An unchanged starting lineup from Vitor Pereira. Wolves are arguable the most in-form team in the Premier League with 6 straight wins and counting.
Bellegarde is now fit, and with Cunha set to leave in the summer, Pereira could opt to prioritise his and Wolves future over it’s soon to be past. I do think he will opt to go with Cunha and to continue the momentum his team has built, but it’s not a certainty.
Players to watch:
Cunha:
Aston Villa vs Fulham (Saturday 12:30pm kick-off):
Games started:
Martinez: 33/34
Cash: 20/34
Konsa: 29/34
Pau: 20/34
Digne: 27/34
Tielemans: 34/34
Onana: /34
McGinn: 24/34
Rogers: 33/34
Ramsey: 18/34
Watkins: 27/34
With Villa now out of the FA Cup and the Champions League, Emery can and surely will start his strongest XI every game, in the chase for Champions League football next season.
Cash, Konsa, Pau and Digne is their strongest back 4 but Mings could be selected over Pau.
Who Emery opts to go with alongside Tielemans out of Onana and Kamara has often been based on fitness and rotation. Now we will see who he truly prefers to start in the midfield pivot. Both are very good players.
McGinn over Asensio in the 10 role.
With Rashford out for the season, Watkins becomes a great FPL asset with rock solid xMins.
Silva spoke on Robinson saying “About [Antonee] Robinson, he’s going to be available for the match”.
I think Silva went for a more attacking lineup against the lowly Southampton last weekend. This week he will revert to his usual strongest lineup.
Sessegnon has performed so well, including the stoppage time winner against Southampton in GW34, that Silva has no choice but to make him the starting RW.
Patterson seems to be the choice to replace Tarkowski in the back four with O’Brien shifting to CB.
Harrison has just been so unimpressive, and McNeil has genuinely made more of an impact with appearances off the bench in the last few games since returning from injury. That includes the assist for the game winning goal against Forest.
Ndiaye was hooked for Alcaraz at half time against Chelsea, which is worrying for his minutes. However, I am going to assume he has enough credit in the bank to start again.
Broja returns after not being able to face his parent club. He started the previous 2 games up-front prior to the Chelsea game in GW34, and should be set to lead the line for Everton once again.
Arsenal, with Liverpool now officially crowned Champions, will absolutely rotate and rest their key players prioritising the 2nd leg against PSG on Wednesday.
Tierney comes in at LB for Lewis-Skelly.
Partey did not play against PSG midweek so should be okay to play Saturday and then again on Wednesday.
No risks taken with Rice, Saka’s or Martinelli’s fitness prior to PSG. I would not be surprised if Saliba only plays 60 minutes and then is taken off.
Aside from Cook coming in to midfield to partner Tyler Adams, with Alex Scott moving to the bench, it’s an unchanged lineup for Iraola. This is the starting XI he has favoured over recent Gameweeks.
Ouattara has not really made an impact playing on the wing, so Tavernier could come in to replace him, but Iraola has been hesitant to do so yet.
Players to watch:
Cook:
Ouattara:
Brentford vs Man United (Sunday 2pm kick-off):
Games started:
Flekken: 33/34
Ajer: 17/34
Collins: 34/34
Van Den Berg: 26/34
Lewis Potter: 25/34
Norgaard: 31/34
Yarmoliuk: 11/34
Damsgaard: 30/34
Mbeumo: 34/34
Schade: 22/34
Wissa: 30/34
The young star signing Kayode has started the last 2 league games at right back. It would seem he has finally supplanted Ajer. However, with the short turnaround from Thursday to Sunday, and with Kayode new to English football, I think Ajer will start this weekend.
With Janelt now out for the rest of the season, Yarmoliuk will partner Norgaard at the base of midfield.
Amorim stated on Friday that “Players under risk of injury will not play. We will assess [today] and next day. We must be careful, we are Manchester United – must think we can win the game. Some players understand if you play Sunday you can play Thursday”.
De Ligt returned to action making an appearance off the bench against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday.
Amass comes in to play LB with Dorgu shifting to RB.
Maguire was taken off in the 65th minute against Bilbao, likely in order to keep him fresh to play again Sunday.
Shaw did not take part on Thursday, likely in order to save him for Brentford.
Ugarte was substituted off against Bilbao, so he could start against Brentford, but Eriksen could be preferred in order to rest Ugarte for the 2nd leg.
Mainoo and Mount made appearances off the bench on Thursday, and should be set to start on Sunday.
Players to watch:
De Ligt:
Maguire:
Shaw:
Amass:
Ugarte:
Mainoo:
Mount:
Fernandes:
Brighton vs Newcastle (Sunday 2pm kick-off):
Games started:
Verbruggen: 30/34
Veltman: 19/34
Van Hecke: 29/34
Dunk: 22/34
Estupinan: 23/34
Baleba: 27/34
Hinshelwood: 19/34
O’Riley: 9/34
Minteh: 16/34
Mitoma: 28/34
Welbeck: 21/34
Hurzeler revealed that “Jean Paul van Hecke is ready to start. He trained [on Wednesday] and after the training, he immediately came to me and said he wants to play”. He should start at CB alongside Dunk.
He also informed the media that “Joel Veltman and Tariq Lamptey are also options to start. Of course, they had a longer phase when they weren’t able to play but in general, they are ready to start. The same for Igor [Julio], the same for Kaoru [Mitoma].”
Veltman should start at RB, but with Estupinan fit, Lamptey will likely start on the bench.
Baleba moves back into midfield with Van Hecke back fit.
Eddie Howe on Friday confirmed that “The likelihood is that it will be difficult [if he will play again this season]”. Willock started in his place against Ipswich last weekend.
Howe also spoke on Gordon saying he “had a full week’s training this week and has looked better physically”. He said the team has been consistent without him, maybe suggesting Gordon will have to earn his way back into the starting lineup with Barnes and Murphy in fine form and producing.
Botman could potentially start this weekend, nearing full fitness now. Howe stated “He came through last weekend OK. He trained again this week and looks good so it’s been positive to have him back”. Botman would likely replace Burn who could use a rest after playing in 33 of Newcastle’s 34 league games thus far.
Potter will likely elect to go with the same starting XI as he selected for the Hammers 3-2 loss to Brighton last weekend.
Emerson seems to be favoured over the last 2 games over the young Scarles at LWB.
Soucek finally returned to the starting lineup last weekend, with Soler dropped.
Potter opted for a forward line of Kudus, Paqueta and Bowen, and has not really wanted to start Fullkrug too often, so it seems likely he goes with the same front 3 again.
With Ange almost certainly prioritising the 2nd leg of the Europa League Semi-Final next Thursday and nothing to play for in the league, he’ll rest his key players.
The entire starting back four rested.
Bergvall is out for the rest of this season dealing with ligament issues in his ankle.
Bentancur rested. Maddison left Thursday’s game with a knock. Ange spoke on Maddison revealing “[James Maddison’s] a bit more of a concern because it’s his knee but we’ve sent him for a scan. We’re just waiting for the outcome.”
Solanke also left Spurs’ Europa League win with a knock but it’s deemed to be minor but he will miss this weekends game.
Son could be available for the 2nd leg against Bodo/Glimt next Thursday but won’t be for Sunday.
An unchanged starting lineup for Maresca from last weekends win over Everton.
Madueke, Fernandes and Cucurella were taken off at half-time of their 1-4 win in the Conference League on Thursday, in order to keep them fresh for Liverpool. The rest of Chelsea’s starting XI from GW34 did not start on Thursday.
Lavia performed well in the game last weekend and with James playing on Thursday, Maresca likely opts for Caicedo RB, although Gusto could start with Caicedo shifting back into midfield.
Games started:
Alisson: 24/34
Alexander-Arnold: 27/34
Konate: 26/34
Van Dijk: 34/34
Tsimikas: 7/34
Jones: 16/34
Mac Allister: 30/34
Elliott: 0/34
Salah: 34/34
Chiesa: 0/34
Jota: 13/34
Slot spoke on making changes to his starting lineups and giving some other players chances now that Liverpool are officially Premier League Champions. Slot said “There is certainly a difference between now whether we are still competing. My line-ups will be different to the last 10 months. We are not going to change everyone, but there will be a few players that come into the team and there will be a certain rotation for the upcoming games.”
Slot revealed he expects “(Bradley) to be available… he will be with the squad”.
I expect Salah and Van Dijk to still play the majority of the remaining minutes, especially with Salah chasing records.
Robertson will be rested.
I think 2 of the 3 starting midfielders will be rested with Jones and Elliott coming into the starting XI.
Diaz will almost certainly be given a rest, and I think Gakpo likely will also. Jota will start up-front and Chiesa likely starts at LW.
Players to watch:
Alexander-Arnold:
Tsimikas:
Jones:
Elliott:
Chiesa:
Jota:
Bradley:
Robertson:
Gravenberch:
Szoboszlai:
Diaz:
Gakpo:
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest (Monday 8pm kick-off):
02 May, 2025
