Premier League Matchweek 5: Predicted XIs and Tactical Decisions
With the deadline looming for Fantasy Premier League managers, team sheets across the country are balanced on fitness updates, tactical tweaks and a few late gambles. Here’s how Matchweek 5 is shaping up.
Brentford v Chelsea: Full-backs and Fitness Mysteries
Aaron Hickey has muscled his way into Brentford’s right-back slot, taking over from Michael Kayode last weekend, and he’ll expect to keep it. The intrigue is on the opposite flank. El Hadji Malick Diouf started at left-back in the EFL Cup in midweek and did enough to ask a serious question of Keane Lewis-Potter’s place in the league side.
Keith Andrews tightened things up last weekend by using Yehor Yarmoliuk in an advanced midfield role. Now he must decide whether to stick with the Ukrainian’s industry or bring back Mikkel Damsgaard’s guile.
Across west London, Xabi Alonso is playing his cards tight to his chest. Joao Pedro’s status remains unclear after he withdrew from the Brazil squad with injury; Alonso would only say “it is a possibility” that he plays. If he’s out, Danny Welbeck is the obvious replacement through the middle.
The uncertainty doesn’t stop there. Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Marco Palestra and Jordan Henderson are all in the manager’s “Friday decision” pile. Left-back Pep Chavarria is still waiting for his first Premier League start and will be desperate for a nod if Alonso shuffles his defence.
Spurs v Aston Villa: Full-backs Back, Midfield Muscle
Roberto De Zerbi is ready to reset his Spurs full-backs. Pedro Porro, rested as a precaution against Everton, is fit and expected to reclaim his right-back spot from Archie Gray. On the left, Destiny Udogie started the EFL Cup defeat at Liverpool after missing the Everton match and is likely to keep Andy Robertson on the bench.
Sandro Tonali, absent at Anfield, has been declared fit to face Villa. James Maddison is also available and edging towards a first start of the season after a gentle reintroduction from the bench. Dejan Kulusevski is back in full training after his long lay-off, but his return to competitive action is expected to wait until after the international break.
Unai Emery, meanwhile, is forced into defensive changes. Matteo Ruggeri, impressive on his first start in the EFL Cup win at Coventry, is set to replace the injured Ian Maatsen at left-back. Tyrone Mings should partner Victor Lindelof in central defence with Pau Torres ruled out, while Matty Cash is in line to take over from Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back after overcoming muscle soreness.
Joao Gomes returns from suspension to bolster midfield. Up front, Emery faces a straight call: stick with Nicolas Jackson or ride Tammy Abraham’s momentum after his two-goal haul in midweek.
Brighton v Arsenal: Seagulls Settled, Gunners Spoilt for Choice
Brighton have the luxury of continuity. A 5-0 demolition of Coventry City last weekend gives Fabian Hurzeler every reason to name the same XI. Georginio Rutter, back from injury and involved in the EFL Cup win at Manchester United, is the main threat to that settled side as he pushes for a start.
Jaouen Hadjam is available at left-back despite being forced off on his debut at Old Trafford. Femi Azeez, however, remains out with the hamstring problem he brought from Millwall. Brighton’s longer-term absentees still include Kaoru Mitoma, Jack Hinshelwood, Stefanos Tzimas, Yankuba Minteh, Zadok Yohanna, Evan Ferguson and Mats Wieffer.
Arsenal’s main question is not who’s fit, but who gets the nod. Ben White picked up a groin issue at Sunderland and sat out the EFL Cup win at Ipswich Town. Mikel Arteta says White “should be fit” for the trip to Brighton, yet Jurrien Timber is available and could start at right-back instead.
Arteta is also “really positive” about Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera, expecting both to be fine. The real intrigue lies in midfield. Bruno Guimaraes, who scored off the bench at Sunderland after replacing Myles Lewis-Skelly at half-time, is pushing for his first Premier League start for the club. Arteta has already hailed his versatility and hinted the decision will come down to what the game demands on the day.
Everton v Ipswich: Grealish Waiting, Emersonn Back
Everton’s midfield hinges on Harrison Armstrong’s fitness. He missed the EFL Cup win over Wolves with injury, but David Moyes “expects him to be OK” to partner James Garner in the middle.
Jack Grealish is the headline name pressing for a first Premier League start since returning on loan from Manchester City. Out wide, Tyrique George could edge ahead of Brennan Johnson on the right, though youngster Tyler Dibling impressed in midweek and has put his name firmly in the conversation. Merlin Rohl and Christian Norgaard remain unavailable.
For Ipswich, Emersonn is back. Gary O’Neil confirmed his striker is fit after a tight quad kept him out of the EFL Cup defeat to Arsenal. Yet his place is not guaranteed. Zian Flemming, who came on for the injured Emersonn and scored the winner at Crystal Palace, is making a strong case to start.
Azor Matusiwa is available again but not expected to feature, leaving Jack Taylor as Ipswich’s only absentee.
Newcastle v Hull: Injury Pile-Up Meets Unbeaten Newcomers
Matthias Jaissle’s problems at Newcastle are stacking up. Anthony Elanga missed the defeat to Leeds with injury, Jacob Murphy stepping in on the flank. If Jaissle decides to change again, Harvey Barnes could shift over to the right, with Bazoumana Toure coming into the side on the left.
Nico Gonzalez’s concussion against Leeds opens a spot in central midfield. Sean Steur is in line to start there, with Jacob Ramsay also unavailable. At the back, Amar Dedic has joined the lengthy injury list, which could hand Tino Livramento a start. Joe Willock and Matias Fernandez-Pardo appear to be duelling for one midfield berth.
Hull arrive unbeaten in their Premier League return after four matches, and that stability is reflected in Sergej Jakirovic’s selections. One enforced change looms: Nobel Mendy is out with concussion after a clash of heads. Lucas Herrington and Paddy McNair are the leading candidates to step in.
Matt Crooks will try to keep Lucas Gourna-Douath and Tim Iroegbunam out of the XI in central midfield, while Sorba Thomas is pushing hard to dislodge Elliot Stroud.
Nott’m Forest v Coventry: Formation Questions for Lampard
Nottingham Forest are still managing injuries at the back. Nikola Milenkovic remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, while Jair Cunha has returned to training after his own hamstring problem. Oliver Glasner will monitor how Cunha reacts; Ola Aina stands ready to fill in again if needed.
In midfield, Ibrahim Sangare lost out to Xaver Schlager and James McAtee against Aston Villa and looks set to miss out once more. Up front, Igor Jesus changed the game off the bench, scoring the winner, and is now putting serious pressure on Dan Ndoye for a starting role.
Frank Lampard has a tactical call to make for Coventry. He switched from a back three to a back four in the EFL Cup and must decide whether to revert. Aurele Amenda is ruled out with a calf injury, which could open the door for Manchester City loanee Stephen Mfuni to come in if Lampard sticks with a back three. He may instead reshuffle the system.
Victor Torp and Caleb Yirenkyi impressed in midweek and could come into central midfield. There is fierce competition for the two No 10 roles, with new signing Yann Gboho among the options. Up front, teenager Sidiki Cherif, who replaced the suspended Taiwo Awoniyi on Wednesday, will battle Ellis Simms for the starting striker spot.
AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool: Same Again or Fresh Legs?
Bournemouth are riding a wave. A famous European win at Real Sociedad followed last weekend’s draw with Brentford, both with the same starting XI. With no new injuries from Thursday night and Amine Adli, Julian Araujo, Junior Kroupi and Veljko Milosavljevic still out, Marco Rose may well stick with the same side for a third match in eight days.
If he does rotate, the likeliest tweak is in central midfield, where Lewis Cook could come in for Tyler Adams – the one position Rose has changed in the league this season.
Liverpool, by contrast, have decisions to make after their EFL Cup win over Spurs. Cody Gakpo, who missed the goalless draw with Fulham through injury, returned with a goal and assist in midweek and should start. He may, however, be shifted to the right to allow Bradley Barcola to continue on the left.
Alexis Mac Allister, another midweek scorer, could replace Ryan Gravenberch alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield. At left-back, Milos Kerkez is expected to return against his former club, taking over from Konstantinos Tsimikas. Joe Gomez made his comeback from injury versus Spurs, but Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Federico Chiesa remain out.
Leeds v Crystal Palace: Farke Settled, Sage Forced to Shuffle
Leeds dismantled Newcastle 4-1 on Monday and Daniel Farke has little incentive to tinker. Harry Wilson is out with a quad injury, but he has been used only from the bench recently. Noah Okafor, on the scoresheet against Newcastle, is set to keep his place, with Brenden Aaronson the main alternative if Farke chooses to rotate.
Ilia Gruev is back in contention after coming through an Under-21s outing unscathed, yet Joe Rodon and Mateo Joseph are still unavailable.
Crystal Palace must cope without Axel Disasi, suspended after his red card against Ipswich. Takehiro Tomiyasu is expected to step in at centre-back. Ismaila Sarr is pushing for his first start of the season after making his return as a substitute in the Europa League win over Lech Poznan. Manager Pierre Sage admitted the winger could “maybe” start at Elland Road but would not be ready for a full 90 minutes.
Dean Henderson and Jean-Philippe Mateta are not expected back until after the international break.
Man City v Sunderland: Foden Out, Ndiaye Steps Up
Phil Foden’s suspension after his red card in the derby against Manchester United opens the door at Manchester City. Summer signing Iliman Ndiaye is poised for his second Premier League start.
Jeremy Doku is also close. Enzo Maresca says the Belgian has recovered from the calf injury suffered in the Community Shield, though a place on the bench is the more realistic outcome this weekend. Nico O’Reilly started at left-back in the EFL Cup win over Norwich on his return from injury, but Josko Gvardiol is expected to reclaim that spot.
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris has one major headache: left-back. Reinildo Mandava is suspended after his late red card at Arsenal, leaving Le Bris to choose between right-footer Trai Hume, who has filled in on the left before, and summer signing Dayann Methalie, who would be making his Premier League debut.
The rest of the side should resemble the one that faced Arsenal, with Le Bris unlikely to repeat the four changes he made for the Europa League victory over AZ Alkmaar. Habib Diarra and Romaine Mundle are the only injury absentees.
Fulham v Man Utd: Arbeloa Chases First Win, Carrick Weighs Up His No 9
Fulham may go unchanged from the side that held Liverpool at Anfield as Alvaro Arbeloa hunts his first Premier League win. Sander Berge and Shea Charles impressed together in central midfield and should continue, with Alex Iwobi pushed into a more advanced role.
Ryan Sessegnon, used only from the bench so far, faces a late fitness test. Kenny Tete is definitely out, following concussion protocols after being struck in the face by the ball at Anfield. Tom Cairney remains sidelined with a knee injury.
At Manchester United, Luke Shaw is still a doubt after the injury he picked up in Matchweek 3. Michael Carrick says “there is a chance” he plays, but Patrick Dorgu is again likely to start at left-back.
Up front, the question lingers. Matheus Cunha is still searching for his first Premier League goal of the season. Benjamin Sesko led the line in the EFL Cup defeat to Brighton but failed to seize his opportunity. If Carrick hands Sesko another start, Cunha could shift to the left and Marcus Rashford may drop out. New signing Carlos Baleba is in line for his debut from the bench.
With so many tight calls across the league, Matchweek 5 feels like one of those weekends that can swing a season – or a fantasy mini-league – in a single team sheet.
