This article is part of our Soccer Picks series.
Last update: 11:00 a.m. EST on Tues., Dec. 15
MATCHES (EST)
- 1:00 pm: Wolverhampton vs. Chelsea
- 3:00 pm: Manchester City vs. West Bromwich Albion
- 1:00 pm: Arsenal vs. Southampton
- 1:00 pm: Leeds United vs. Newcastle United
- 1:00 pm: Leicester City vs. Everton
- 3:00 pm: Fulham vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- 3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. Tottenham Hotspur
- 3:00 pm: West Ham United vs. Crystal Palace
- 1:00 pm: Aston Villa vs. Burnley
- 3:00 pm: Sheffield United vs. Manchester United
Arsenal v. Southampton
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Sead Kolasinac | M/D | Undisclosed | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
David Luiz | D | Head | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Gabriel Martinelli | F/M | Knee | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Reiss Nelson | F/M | Head | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Hector Bellerin | M/D | Suspension | SUS | 12/19/2020 |
Thomas Partey | M | Thigh | OUT | 12/26/2020 |
Granit Xhaka | M | Suspension | SUS | 12/29/2020 |
Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Everton): Bernd Leno (GK), Kieran Tierney (DL), Rob Holding (DC), Gabriel (DC), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (DR), Mohamed Elneny (DMC), Dani Ceballos (DMC), Bukayo Saka (AML) Willian (FWR), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (FWL), Edward Nketiah (FW)
Notes: Arsenal are a hot mess and should replace everyone from this past weekend's home loss to Burnley, but there's little reason to think Mikel Arteta will run out youngsters like Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and Emile Smith-Rowe, who have been playing well in the Europa League. That being said, Ceballos comes in for the suspended Granit Xhaka, who was sent off with a straight red card against Burnley, and Maitland-Niles in for the suspended Hector Bellerin (yellow card accumulation).
Aston Villa v. Burnley
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ross Barkley | M | Hamstring | GTD | 12/17/2020 |
Matty Cash | D | Suspension | SUS (Premier) | 12/20/2020 |
Douglas Luiz | M | Suspension | SUS (Premier) | 12/20/2020 |
Bjorn Engels | D | Thigh | OUT | 12/26/2020 |
Tom Heaton | G | Knee | OUT | 12/26/2020 |
Wesley Moraes | F | Knee | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Burnley): Emiliano Martinez (GK), Matt Targett (DL), Tyrone Mings (DC), Ezri Konsa (DC), Ahmed Elmohamady (DR), Marvelous Nakamba (MC), John McGinn (MC), Jacob Ramsey (MC), Jack Grealish (FWL), Anwar El Ghazi (FWR), Ollie Watkins (FW)
Notes: Nakamba enters the call for the suspended Douglas Luiz, while Hourihane could over for Ramsey after the youngster received a surprise start over the weekend. El Ghazi gets the start after scoring a PK off bench over the weekend.
Brighton & Hove Albion at Fulham
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Lallana | M | Groin | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Tariq Lamptey | M/D | Hamstring | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Jose Izquierdo | F/M | Knee | OUT | 12/20/2020 |
Christian Walton | G | Ankle | OUT | 12/20/2020 |
Florin Andone | F | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Projected Lineup (3-4-1-2 v. Fulham): Mathew Ryan (GK), Joel Veltman (DC), Lewis Dunk (DC), Adam Webster (DC), Solomon March (ML), Yves Bissouma (MC), Ben White (MC), Tariq Lamptey (MR), Pascal Gross (AMC), Leandro Trossard (FW), Neal Maupay (FW)
Notes: After tinkering with a few things last match, Graham Potter gets Lamptey back into the squad and Trossard returns to let Welbeck rest after a busy month.
Burnley at Aston Villa
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Phil Bardsley | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 12/17/2020 |
Johann Berg Gudmundsson | M | Hamstring | GTD | 12/17/2020 |
Dale Stephens | M | Hamstring | GTD | 12/17/2020 |
Jack Cork | M | Ankle | OUT | 12/27/2020 |
Projected Lineup (4-4-1-1 v. Aston Villa): Nick Pope (GK), Matthew Lowton (DR), Ben Mee (DC), James Tarkowski (DC), Charlie Taylor (DL), Josh Brownhill (MC), Robbie Brady (MR), Ashley Westwood (MC), Dwight McNeil (ML), Jay Rodriguez (AMC), Chris Wood (FW)
Notes: Sean Dyche hates changing his lineup, so there's a chance things are the same from Sunday's win against Arsenal. Barnes and Benson are two options who could come into the squad with Brady most likely to be dropped given his injury history.
Chelsea at Wolverhampton
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Christian Pulisic | F/M | Hamstring | GTD | 12/15/2020 |
Callum Hudson-Odoi | F/M | Hamstring | OUT | 12/21/2020 |
Hakim Ziyech | F/M | Hamstring | OUT | 12/21/2020 |
Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Wolves): Edouard Mendy (GK), Reece James (DR), Thiago Silva (DC), Kurt Zouma (DC), Ben Chilwell (DL), N'Golo Kante (MC), Mateo Kovacic (MC), Mason Mount (MC), Kai Havertz (FWR), Timo Werner (FWL), Tammy Abraham (FW)
Notes: Abraham is back for Giroud after a disappointing performance, while Pulisic could come in for Kovacic or Havertz.
Crystal Palace at West Ham United
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Nathan Ferguson | M | Knee | OUT | 12/19/2020 |
Connor Wickham | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 12/19/2020 |
Wayne Hennessey | G | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. West Ham): Vicente Guaita (GK), Patrick van Aanholt (DL), Gary Cahill (DC), Cheikhou Kouyate (DC), Nathaniel Clyne (DR), Eberechi Eze (ML), James McArthur (MC), Luka Milivojevic (MC), Jeffrey Schlupp (MR), Wilfried Zaha (FW), Jordan Ayew (FW)
Notes: There's a chance Roy Hodgson keeps things the same after another positive performance, but on a short week, it's a possible for Townsend and Ayew to return to the XI for Schlupp and Benteke, respectively.
Everton at Leicester City
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Seamus Coleman | D | Hamstring | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
James Rodriguez | F/M | Undisclosed | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Fabian Delph | M | Hamstring | OUT | 12/26/2020 |
Jean-Philippe Gbamin | M | Achilles | OUT | 12/26/2020 |
Lucas Digne | D | Ankle | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Leicester City): Jordan Pickford (GK), Ben Godfrey (DL), Michael Keane (DC), Yerry Mina (DC), Mason Holgate (DR), Allan (MC), Abdoulaye Doucoure (MC), Gylfi Sigurdsson (MC), Alex Iwobi (FWR), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (FW), Richarlison (FWL)
Notes: With Coleman and Rodriguez still out, Carlo Ancelotti keeps things the same as the win over Chelsea.
Fulham v. Brighton & Hove Albion
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Aleksandar Mitrovic | F | Strain | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Kenny Tete | D | Calf | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Terence Kongolo | D | Foot | OUT | 12/19/2020 |
Projected Lineup (3-4-1-2 v. Brighton): Alphonse Areola (GK), Joachim Andersen (DC), Ola Aina (DC), Tosin Adarabioyo (DC), Antonee Robinson (ML), Bobby Decordova-Reid (MR), Mario Lemina (MC), Harrison Reed (MC), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AMC), Ademola Lookman (FW), Ivan Cavaleiro (FW)
Notes: Scott Parker gives Anguissa a rest in the midfield, which allows Lemina and Reed to start together. Otherwise, everything else is the same since Fulham have a group that seem to be working well together.
Leeds United v. Newcastle United
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Adam Forshaw | M | Hip | OUT | 12/27/2020 |
Diego Llorente | D | Strain | OUT | 12/27/2020 |
Gaetano Berardi | D | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Robin Koch | D | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 v. Newcastle): Illan Meslier (GK), Luke Ayling (DC), Liam Cooper (DC), Ezgjan Alioski (DL), Stuart Dallas (DR), Kalvin Phillips (DMC), Mateusz Klich (MC), Rodrigo (MC), Helder Costa (ML), Raphinha (MR), Patrick Bamford (FW)
Notes: Costa could replace Harrison, who has left early each of the last two matches. However, since both Costa and Raphinha have played on the right wing, there's a chance someone else will be introduced, possibly Poveda.
Leicester City v. Everton
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Timothy Castagne | D | Hamstring | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Daniel Amartey | M/D | Hamstring | OUT | 12/20/2020 |
Jonny Evans | D | Suspension | SUS | 12/20/2020 |
Caglar Soyuncu | D | Groin | OUT | 12/20/2020 |
Ricardo Pereira | M/D | Groin | OUT | 1/2/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-3-2-1 v. Everton): Kasper Schmeichel (GK), Wesley Fofana (DC), Christian Fuchs (DC), Luke Thomas (DR), James Justin (DL), Nampalys Mendy (MC), Youri Tielemans (MC), Dennis Praet (MC), Harvey Barnes (AMC), Cengiz Under (AMC), Jamie Vardy (FW)
Notes: Even with the suspension of Evans, Leicester have a bevy of options to use for the short week. They'll likely return to a 4-3-2-1, similar to the one used in their last Europa League match, which sees Barnes and Under in attacking roles. Thomas comes in for Albrighton, while Mendy gives Ndidi some rest, and Praet comes into the XI.
Liverpool v. Tottenham Hotspur
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Naby Keita | M | Strain | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Joel Matip | D | Back | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Thiago Alcantara | M | Knee | OUT | 12/19/2020 |
James Milner | M | Hamstring | OUT | 12/19/2020 |
Xherdan Shaqiri | M | Undisclosed | OUT | 12/19/2020 |
Diogo Jota | F | Knee | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Konstantinos Tsimikas | D | Leg | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Virgil van Dijk | D | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Joe Gomez | D | Knee | OUT | 4/3/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Spurs): Alisson Becker (GK), Andrew Robertson (DL), Joel Matip (DC), Fabinho (DC), Trent Alexander-Arnold (DR), Georginio Wijnaldum (MC), Jordan Henderson (MC), Naby Keita (MC), Sadio Mane (FWL), Mohamed Salah (FWR), Roberto Firmino (FW)
Notes: Assuming his back spasms are gone, Matip should start and if not, Phillips is the next option. Everything else stays the same outside of Keita, if healthy, coming in for Jones.
Manchester City v. West Bromwich Albion
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Sergio Aguero | F | Illness | GTD | 12/15/2020 |
Oleksandr Zinchenko | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 12/26/2020 |
Eric Garcia | D | Hip | OUT | 1/13/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. West Brom): Ederson (GK), Joao Cancelo (DL), Ruben Dias (DC), John Stones (DC), Kyle Walker (DR), Ilkay Gundogan (DMC), Rodri (DMC), Kevin De Bruyne (AMC), Phil Foden (AMR), Raheem Sterling (AML), Ferran Torres (FW)
Notes: Gundogan is back in the XI if healthy, while Foden and Torres replace Mahrez and Jesus, respectively.
Manchester United at Sheffield United
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Edinson Cavani | F | Undisclosed | GTD | 12/17/2020 |
Phil Jones | D | Knee | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Sheffield): David de Gea (GK), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR), Victor Lindelof (DC), Harry Maguire (DC), Alex Telles (DL), Nemanja Matic (DMC), Fred (DMC), Marcus Rashford (AML), Bruno Fernandes (AMC), Mason Greenwood (AMR), Anthony Martial (FW)
Notes: Cavani remains a doubt, but Mata and van de Beek are two options who could feature. Telles, Matic and Martial are back in the XI, replacing Shaw, Fred and Pogba, respectively.
Newcastle United at Leeds United
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Federico Fernandez | D | Illness | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Ryan Fraser | M | Hamstring | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Jamaal Lascelles | D | Thigh | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Javier Manquillo | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Allan Saint-Maximin | F/M | Undisclosed | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Fabian Schar | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Paul Dummett | D | Hamstring | OUT | 12/19/2020 |
Martin Dubravka | G | Heel | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Leeds): Karl Darlow (GK), Federico Fernandez (DC), Ciaran Clark (DC), Jamal Lewis (DL), Emil Krafth (DR), Ryan Fraser (ML), Jeff Hendrick (MC), Jonjo Shelvey (MC), Jacob Murphy (MR), Dwight Gayle (FW), Callum Wilson (FW)
Notes: Fernandez could replace Hayden on the back line, but everything else stays the same unless Newcastle get a few guys back from COVID-19. Murphy and Hendrick are also options to re-enter the call.
Sheffield United v. Manchester United
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Oliver McBurnie | F | Shoulder | GTD | 12/17/2020 |
Kean Bryan | D | Calf | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
Jack O'Connell | D | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Projected Lineup (3-5-2 v. Man United): Aaron Ramsdale (GK), John Egan (DC), Enda Stevens (DC), Chris Basham (DC), George Baldock (MR), Max Lowe (ML), Sander Berge (MC), John Fleck (MC), Ethan Ampadu (MC), Oliver Burke (FW), David McGoldrick (FW)
Notes: After another down performance, Stevens returns to a central role, which means Lowe back into the XI for Jagielka. McGoldrick also comes into the XI because of McBurnie's injury.
Southampton at Arsenal
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
None | - | - | - | - |
Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Arsenal): Alex McCarthy (GK), Kyle Walker-Peters (DR), Jack Stephens (DC), Jannik Vestergaard (DC), Ryan Bertrand (DL), Theo Walcott (ML), Oriol Romeu (MC), James Ward-Prowse (MC), Stuart Armstrong (MR), Che Adams (FW), Danny Ings (FW)
Notes: After another win, things stay the same for Southampton.
Tottenham Hotspur at Liverpool
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Gareth Bale | F/M | Illness | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Erik Lamela | M | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Liverpool): Hugo Lloris (GK), Serge Aurier (DR), Toby Alderweireld (DC), Eric Dier (DC), Sergio Reguilon (DL), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (DMC), Moussa Sissoko (DMC), Giovani Lo Celso (AMC), Lucas Moura (AMR), Son Heung-Min (AML), Harry Kane (FW)
Notes: Jose Mourinho keeps his preferred back line against Liverpool, but Lo Celso and Lucas make the XI in place of Ndombele and Bergwijn, respectively.
West Bromwich Albion at Manchester City
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sam Field | M | Knee | OUT | 12/20/2020 |
Hal Robson-Kanu | F | Wrist | OUT | 12/20/2020 |
Kyle Bartley | D | Calf | OUT | 12/27/2020 |
Matheus Pereira | F/M | Suspension | SUS (Premier) | 12/27/2020 |
Conor Townsend | D | Knee | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
Projected Lineup (3-5-2 v. Man City): Sam Johnstone (GK), Semi Ajayi (DC), Branislav Ivanovic (DC), Dara O'Shea (DC), Darnell Furlong (MR), Matthew Phillips (ML), Romaine Sawyers (MC), Conor Gallagher (MC), Filip Krovinovic (AMC), Callum Robinson (FW), Karlan Grant (FW)
Notes: While Slaven Bilic would like to change his XI, he doesn't have many options. Austin, Diangana, Gibbs and Grosicki are all possibilities, but none are in the manager's good graces.
West Ham United v. Crystal Palace
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Michail Antonio | F | Hamstring | GTD | 12/16/2020 |
Arthur Masuaku | D | Knee | OUT | 1/12/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Crystal Palace): Lukasz Fabianski (GK), Vladimir Coufal (DR), Angelo Ogbonna (DC), Fabian Balbuena (DC), Aaron Cresswell (DL), Declan Rice (DMC), Tomas Soucek (DMC), Jarrod Bowen (AMR), Pablo Fornals (AMC), Said Benrahma (AML), Sebastien Haller (FW)
Notes: Antonio is getting closer to a return, but there's no reason to start him in his first match back, meaning the same formation and XI as the win against Leeds.
Wolverhampton at Chelsea
Injury Report | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Joao Moutinho | M | Suspension | SUS | 12/21/2020 |
Raul Jimenez | F | Head | OUT | 12/27/2020 |
Jonny | M/D | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Chelsea): Rui Patricio (GK), Willy Boly (DC), Conor Coady (DC), Fernando Marcal (DL), Nelson Semedo (DR), Ruben Neves (DMC), Leander Dendoncker (DMC), Adama Traore (AMR), Pedro Neto (AML), Daniel Podence (AMC), Fabio Silva (FW)
Notes: After the suspension to Moutinho, Wolves could use the same 4-2-3-1 formation with Neves taking over in the midfield. However, given recent struggles, they could return to a three-man back line in a tough spot against Chelsea, which could see Ait-Nouri or Kilman back into the XI.