This article is part of our Soccer Picks series.
MATCHES (EST)
- Tuesday, 1:00 pm: Sheffield United vs. Newcastle United
- Tuesday, 3:15 pm: Burnley vs. Manchester United
- Tuesday, 3:15 pm: Wolverhampton vs. Everton
- Wednesday, 1:00 pm: Manchester City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
- Wednesday, 3:15 pm: Tottenham Hotspur v. Fulham
- Thursday, 3:00 pm: Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace
Sheffield United vs. Newcastle United
INJURY REPORT | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
George Baldock | SHU | M/D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Oliver McBurnie | SHU | F | Shoulder | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Lys Mousset | SHU | F | Ankle | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Jack Robinson | SHU | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Enda Stevens | SHU | M/D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Ryan Fraser | NEW | M | Groin | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Jamal Lewis | NEW | D | Knee | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Jonjo Shelvey | NEW | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Callum Wilson | NEW | F | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Allan Saint-Maximin | NEW | F/M | Illness | OUT | 1/18/2021 |
Jack O'Connell | SHU | D | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Sander Berge | SHU | M | Hamstring | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
Sheffield United Projected Lineup (3-5-2 v. Newcastle United): Aaron Ramsdale (GK), John Egan (DC), Chris Basham (DC), Enda Stevens (DC), Ben Osborn (ML), Ethan Ampadu (MC), Oliver Norwood (MC), John Fleck (MC), Jayden Bogle (MR), David McGoldrick (FW), Rhian Brewster (FW)
Notes: There aren't a ton of ways Chris Wilder can go with a limited roster. George Baldock still seems iffy, so Jayden Bogle stays in the XI, while Brewster comes in for Lys Mousset.
Newcastle United Projected Lineup (5-4-1 at Sheffield United): Karl Darlow (GK), Federico Fernandez (DC), Ciaran Clark (DC), Fabian Schar (DC), Matt Ritchie (DL), DeAndre Yedlin (DR), Matthew Longstaff (MC), Isaac Hayden (MC), Joelinton (ML), Miguel Almiron (MR), Callum Wilson (FW)
Notes: It seems like Newcastle have found a preferred formation in the 5-4-1, and they have a variety of ways to go. Matthew Longstaff is the preferred Longstaff in the midfield, which means Hayden returns to the XI for Sean Longstaff following suspension. Yedlin remains on the right flank after a run of successful performances.
Burnley vs. Manchester United
INJURY REPORT | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Josh Brownhill | BRN | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Jimmy Dunne | BRN | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Kevin Long | BRN | D | Ankle | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Dwight McNeil | BRN | F/M | Groin | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Bailey Peacock-Farrell | BRN | G | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Nick Pope | BRN | G | Ankle | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Jay Rodriguez | BRN | F | Knee | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Charlie Taylor | BRN | D | Hamstring | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Ashley Westwood | BRN | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Eric Bailly | MUN | D | Neck | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Victor Lindelof | MUN | D | Back | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Paul Pogba | MUN | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Luke Shaw | MUN | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Phil Jones | MUN | D | Knee | OUT | 1/17/2021 |
Marcos Rojo | MUN | D | Calf | OUT | 1/17/2021 |
Burnley Projected Lineup (4-4-2 vs. Manchester United): Nick Pope (GK), Erik Pieters (DL), James Tarkowski (DC), Ben Mee (DC), Matthew Lowton (DR), Josh Benson (ML), Josh Brownhill (MC), Ashley Westwood (MC), Robbie Brady (MR), Ashley Barnes (FW), Chris Wood (FW)
Notes: Burnley had their last match postponed, so there's a chance either Taylor or McNeil are ready to feature again. If neither are ready to start, Pieters is at left-back and Benson will work as an outside midfielder.
Manchester United Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Burnley): David de Gea (GK), Luke Shaw (DL), Victor Lindelof (DC), Harry Maguire (DC), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR), Paul Pogba (DMC), Nemanja Matic (DMC), Mason Greenwood (AMR), Bruno Fernandes (AMC), Marcus Rashford (AML), Anthony Martial (FW)
Notes: Shaw is preferred to Alex Telles and Lindelof comes in for Eric Bailly along the back line, while Pogba and Matic start next to each other in the midfield. Greenwood is also back in the XI, though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could go a number of ways up front.
Wolverhampton vs. Everton
INJURY REPORT | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Richarlison | EVE | F | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/12/2021 |
Dominic Calvert-Lewin | EVE | F | Hamstring | OUT | 1/17/2021 |
Fabian Delph | EVE | M | Hamstring | GTD | 1/17/2021 |
Willy Boly | WOL | D | Hamstring | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Fernando Marcal | WOL | M/D | Groin | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Daniel Podence | WOL | F/M | Calf | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Jean-Philippe Gbamin | EVE | M | Achilles | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Allan | EVE | M | Hamstring | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Jonny | WOL | M/D | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Raul Jimenez | WOL | F | Head | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Wolverhampton Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Everton): Rui Patricio (GK), Rayan Ait-Nouri (DL), Romain Saiss (DC), Conor Coady (DC), Nelson Semedo (DR), Leander Dendoncker (MC), Ruben Neves (MC), Joao Moutinho (MC), Pedro Neto (FWL), Adama Traore (AMR), Fabio Silva (FW)
Notes: Dendoncker should be healthy enough to start, and Moutinho keeps his stpo while Vitinha heads to the benchwhich pushes Joao Moutinho back to the bench.
Everton Projected Lineup (4-3-3 at Wolverhampton): Jordan Pickford (GK), Ben Godfrey (DL), Yerry Mina (DC), Michael Keane (DC), Seamus Coleman (DR), Abdoulaye Doucoure (MC), Tom Davies (MC), Gylfi Sigurdsson (MC) Alex Iwobi (FWL), James Rodriguez (FWR), Richarlison (FW)
Notes: It's a guessing game at center-back, and this match Mina and Keane get the call. Sigurdsson keeps his spot in the starting XI despite Rodriguez's return, as Iwobi moves up into the attack because Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out, which makes Richarlison start as center forward.
Manchester City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
INJURY REPORT | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Sergio Aguero | MCI | F | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Nathan Ake | MCI | D | Rest | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Thomas Doyle | MCI | M | Illness | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Aymeric Laporte | MCI | D | Hamstring | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Raheem Sterling | MCI | F/M | Strain | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Ferran Torres | MCI | F/M | Illness | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Steven Alzate | BHA | M | Illness | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Jose Izquierdo | BHA | F/M | Knee | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
Adam Lallana | BHA | M | Illness | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
Tariq Lamptey | BHA | M/D | Hamstring | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
Danny Welbeck | BHA | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/16/2021 |
Yves Bissouma | BHA | M | Suspension | SUS | 1/16/2021 |
Eric Garcia | MCI | D | Hip | OUT | 1/17/2021 |
Scott Carson | MCI | G | Illness | OUT | 1/26/2021 |
Cole Palmer | MCI | F/M | Illness | OUT | 1/26/2021 |
Aaron Connolly | BHA | F | Hamstring | OUT | 1/26/2021 |
Florin Andone | BHA | F | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Manchester City Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Brighton & Hove Albion): Ederson (GK), Joao Cancelo (DL), Ruben Dias (DC), John Stones (DC), Kyle Walker (DR), Rodri (MC), Ilkay Gundogan (MC), Bernardo Silva (MC), Raheem Sterling (FWL), Kevin De Bruyne (FW), Phil Foden (FWR)
Notes: Ederson returns to the starting XI after being on the bench for last weekend's FA Cup match, one that also saw Gabriel Jesus return and start, which could have him on the bench for this game. If that's the case, Pep Guardiola could use De Bruyne as a false 9 again.
Brighton & Hove Albion Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1 at Manchester City): Robert Sanchez (GK), Dan Burn (DC), Lewis Dunk (DC), Adam Webster (DC), Solomon March (ML), Davy Propper (MC), Ben White (MC), Joel Veltman (MR), Pascal Gross (AMC), Leandro Trossard (AMC), Neal Maupay (FW)
Notes: Brighton have a lot of questions, the biggest being the continued absence of Lamptey, as Graham Potter hasn't really found someone to replace him. Propper enters for the suspended Bissouma, while Gross enters for Connolly, pushing Maupay up front with Welbeck out.
Tottenham Hotspur v. Fulham
INJURY REPORT | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg | TOT | M | Leg | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Erik Lamela | TOT | M | Not Injury Related | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Giovani Lo Celso | TOT | M | Strain | GTD | 1/13/2021 |
Tottenham Hotspur Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Aston Villa): Hugo Lloris (GK), Sergio Reguilon (DL), Eric Dier (DC), Toby Alderweireld (DC), Serge Aurier (DR), Harry Winks (DMC), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (DMC), Son Heung-Min (AML), Tanguy Ndombele (AMC), Steven Bergwijn (AMR), Harry Kane (FW)
Notes: There could be rotation at full-back after a busy week, while Winks continues in the midfield where he's started the last two league matches.
Fulham Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur): Alphonse Areola (GK), Tosin Adarabioyo (DC), Ola Aina (DC), Joachim Andersen (DC), Antonee Robinson (ML), Mario Lemina, (MC), Andre Zambo Anguissa (MC), Bobby Decordova-Reid (MR), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AMC), Ademola Lookman (AMC), Ivan Cavaleiro (FW)
Notes: Fulham return to their regular 3-4-2-1, with Loftus-Cheek coming in for Tom Cairney and Lemina for Harrison Reed.
Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace
INJURY REPORT | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Hector Bellerin | ARS | M/D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/14/2021 |
Gabriel | ARS | D | Illness | GTD | 1/14/2021 |
Thomas Partey | ARS | M | Thigh | GTD | 1/14/2021 |
Gary Cahill | CRY | D | Hamstring | GTD | 1/14/2021 |
Scott Dann | CRY | D | Hamstring | GTD | 1/14/2021 |
Gabriel Martinelli | ARS | F/M | Ankle | OUT | 1/18/2021 |
Nathan Ferguson | CRY | M | Knee | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Wayne Hennessey | CRY | G | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Martin Kelly | CRY | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Connor Wickham | CRY | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/27/2021 |
Mamadou Sakho | CRY | D | Thigh | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Jeffrey Schlupp | CRY | M | Hamstring | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Arsenal Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Crystal Palace): Bernd Leno (GK), Kieran Tierney (DL), Rob Holding (DC), Pablo Mari (DC), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (DR), Granit Xhaka (DMC), Dani Ceballos (DMC), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (AML), Emile Smith-Rowe (AMC), Bukayo Saka (AMR), Alexandre Lacazette (FW)
Notes: Arsenal are playing well in the 4-2-3-1 that features Smith-Rowe in a central role. Mohamed Elneny could replace Ceballos, while Maitland-Niles starts for Bellerin if he isn't ready.
Crystal Palace Projected Lineup (4-4-2 at Arsenal): Vicente Guaita (GK), Tyrick Mitchell (DL), Cheikhou Kouyate (DC), James Tomkins (DC), Nathaniel Clyne (DR), Eberechi Eze (ML), James McArthur (MC), Luka Milivojevic (MC), Andros Townsend (MR), Wilfried Zaha (FW), Christian Benteke (FW)
Notes: Roy Hodgson is a manager who sticks with what's working and that means a similar XI to the one that beat Sheffield United. Injured Jeffrey Schlupp makes way for Eze on the wing, while everything else is the same, including what had been a rotation-heavy back line. Clyne is in for Joel Ward after the two have rotated at right-back the last five matches.