This article is part of our Soccer Picks series.
MATCHES (EST)
- Tuesday, 1:00 pm: Crystal Palace vs. West Ham United
- Tuesday, 1:00 pm: Newcastle United vs. Leeds United
- Tuesday, 3:15 pm: Southampton vs. Arsenal
- Tuesday, 3:15 pm: West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester City
- Wednesday, 1:00 pm: Burnley vs. Aston Villa
- Wednesday,1:00 pm: Chelsea vs. Wolverhampton
- Wednesday,2:30 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Fulham
- Wednesday,3:15 pm: Everton vs. Leicester City
- Wednesday,3:15 pm: Manchester United vs. Sheffield United
- Thursday, 3:00 pm: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool
Crystal Palace
vs. West Ham United ![West Ham United](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/West-Ham-United.png)
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Cheikhou Kouyate | CRY | D | Personal | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Wilfried Zaha | CRY | F/M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Jeffrey Schlupp | CRY | M | Hamstring | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
James Tomkins | CRY | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Nathan Ferguson | CRY | M | Knee | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Wayne Hennessey | CRY | G | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Martin Kelly | CRY | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Connor Wickham | CRY | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Mamadou Sakho | CRY | D | Thigh | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Arthur Masuaku | WHU | D | Knee | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
Crystal Palace Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. West Ham United): Vicente Guaita (GK), Tyrick Mitchell (DL), Gary Cahill (DC), Cheikhou Kouyate (DC), Joel Ward (DR), Eberechi Eze (ML), James McArthur (MC), Luka Milivojevic (MC), Andros Townsend (MR), Wilfried Zaha (FW), Christian Benteke (FW)
Notes: Kouyate should return for Tomkins, who misses out with injury, while Zaha is the biggest question. This has been Palace's trusted XI through the last few weeks and if everyone is healthy, it's what Roy Hodgson will likely use, also featuring Benteke up front.
West Ham United Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Crystal Palace): Lukasz Fabianski (GK), Aaron Cresswell (DL), Craig Dawson (DC), Angelo Ogbonna (DC), Vladimir Coufal (DR), Declan Rice (DMC), Tomas Soucek (DMC), Pablo Fornals (AML), Said Benrahma (AMC), Jarrod Bowen (AMR), Michail Antonio (FW)
Notes: There's a chance Fornals and Benrahma are moved out of the XI after going a full 90 in the FA Cup, though their backups also started over the weekend, namely Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko.
Newcastle United
vs. Leeds United ![Leeds United](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/Leeds-United.png)
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Javier Manquillo | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Ciaran Clark | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Paul Dummett | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
DeAndre Yedlin | D | Not Injury Related | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Federico Fernandez | D | Hamstring | OUT | 2/15/2021 |
Newcastle United Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Leeds United): Karl Darlow (GK), Jamal Lewis (DL), Fabian Schar (DC), Jamaal Lascelles (DC), Emil Krafth (DR), Ryan Fraser (ML), Matthew Longstaff (MC), Isaac Hayden (MC), Miguel Almiron (MR), Allan Saint-Maximin (FWc), Callum Wilson (FW)
Notes: Newcastle keep changing things up with the hope of getting back to form. Due to injuries, the back line has to stay the same, while Fraser and Saint-Maximin enter to provide a spark. Krafth comes in for the injured Manquillo.
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Illan Meslier | G | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Robin Koch | D | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Gaetano Berardi | D | Knee | OUT | 2/20/2021 |
Adam Forshaw | M | Hip | OUT | 2/20/2021 |
Leeds United Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 at Newcastle United): Illan Meslier (GK), Ezgjan Alioski (DL), Luke Ayling (DC), Liam Cooper (DC), Stuart Dallas (DR), Kalvin Phillips (DMC), Jack Harrison (ML), Mateusz Klich (MC), Rodrigo (MC), Raphinha (MR), Patrick Bamford (FW)
Notes: Phillips returns from suspension, while everything else is the same for Marcelo Bielsa, who has kept a steady lineup over the last month.
Southampton
vs. Arsenal ![Arsenal](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/Arsenal.png)
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nathan Redmond | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Ryan Bertrand | D | Suspension | SUS (Premier) | 1/30/2021 |
Oriol Romeu | M | Calf | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Jannik Vestergaard | D | Knee | OUT | 2/2/2021 |
Moussa Djenepo | F/M | Hamstring | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Nathan Tella | F/M | Strain | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Kyle Walker-Peters | D | Quadriceps | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Mohammed Salisu | D | Strain | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Michael Obafemi | F | Strain | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
William Smallbone | M | Knee | OUT | 5/23/2021 |
Southampton Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Arsenal): Alex McCarthy (GK), Jake Vokins (DL), Jan Bednarek (DC), Jack Stephens (DC), Yan Valery (DR), Theo Walcott (ML), Ibrahima Diallo (MC), James Ward-Prowse (MC), Stuart Armstrong (MR), Che Adams (FW), Danny Ings (FW)
Notes: These teams just played over the weekend and after winning in the FA Cup, but because of injury and suspension to Walker-Peters and Bertrand, Valery and Vokins are forced into rare starts at full-back.
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | F/M | Personal | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Dani Ceballos | M | Calf | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Pablo Mari | D | Calf | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Arsenal Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Southampton): Bernd Leno (GK), Kieran Tierney (DL), Gabriel (DC), Rob Holding (DC), Hector Bellerin (DR), Thomas Partey (DMC), Granit Xhaka (DMC), Gabriel Martinelli (AML), Emile Smith-Rowe (AMC), Bukayo Saka (AMR), Alexandre Lacazette (FW)
Notes: Mikel Arteta will likely need someone to take the place of Aubameyang and that could be Martinelli after he was subbed off first on the weekend. Nicolas Pepe and Willian are also options after going a full 90 in the 1-0 FA Cup loss.
West Bromwich Albion
vs. Manchester City ![Manchester City](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/Manchester-City.png)
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Karlan Grant | F | Foot | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Matthew Phillips | M | Illness | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Grady Diangana | F/M | Strain | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Conor Townsend | D | Knee | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
West Bromwich Albion Projected Lineup (4-4-1-1 v. Manchester City): Sam Johnstone (GK), Kieran Gibbs (DL), Semi Ajayi (DC), Kyle Bartley (DC), Dara O'Shea (DR), Robert Snodgrass (ML), Romaine Sawyers (MC), Jake Livermore (MC), Conor Gallagher (MR), Matheus Pereira (AMC), Callum Robinson (FW)
Notes: Snodgrass is eligible again and takes over for Grosicki, while everything else stays the same. West Brom lack depth and there's not much Sam Allardyce can do to stop Man CIty.
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kyle Walker | D | Hip | GTD | 1/26/2021 |
Sergio Aguero | F | Illness | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Nathan Ake | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Kevin De Bruyne | M | Hamstring | OUT | 2/21/2021 |
Manchester City Projected Lineup (4-3-3 at West Bromwich Albion): Ederson (GK), Joao Cancelo (DR), Ruben Dias (DC), John Stones (DC), Oleksandr Zinchenko (DL), Rodri (MC), Ilkay Gundogan (MC), Bernardo Silva (MC), Raheem Sterling (FWL), Phil Foden (FWR), Gabriel Jesus (FW)
Notes: Kyle Walker and Zinchenko are the questions along the back line, though after neither featured over the weekend, it's more likely the latter gets the call due to the former's minor injury. Kevin De Bruyne is out, but City still have plenty of options with Silva likely taking up a bigger role on the ball.
Burnley
vs. Aston Villa ![Aston Villa](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/Aston-Villa.png)
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Charlie Taylor | BRN | D | Hamstring | OUT | 1/31/2021 |
Wesley Moraes | AVL | F | Knee | OUT | 1/31/2021 |
Kortney Hause | AVL | D | Foot | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Burnley Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Aston Villa): Nick Pope (GK), Erik Pieters (DL), Ben Mee (DC), James Tarkowski (DC), Matthew Lowton (DL), Dwight McNeil (ML), Ashley Westwood (MC), Josh Brownhill (MC), Robbie Brady (MR), Chris Wood (FW), Ashley Barnes (FW)
Notes: Pieters is set for another start at left-back, while Gudmundsson, Brady and McNeil continue to fight for time on the wings. Gudmundsson and McNeil started on Sunday.
Aston Villa Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Burnley): Emiliano Martinez (GK), Matt Targett (DL), Ezri Konsa (DC), Tyrone Mings (DC), Matty Cash (DR), Douglas Luiz (DMC), John McGinn (DMC), Jack Grealish (AMC), Anwar El Ghazi (AML), Bertrand Traore (AMR), Ollie Watkins (FW)
Notes: This seems like the perfect spot for El Ghazi to return to the XI to replace Barkley, who would be starting three matches in eight days if he gets the call, which usually isn't the best strategy returning from a month-long hamstring injury.
Chelsea
vs. Wolverhampton ![Wolverhampton](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/Wolverhampton.png)
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Olivier Giroud | CHE | F | Ankle | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
N'Golo Kante | CHE | M | Hamstring | OUT | 1/31/2021 |
Daniel Podence | WOL | F/M | Calf | OUT | 2/2/2021 |
Jonny | WOL | M/D | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Fernando Marcal | WOL | M/D | Abdomen | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Raul Jimenez | WOL | F | Head | OUT | 2/20/2021 |
Chelsea Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Wolverhampton): Edouard Mendy (GK), Ben Chilwell (DL), Kurt Zouma (DC), Thiago Silva (DC), Reece James (DR), Jorginho (MC), Mateo Kovacic (MC), Mason Mount (MC), Christian Pulisic (FWL), Hakim Ziyech (FWR), Tammy Abraham (FW)
Notes: Abraham gets another start after bagging a hat-trick in the FA Cup, while both Kovacic and Jorginho are used in hopes of fixing defensive woes.
Wolverhampton Projected Lineup (3-4-1-2 at Chelsea): Rui Patricio (GK), Rayan Ait-Nouri (ML), Willy Boly (DC), Conor Coady (DC), Romain Saiss (DC), Nelson Semedo (MR), Leander Dendoncker (MC), Joao Moutinho (MC), Adama Traore (AMC), Pedro Neto (FW), Fabio Silva (FW)
Notes: While it hasn't worked of late, Wolves could return to a three-man back line after using that to beat Chelsea a little more than a month ago (they also used it Friday in the FA Cup).
Brighton & Hove Albion
vs. Fulham ![Fulham](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/Fulham.png)
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Aaron Connolly | BHA | F | Hamstring | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
Adam Lallana | BHA | M | Illness | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
Antonee Robinson | FUL | D | Suspension | SUS | 1/30/2021 |
Tom Cairney | FUL | M | Knee | OUT | 2/3/2021 |
Jose Izquierdo | BHA | F/M | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Terence Kongolo | FUL | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Alireza Jahanbakhsh | BHA | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Tariq Lamptey | BHA | M/D | Hamstring | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Danny Welbeck | BHA | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Florin Andone | BHA | F | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Brighton & Hove Albion Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1 v. Fulham): Robert Sanchez (GK), Lewis Dunk (DC), Adam Webster (DC), Dan Burn (DC), Solomon March (ML), Ben White (MC), Pascal Gross (MC) Joel Veltman (MR), Leandro Trossard (AMC), Alexis Mac Allister (AMC), Neal Maupay (FW)
Notes: Brighton stick with what works after they beat Leeds 1-0 last week. Mac Allister has played well and continues up front paired with Trossard.
Fulham Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion): Alphonse Areola (GK), Ola Aina (DC), Joachim Andersen (DC), Tosin Adarabioyo (DC), Ademola Lookman (ML), Harrison Reed (MC), Andre Zambo Anguissa (MC), Kenny Tete (MR), Bobby Decordova-Reid (AMC), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AMC), Ivan Cavaleiro (FW)
Notes: While the XI is set, Fulham don't have a preferred left-back because of the suspension to Antonee Robinson, unless Joe Bryan gets another start.
Everton
vs. Leicester City ![Leicester City](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/Leicester-City.png)
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Dominic Calvert-Lewin | EVE | F | Hamstring | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
Fabian Delph | EVE | M | Hamstring | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
Nampalys Mendy | LEI | M | Neck | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
Abdoulaye Doucoure | EVE | M | Suspension | SUS | 1/30/2021 |
Niels Nkounkou | EVE | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 1/30/2021 |
Jean-Philippe Gbamin | EVE | M | Achilles | OUT | 2/3/2021 |
Allan | EVE | M | Hamstring | OUT | 2/8/2021 |
Jamie Vardy | LEI | F | Hip | OUT | 2/13/2021 |
Wes Morgan | LEI | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/21/2021 |
Dennis Praet | LEI | M | Hamstring | OUT | 4/10/2021 |
Everton Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Leicester City): Jordan Pickford (GK), Lucas Digne (DL), Michael Keane (DC), Yerry Mina (DC), Seamus Coleman (DR), Tom Davies (MC), Andre Gomes (MC), Alex Iwobi (MC), Richarlison (FWL), James Rodriguez (FWR), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (FW)
Notes: Calvert-Lewin is back to boost the forwards and that allows Iwobi to play more of a midfield role. The center-backs change by the matchup and have been impossible to project.
Leicester City Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 at Everton): Kasper Schmeichel (GK), James Justin (DL), Wesley Fofana (DC), Jonny Evans (DC), Timothy Castagne (DR), Wilfred Ndidi (DMC), Harvey Barnes (ML), Youri Tielemans (MC), James Maddison (MC), Marc Albrighton (MR), Kelechi Iheanacho (FW)
Notes: Iheanacho didn't start Sunday and that possibly means he enters the XI Wednesday for the injured Jamie Vardy.
Manchester United
vs. Sheffield United ![Sheffield United](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/Sheffield-United.png)
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Marcus Rashford | F/M | Knee | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
Marcos Rojo | D | Calf | OUT | 2/2/2021 |
Phil Jones | D | Knee | OUT | 2/8/2021 |
Brandon Williams | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/8/2021 |
Manchester United Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Sheffield United): David de Gea (GK), Luke Shaw (DL), Harry Maguire (DC), Victor Lindelof (DC), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR), Fred (DMC), Paul Pogba (DMC), Anthony Martial (AML), Bruno Fernandes (AMC), Mason Greenwood (AMR), Edinson Cavani (FW)
Notes: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is slowly figuring things out with Pogba and that's led to some success. This is the preferred XI with Pogba and Fred in deeper roles, while Greenwood starts over Rashford, who suffered a knee injury over the weekend.
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oliver McBurnie | F | Shoulder | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
Lys Mousset | F | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
Ben Osborn | M | Calf | GTD | 1/27/2021 |
John Egan | D | Suspension | SUS (Premier) | 1/30/2021 |
Jack Robinson | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Jack O'Connell | D | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Sander Berge | M | Hamstring | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
Sheffield United Projected Lineup (3-5-2 at Manchester United): Aaron Ramsdale (GK), Chris Basham (DC), Ethan Ampadu (DC), George Baldock (DC), Enda Stevens (ML), Oliver Norwood (MC), John Fleck (MC), John Lundstram (MC), Jayden Bogle (MR), Oliver Burke (FW), David McGoldrick (FW)
Notes: The suspension to John Egan leaves some questions, but Baldock is healthy again and could get a rare start at center-back. That would allow Bogle to stay on the right and Stevens to stay on the left.
Tottenham Hotspur
vs. Liverpool ![Liverpool](https://content.rotowire.com/images/teamlogo/soccer/Liverpool.png)
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Dele Alli | TOT | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/28/2021 |
Serge Aurier | TOT | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/28/2021 |
Matt Doherty | TOT | D | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/28/2021 |
Jordan Henderson | LIV | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 1/28/2021 |
Naby Keita | LIV | M | Strain | GTD | 1/28/2021 |
Giovani Lo Celso | TOT | M | Strain | OUT | 1/31/2021 |
Diogo Jota | LIV | F | Knee | OUT | 2/6/2021 |
Virgil van Dijk | LIV | D | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Joe Gomez | LIV | D | Knee | OUT | 4/3/2021 |
Tottenham Hotspur Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Liverpool): Hugo Lloris (GK), Sergio Reguilon (DL), Eric Dier (DC), Davinson Sanchez (DC), Serge Aurier (DR), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (DMC), Moussa Sissoko (DMC), Son Heung-Min (AML), Tanguy Ndombele (AMC), Steven Bergwijn (AMR), Harry Kane (FW)
Notes: Harry Winks is an option for the midfield and there's always the chance Jose Mourinho turns defensive, but Liverpool are ripe for the taking and he'll keep his trusted formation.
Liverpool Projected Lineup (4-3-3 at Tottenham Hotspur): Alisson Becker (GK), Andrew Robertson (DL), Joel Matip (DC), Fabinho (DC), Trent Alexander-Arnold (DR), Georginio Wijnaldum (MC), Jordan Henderson (MC), Thiago Alcantara (MC), Sadio Mane (FWL), Mohamed Salah (FWR), Roberto Firmino (FW)
Notes: Liverpool are edging closer to health and that means more of the same for the starting XI, assuming Henderson is healthy enough to start.