Gameweek 38: Predicted Lineups

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Green Light: Confident the player will start.

Amber Light: A toss up on whether the player will start.

Red Light: Confident the player will not start.

 

Bournemouth vs Leicester (Sunday 4pm kick-off):

Games started:

Arrizabalaga: 30/37

Smith: 20/37
Zabarnyi: 34/37
Huijsen: 26/37
Kerkez: 37/37

Scott: 8/37
Adams: 20/37
Kluivert: 29/37

Tavernier: 19/37
Semenyo: 35/37
Evanilson: 27/37

• While Bournemouth are not playing for anything any longer, Iraola spoke of wanting to finish strong and finish in the top half of the table.
• Smith vs Araujo at RB has been a bit of a toss up over the last 6 weeks but I think he will lean Smith.
• Cook is suspended after his red card in GW37.
• Alex Scott will likely be a game day decision, but it does seem like he should be able to suit up. Iraola spoke on Scott’s jaw injury, revealing “Alex with the mask has trained for the first day today. Probably not 100 per cent comfortable but he wants to try and we will see tomorrow if he can deal with the mask and be comfortable”.

Players to watch:

Smith:

Scott:

Araujo:

Games started:

Stolarczyk: 9/37

Justin: 33/37
Faes: 29/37
Coady: 18/37
Thomas: 12/37

Ndidi: 28/37
Skipp: 10/37
Ayew: 18/37

McAteer: 7/37
El-Khannous: 27/37
Daka: 5/37

• An unchanged lineup from Ruud Van Nistelrooy outside of Leicester legend Jamie Vardy not playing, as he played his last game for the club at home in GW37.
• Daka will start in Vardy’s place.

Players to watch:

Daka:

Vardy:

 

Fulham vs Man City (Sunday 4pm kick-off):

Games started:

Leno: 37/37

Tete: 20/37
Andersen: 29/37
Bassey: 34/37
Robinson: 24/37

Berge: 26/37
Lukic: 27/37
Wilson: 11/37

Adama: 17/37
Iwobi: 35/37
Jimenez: 29/37

• Given Adama’s very effective performance against City in the reverse leg earlier in the season, and the fact he started last week, it would seem likely he starts again over Sessegnon.
• I don’t expect Smith-Rowe to start against a City team where defensive responsibilities will be key. Silva could opt for Pereira or Wilson, but I lean Wilson.

Players to watch:

Adama:

Wilson:

Sessegnon:

Pereira:

Smith-Rowe:

Games started:

Ederson: 25/37

Nunes: 22/37
Dias: 35/37
Akanji: 22/37
Gvardiol: 35/37

Gonzalez: 8/37
Gundogan: 24/37
De Bruyne: 19/37

Silva: 28/37
Marmoush: 12/37
Haaland: 30/37

• City are in a strong position to confirm Champions League football for next season on the final day needing only a point to do so.
• Pep will likely opt to go with the same back 5 as he did in GW37’s win against Bournemouth.
• Kovacic is suspended. Gonzalez is a likely candidate to come into the deeper midfield role alongside Gundogan. The alternative would be Silva moving from the RW into midfield and then Savinho starting at RW.
• Marmoush and Haaland both are a lock to start.

Players to watch:

Akanji:

Gonzalez:

O’Reilly:

Savinho:

 

Ipswich vs West Ham (Sunday 4pm kick-off):

Games started:

Palmer: 13/37

Tuanzebe: 19/37
O’Shea: 34/37
Greaves: 24/37
Davis: 31/37

Cajuste: 25/37
Morsy: 30/37
Enciso: 14/37

Hutchinson: 29/37
Broadhead: 6/37
Hirst: 4/37

• After a poor performance last week from Ipswich, Broadhead comes in to the starting lineup.
• Safe to assume Hirst starts over Delap given his transfer to a fellow Premier League club is imminent.

Players to watch:

Broadhead:

Hirst:

Games started:

Areola: 24/37

Coufal: 11/37
Todibo: 18/37
Kilman: 36/37
Cresswell: 10/37
Wan-Bissaka: 33/37

Ward-Prowse: 16/37
Rodriguez: 16/37
Soucek: 29/37

Bowen: 33/37
Kudus: 31/37

• I expect Potter to go with an unchanged starting XI from GW37.
• With the ruling over his betting scandal looming, and his West Ham future uncertain, it seems unlikely Paqueta plays.

Players to watch:

Rodriguez:

Paqueta:

Liverpool vs Crsytal Palace (Sunday 4pm kick-off):

Games started:

Alisson: 27/37

Bradley: 6/37
Konate: 28/37
Van Dijk: 36/37
Robertson: 28/37

Gravenberch: 36/37
Jones: 18/37
Szoboszlai: 28/37

Salah: 37/37
Gakpo: 22/37
Diaz: 27/37

• Liverpool will look to close their Premier League winning season out with a win on trophy lift day.
• This has been Liverpool’s best XI all season bar Trent, who we know is not going to play for the club again, and Mac Allister, who Slot confirmed won’t play again this season, citing his need for rest given the amount of football he has played over the past 2 seasons.

Players to watch:

Mac Allister:

Games started:

Henderson: 36/37

Munoz: 5/37
Richards: 20/37
Lacroix: 33/37
Lerma: 25/37
Mitchell: 36/37

Kamada: 14/37
Hughes: 23/37

Sarr: 28/37
Eze: 30/37
Mateta: 32/37

• Guehi has been ruled out of the final game of the season. Glasner spoke on the matter stating “Marc can’t play. He’s also not been called up for England [due to this]. His eye needs a rest. He can’t do anything at the moment”.
• Adam Wharton has also been ruled out with a concussion.
• Joel Ward could start at LCB, especially given it’s his last game for the club, but Lerma is the better option in reality.
• Hughes will replace Wharton in midfield.
• Mateta likely comes back in, but of course Nketiah would start if he doesn’t.

Players to watch:

Lerma:

Hughes:

Guehi:

Wharton:

 

Man United vs Aston Villa (Sunday 4pm kick-off):

Games started:

Bayindir: 3/37

Dalot: 31/37
Lindelof: 4/37
Maguire: 18/37
Yoro: 12/37
Dorgu: 9/37

Ugarte: 22/37
Mainoo: 19/37

Fernandes: 34/37
Amad: 18/37
Zirkzee: 14/37

• After a dreadful season for Manchester United, potentially the worst in the club’s modern history, Amorim will surely want to end the season with a win.
• Dalot came off the bench in the Europa League Final on Wednesday and should be fit to start this game.
• Maguire and Yoro go again after Wednesday. Yoro was arguably United’s best player in that game.
• Hojlund is just so bad I think if Zirkzee if fit enough to start, he will.

Players to watch:

Dalot:

Yoro:

Zirkzee:

Games started:

Martinez: 36/37

Cash: 23/37
Konsa: 32/37
Pau: 22/37
Digne: 28/37

Kamara: 19/37
Onana: 19/37
Asensio: 8/37

Rogers: 35/37
McGinn: 26/37
Watkins: 30/37

• Aston Villa need a win if they want to have Champions League football next season.
• Tielemans should at least be with the squad on Sunday. Emery spoke saying “He trained today [Friday], the first day he’s trained with the group. Tomorrow we’ll train again.If he’s feeling good, comfortable and, more or less, without some doubt, he’ll be with the team in the squad for Sunday.” While he has been one of the standout midfielders in the league this season, Villa should be able to comfortably win this game with a midfield pivot of Onana and Kamara who are both good players in their own right. Tielemans makes the bench.

Players to watch:

Digne:

Maatsen:

Tielemans:

 

Newcastle vs Everton (Sunday 4pm kick-off):

Games started:

Pope: 27/37

Murphy: 30/37
Schar: 31/37
Botman: 5/37
Burn: 35/37
Livramento: 30/37

Guimaraes: 36/37
Tonali: 27/37

Barnes: 16/37
Gordon: 27/37
Isak: 33/37

• Isak is the only real question mark in the Newcastle starting lineup for GW38, a crucial game for the club as they look to confirm Champions League football next season. The Magpies need a win to leave no doubt.
• Howe spoke on his star striker revealing “Alex is doing okay, hasn’t trained with us yet but has made good progress. Next few days will be crucial to his availability for the weekend. There is a chance, we will only play him if he is fit to contribute. We will leave the decision on Alex until tomorrow.” While it is worrying that he had not trained at the time of Howe’s Friday press conference. if he can do light work with the team Saturday and as Howe said on Thursday, is pain free, he can hopefully start.
• If he does not start, Howe could go with Wilson or potentially Gordon up top.

Players to watch:

Isak:

Games started:

Pickford: 37/37

Young: 18/37
O’Brien: 16/37
Keane: 10/37
Mykolenko: 34/37

Gueye: 35/37
Garner: 17/37
Alcaraz: 6/37

McNeil: 16/37
Ndiaye: 29/37
Beto: 15/37

• Coleman has a thigh strain and won’t be available in GW38. Young will start in his place.
• Branthwaite is also out this weekend. Moyes informed the media that “Jarrad is injured and won’t be available. He’ll be out for four or five weeks with his hamstring [injury].” Keane will replace him.
• Doucoure confirmed he is leaving the club this summer. Seems unlikely he would start this game given his future and likely his focus is elsewhere and this is an away game. Alcaraz would be his likely replacement.

Players to watch:

Young:

Keane:

Alcaraz:

Coleman:

Branthwaite:

Doucoure:

 

Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea (Sunday 4pm kick-off):

Games started:

Sels: 37/37

Aina: 34/37
Milenkovic: 36/37
Murillo: 35/37
Williams: 27/37

Sangare: 7/37
Dominguez: 22/37
Anderson: 32/37

Gibbs-White: 33/37
Elanga: 30/37
Wood: 34/37

• An unchanged starting lineup for Forest from their crucial 2-1 win in GW37. Forest need a win to give themselves a chance of Champions League football next season.

Games started:

Sanchez: 31/37

Caicedo: 37/37
Chalobah: 24/37
Colwill: 34/37
Cucurella: 32/37

Lavia: 11/37
Fernandez: 31/37
Palmer: 34/37

Madueke: 25/37
Sancho: 18/37
Neto: 22/37

• Caicedo shifts back to RB with James potentially rested for the Conference League Final next Wednesday. He won’t play 2 games in 4 days so he will either start this game or the final.
• Lavia returns to the starting XI.
• Neto shifts to striker with Sancho returning from being loan locked, and starts at LW. George failed to make a major impact in the youngsters first start last weekend.

Players to watch:

Lavia:

Sancho:

James:

George:

 

Southampton vs Arsenal (Sunday 4pm kick-off):

Games started:

Ramsdale: 29/37

Sugawara: 15/37
Bree: 13/37
Bednarek: 31/37
Stephens: 17/37
Welington: 5/37

Aribo: 21/37
Downes: 24/37

Fernandes: 33/37
Dibling: 20/37
Sulemana: 16/37

• With Harwood-Bellis out injured, Bree will shift to CB and Sugawara will start at RB.
• No other changes from GW37’s starting lineup.

Players to watch:

Sugawara:

Harwood-Bellis:

Games started:

Raya: 36/37

White: 12/37
Kiwior: 8/37
Calafiori: 11/37
Lewis-Skelly: 15/37

Odegaard: 26/37
Rice: 32/37
Merino: 16/37

Saka: 20/37
Martinelli: 24/37
Trossard: 28/37

• Timber and Saliba have been confirmed as out. White and Calafiori will start in their place.
• Against the worst team in the league, and given the minutes an older Partey has played this season, the goal scoring Merino playing LCM with Rice playing the 6 could be the way Arteta goes.
• While Havertz has rejoined the squad, in a meaningless game it just does not seem smart or likely he would start. Trossard starts.

Players to watch:

Calafiori:

Merino:

Saliba:

Timber:

 

Spurs vs Brighton (Sunday 4pm kick-off):

Games started:

Kinsky: 6/37

Spence: 19/37
Danso: 8/37
Davies: 14/37
Reguilon: 1/37

Sarr: 21/37
Gray: 19/37
Odobert: 9/37

Moore: 3/37
Son: 24/37
Tel: 10/37

• With Spurs’ glorious night on Wednesday winning the Europa League, followed by a Parade that included Romero drinking some Fernet Brancha on the bus, it’s safe to say there will be heavy rotation for this game.

Players to watch:

Kinsky:

Reguilon:

Son:

Games started:

Verbruggen: 35/37

Wieffer: 9/37
Van Hecke: 32/37
Dunk: 24/37
Estupinan: 26/37

Baleba: 30/37
Ayari: 21/37
Gruda: 7/37

Minteh: 19/37
Mitoma: 28/37
Welbeck: 24/37

• Dunk returns to the starting lineup.
• Ayari and Gruda performed so well against Liverpool, it is hard to see them not starting again in GW38.
• Mitoma will of course come back into the starting lineup after the impact he made last weekend against Liverpool which included scoring a wonderful goal.

 

Wolves vs Brentford (Sunday 4pmm kick-off):

Games started:

Sa: 28/37

Gomes: 31/37
Doherty: 24/37
Agbadou: 15/37
T. Gomes: 29/37
Ait-Nouri: 36/37

Andre: 30/37
Gomes: 34/37

Munetsi: 11/37
Cunha: 28/37
Guedes: 9/37

• Vitor Pereira made wholesale changes to his starting lineup for the first time since he was appointed manager in GW37 and it resulted in a loss, after Wolves had been in great form over the past 2 plus months. I expect him to revert back to his preferred starting XI that carried Wolves out of the relegation zone.
• Strand-Larsen is doubtful for Sunday’s game according to Pereira. Guedes starts in his place.
• Semedo has been offered a new deal by the club but has multiple options and is likely to leave. Similarly to Doucoure, his mind may be focussed on his future rather than Sunday’s game. Gomes started last game and would again if Semedo does not.

Players to watch:

Gomes:

Cunha:

Guedes:

Semedo:

Strand-Larsen:

Games started:

Flekken: 35/37

Kayode: 5/37
Collins: 37/37
Van Den Berg: 28/37
Lewis-Potter: 35/37

Norgaard: 33/37
Yarmoliuk: 14/37
Damsgaard: 33/37

Mbeumo: 37/37
Schade: 25/37
Wissa: 33/37

• No changes, as per usual, for Thomas Frank and Brentford.

 

 

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By: Ahsan Ejaz

Last Updated: 16/05