Norwegian will tinker with his defence too much, especially not after resting Shaw and Wan-Bissaka in GW20. Both should return versus the Gunners. With McTominay out injured, the Red Devils might start with Matic and Fred in the middle for a second time in a row. In the attacking third, we find it hard to imagine Rashford and D. James being rested for this, considering the likelihood of United aiming for the counter in this one. If it was up to us, Pogba would start in the number-10 role, but OGS has been hesitant to start the fit-again Frenchman recently. A. Pereira could take this spot once again. Up top, Martial is likely to start, though Greenwood is banging on the door for this game as well. He could be in contention for Martial’s or James’ spot. |
SPURS (away vs. Southampton)
| Form. | 4 – 2 – 3 – 1 |
| FOR | Kane |
| MID | Moura, Alli, Sissoko |
| DEF MID | Winks, Ndombele |
| DEF | Vertonghen, Alderweireld, D. Sanchez, Aurier |
| GK | Gazzaniga |
| Ruled out | Lloris, Rose, Davies, Son |
| Doubtful | None |
| Notes | After another defensively unstable performances from manager José Mourinho’s men in GW20, it would be logical for the Portuguese coach to revert back to his preferred back-four of Vertonghen (who was subbed off after one half in GW20), Alderweireld, D. Sanchez (who was rested in GW20) and Aurier. Ndombele impressed against Norwich and should start this one, possibly alongside a fit-again Winks. Kane is obviously the main man in attack, with Alli circling around him. Moura came on after 46 minutes in GW20 and helped change the game in a positive way for Spurs, so we expect him to start this round. The final spot in the middle is up for grabs, with Sessegnon (played 90 minutes in GW20), Sissoko (rested in GW90), Lamela (subbed on in the 75th minute in GW20), and even Lo Celso (coming off in the 75th minute in GW20) and Eriksen (played 90 minutes and scored a goal) all vying for that spot. We’re betting on Sissoko for this one. |