This article is part of our Soccer Picks series.
MATCHES (EST)
- Friday, 3:00 pm: Wolverhampton vs. Leeds United
- Saturday, 7:30 am: Southampton vs. Chelsea
- Saturday, 10:00 am: Burnley vs. West Bromwich Albion
- Saturday, 12:30 pm: Liverpool vs. Everton
- Saturday, 3:00 pm: Fulham vs. Sheffield United
- Sunday, 7:00 am: West Ham United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
- Sunday, 9:00 am: Aston Villa vs. Leicester City
- Sunday, 11:30 am: Arsenal vs. Manchester City
- Sunday, 2:00 pm: Manchester United vs. Newcastle United
- Monday, 3:00 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Crystal Palace
- Tuesday, 1:00 pm: Leeds United vs. Southampton
Wolverhampton vs. Leeds United
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Mateusz Klich | LEE | M | Hip | GTD | 2/19/2021 |
Diego Llorente | LEE | D | Strain | GTD | 2/19/2021 |
Robin Koch | LEE | D | Knee | OUT | 2/23/2021 |
Kalvin Phillips | LEE | M | Calf | OUT | 2/23/2021 |
Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo | LEE | F | Ankle | OUT | 2/23/2021 |
Gaetano Berardi | LEE | D | Knee | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Adam Forshaw | LEE | M | Hip | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Rodrigo | LEE | F/M | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Willy Boly | WOL | D | Hamstring | OUT | 3/13/2021 |
Daniel Podence | WOL | F/M | Groin | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
Raul Jimenez | WOL | F | Head | OUT | 4/17/2021 |
Wolverhampton Projected Lineup (3-4-3 v. Leeds United): Rui Patricio (GK), Conor Coady (DC), Romain Saiss (DC), Leander Dendoncker (DC), Nelson Semedo (MR), Jonny (ML), Ruben Neves (MC), Joao Moutinho (MC), Pedro Neto (FWL), Adama Traore (FWR), Willian Jose (FW)
Notes: Wolves repeat their lineup from the win against Southampton and continue with a three-man back line, which they've used the last two matches. Fernando Marcal could eventually join the XI, but Saiss and Dendoncker continue at center-back for another match.
Leeds United Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 at Wolves): Illan Meslier (GK), Ezgjan Alioski (DL), Liam Cooper (DC), Luke Ayling (DC), Jamie Shackleton (DR), Pascal Struijk (DMC), Jack Harrison (ML), Mateusz Klich (MC), Stuart Dallas (MC), Raphinha (MR), Patrick Bamford (FW)
Notes: There's a chance Marcelo Bielsa mixes things up after getting pounced by Arsenal, but guys like Helder Costa and Tyler Roberts have rarely started this season, so it's hard to see either coming into the XI.
Southampton vs. Chelsea
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ibrahima Diallo | M | Undisclosed | OUT | 3/1/2021 |
Theo Walcott | F/M | Hamstring | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Kyle Walker-Peters | D | Hamstring | OUT | 3/13/2021 |
Michael Obafemi | F | Strain | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
William Smallbone | M | Knee | OUT | 5/23/2021 |
Southampton Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Chelsea): Alex McCarthy (GK), Ryan Bertrand (DL), Jan Bednarek (DC), Jannik Vestergaard (DC), Mohammed Salisu (DR), Takumi Minamino (ML), Oriol Romeu (MC), James Ward-Prowse (MC), Stuart Armstrong (MR), Nathan Redmond (FW), Danny Ings (FW)
Notes: Salisu gets the start for the injured Walker-Peters, but Jack Stephens is also in play, while Redmond remains up front next to Ings. Moussa Djenepo and Che Adams remain options to start, as well.
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tammy Abraham | F | Ankle | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Kai Havertz | F/M | Undisclosed | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Christian Pulisic | F/M | Calf | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Thiago Silva | D | Strain | OUT | 2/23/2021 |
Chelsea Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1 at Southampton): Edouard Mendy (GK), Andreas Christensen (DC), Antonio Rudiger (DC), Cesar Azpilicueta (DC), Ben Chilwell (ML), Jorginho (MC), Mateo Kovacic (MC), Reece James (MR), Mason Mount (AMC), Timo Werner (AMC), Olivier Giroud (FW)
Notes: Christensen stays in the XI with Silva out, while everything else is a moving piece, especially with Champions League ahead. Chilwell and James could be back, while Werner seems to play better in the AMC role, which means a start for Giroud, over the injured Abraham.
Burnley vs. West Bromwich Albion
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Ben Mee | BRN | D | Concussion | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Matej Vydra | BRN | F | Hamstring | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Chris Wood | BRN | F | Hamstring | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Grady Diangana | WBA | F/M | Hamstring | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Lee Peltier | WBA | D | Ankle | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Robbie Brady | BRN | M | Achilles | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Johann Berg Gudmundsson | BRN | M | Hamstring | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Erik Pieters | BRN | M/D | Groin | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Dale Stephens | BRN | M | Undisclosed | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Burnley Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. West Brom): Nick Pope (GK), Charlie Taylor (DL), James Tarkowski (DC), Ben Mee (DC), Matthew Lowton (DR), Dwight McNeil (ML), Ashley Westwood (MC), Jack Cork (MC), Josh Brownhill (MR), Ashley Barnes (FW), Jay Rodriguez (FW)
Notes: Mee is back from a concussion, while Taylor stays at left-back. After a couple more injuries midweek, it looks like Brownhill could play a role on the wing over the injured Brady and Gudmundsson.
West Bromwich Albion Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 at Burnley): Sam Johnstone (GK), Conor Townsend (DL), Kyle Bartley (DC), Semi Ajayi (DC), Darnell Furlong (DR), Okay (DMC), Matheus Pereira (ML), Conor Gallagher (MC), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (MC), Robert Snodgrass (MR), Mbaye Diagne (FW)
Notes: It's mostly the same from the draw against Manchester United except for Furlong coming into the XI for the injured Peltier.
Liverpool vs. Everton
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Naby Keita | M | Hamstring | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Diogo Jota | F | Knee | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
James Milner | M | Hamstring | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Fabinho | M/D | Strain | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Joe Gomez | D | Knee | OUT | 4/3/2021 |
Virgil van Dijk | D | Knee | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
Joel Matip | D | Ankle | OUT | 8/7/2021 |
Liverpool Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Everton): Alisson Becker (GK), Andrew Robertson (DL), Ozan Kabak (DC), Jordan Henderson (DC), Trent Alexander-Arnold (DR), Thiago Alcantara (MC), Georginio Wijnaldum (MC), Curtis Jones (MC), Sadio Mane (FWL), Mohamed Salah (FWR), Roberto Firmino (FW)
Notes: Liverpool don't have a ton of options and in a derby, nothing is expected to change from the midweek win against Leipzig. It looks like they've found some form and Jurgen Klopp won't want to change that.
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dominic Calvert-Lewin | F | Hamstring | GTD | 2/20/2021 |
Jean-Philippe Gbamin | M | Achilles | OUT | 3/13/2021 |
Yerry Mina | D | Calf | OUT | 4/3/2021 |
Everton Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Liverpool): Jordan Pickford (GK), Lucas Digne (DL), Michael Keane (DC), Mason Holgate (MC), Ben Godfrey (DR), Allan (DMC), Abdoulaye Doucoure (DMC), Alex Iwobi (AMR), James Rodriguez (AMC), Richarlison (AML), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (FW)
Notes: Godfrey appears to be preferred to Coleman, while there's a chance Allan returns to the XI in a big spot. A 4-2-3-1 has been one of the preferred formations for Carlo Ancelotti this season and he'll use it if Calvert-Lewin is ready to start. If he wants more of a defensive approach against Liverpool, Gomes would likely take the spot of Iwobi.
Fulham vs. Sheffield United
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tom Cairney | M | Knee | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Aleksandar Mitrovic | F | Illness | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Fulham Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Sheffield United): Alphonse Areola (GK), Ola Aina (DL), Tosin Adarabioyo (DC), Joachim Andersen (DC), Kenny Tete (DR), Mario Lemina (MC), Harrison Reed (MC), Ademola Lookman (ML), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (MR), Bobby Decordova-Reid (FW), Josh Maja (FW)
Notes: Scott Parker has seemed to have found something with this formation and he'll keep it the same. That leaves Antonee Robinson, Andre Zambo Anguissa and Ivan Cavaleiro on the bench again.
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
John Fleck | M | Illness | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Jack O'Connell | D | Knee | OUT | 3/13/2021 |
Jack Robinson | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 3/13/2021 |
Sander Berge | M | Hamstring | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
John Egan | D | Toe | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
Sheffield United Projected Lineup (3-5-2 at Fulham): Aaron Ramsdale (GK), Phil Jagielka (DC), Chris Basham (DC), Ethan Ampadu (DC), Jayden Bogle (MR), Oliver Norwood (MC), John Lundstram (MC), Ben Osborn (MC), Enda Stevens (MR), David McGoldrick (FW), Billy Sharp (FW)
Notes: Sheffield United's forwards are a guessing game every match. Bryan could start for the injured Egan, but Phil Jagielka is also an option. The midfield stays the same since Fleck remains out.
West Ham United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Michail Antonio | WHU | F | Rest | GTD | 2/21/2021 |
Fabian Balbuena | WHU | D | Calf | GTD | 2/21/2021 |
Andriy Yarmolenko | WHU | F/M | Knee | GTD | 2/21/2021 |
Sergio Reguilon | TOT | D | Strain | GTD | 2/21/2021 |
Angelo Ogbonna | WHU | D | Ankle | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Serge Aurier | TOT | D | Calf | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Giovani Lo Celso | TOT | M | Strain | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Arthur Masuaku | WHU | D | Knee | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
West Ham United Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Tottenham): Lukasz Fabianski (GK), Aaron Cresswell (DL), Craig Dawson (DC), Issa Diop (DC), Vladimir Coufal (DR), Declan Rice (DMC), Tomas Soucek (DMC), Said Benrahma (AML), Jesse Lingard (AMC), Jarrod Bowen (AMR), Michail Antonio (FW)
Notes: As long as Antonio starts, West Ham will use their preferred XI and formation. If not, things could look different again, involving Ben Johnson or Manuel Lanzini in the XI.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1 at West Ham): Hugo Lloris (GK), Ben Davies (DL), Toby Alderweireld (DC), Eric Dier (DC), Japhet Tanganga (DR), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (DMC), Moussa Sissoko (DMC), Son Heung-Min (AML), Lucas Moura (AMR), Tanguy Ndombele (AMC), Harry Kane (FW)
Notes: Ndombele moves back to an attacking role, which gets Sissoko into the XI again, similar to midweek. The same goes for center-back between Alderweireld and Dier, while Tanganga could start again after Matt Doherty started Thursday.
Aston Villa vs. Leicester City
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Timothy Castagne | LEI | D | Hamstring | GTD | 2/21/2021 |
Kortney Hause | AVL | D | Foot | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Wesley Moraes | AVL | F | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Wesley Fofana | LEI | D | Hamstring | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Wes Morgan | LEI | D | Back | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Ayoze Perez | LEI | F/M | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Matty Cash | AVL | D | Hamstring | OUT | 3/13/2021 |
Dennis Praet | LEI | M | Hamstring | OUT | 4/10/2021 |
James Justin | LEI | D | Knee | OUT | 5/23/2021 |
Aston Villa Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Leicester City): Emiliano Martinez (GK), Matt Targett (DL), Tyrone Mings (DC), Ezri Konsa (DC), Ahmed Elmohamady (DR), Douglas Luiz (DMC), John McGinn (DMC), Jack Grealish (AML), Ross Barkley (AMC), Bertrand Traore (AMR), Ollie Watkins (FW)
Notes: Elmohamady is the lone change for the injured Cash, while Villa keep their core.
Leicester City Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Aston Villa): Kasper Schmeichel (GK), Daniel Amartey (DR), Caglar Soyuncu (DC), Jonny Evans (DC), Ricardo Pereira (DL), Wilfred Ndidi (DMC), Youri Tielemans (DMC), Harvey Barnes (AML), James Maddison (AMC), Marc Albrighton (AMR), Jamie Vardy (FW)
Notes: Leicester had a strong side midweek, but that doesn't mean they'll change things for league play. Amartey has seemed to find a role at full-back, while everything else stays the same from the win against Liverpool. The stretch would be for both Pereira and Castagne to start at full-back.
Arsenal vs. Manchester City
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas Partey | M | Strain | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Arsenal Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Manchester City): Bernd Leno (GK), Cedric Soares (DL), David Luiz (DC), Gabriel (DC), Hector Bellerin (DR), Granit Xhaka (DMC), Dani Ceballos (DMC), Emile Smith-Rowe (AML), Martin Odegaard (AMC), Bukayo Saka (AMR), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (FW)
Notes: Mikel Arteta isn't going to change anything from the win against Leeds unless Kieran Tierney is ready to start for Soares. They put out the same squad Thursday and if everyone is fit, it'll be the same against Man City.
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ilkay Gundogan | M | Groin | GTD | 2/21/2021 |
Nathan Ake | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Manchester City Projected Lineups (4-3-3 at Arsenal): Ederson (GK), Oleksandr Zinchenko (DL), Ruben Dias (DC), John Stones (DC), Kyle Walker (DR), Rodri (MC), Bernardo Silva (MC), Kevin De Bruyne (MC), Raheem Sterling (FWL), Riyad Mahrez (FWR), Gabriel Jesus (FW)
Notes: Dias and Stones should start together again, while Cancelo and Gundogan get breathers ahead of Champions League. There's also the chance of more rotation, possibly seeing De Bruyne back in the XI, allowing Phil Foden a rare rest. Given the depth of the roster, every position could look different and no one would be surprised.
Manchester United vs. Newcastle United
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Edinson Cavani | F | Strain | GTD | 2/21/2021 |
Scott McTominay | M | Undisclosed | GTD | 2/21/2021 |
Donny van de Beek | M | Strain | GTD | 2/21/2021 |
Phil Jones | D | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Paul Pogba | M | Thigh | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Manchester United Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Newcastle): David de Gea (GK), Luke Shaw (DL), Harry Maguire (DC), Victor Lindelof (DC), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR), Fred (DMC), Scott McTominay (DMC), Marcus Rashford (AML), Bruno Fernandes (AMC), Mason Greenwood (AMR), Anthony Martial (FW)
Notes: A minor injury for Cavani moves Martial back into the XI, though that front three is fluid. Shaw and Lindelof will be ready after resting midweek.
Name | Pos | Injury | Status | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Federico Fernandez | D | Hamstring | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Javier Manquillo | D | Ankle | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
Callum Wilson | F | Hamstring | OUT | 4/3/2021 |
Fabian Schar | D | Knee | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
Newcastle United Projected Lineup (4-3-1-2 at Manchester United): Karl Darlow (GK), Jamal Lewis (DL), Ciaran Clark (DC), Jamaal Lascelles (DC), Emil Krafth (DR), Jonjo Shelvey (MC), Isaac Hayden (MC) Joe Willock (MC), Miguel Almiron (AMC), Allan Saint-Maximin (FW), Dwight Gayle (FW)
Notes: Jeff Hendrick is back, but he may not have a spot in the squad. They used a 4-3-3 against Chelsea and while that may not happen again, there's not a ton of rotation expected unless Ryan Fraser moves in for Gayle.
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Crystal Palace
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Solomon March | BHA | M | Knee | OUT | 5/1/2021 |
Florin Andone | BHA | F | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Nathan Ferguson | CRY | M | Knee | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
James Tomkins | CRY | D | Undisclosed | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Connor Wickham | CRY | F | Undisclosed | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Wilfried Zaha | CRY | F/M | Hamstring | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
James McArthur | CRY | M | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Mamadou Sakho | CRY | D | Thigh | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Jeffrey Schlupp | CRY | M | Hamstring | OUT | 2/28/2021 |
Tariq Lamptey | BHA | M/D | Hamstring | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Alireza Jahanbakhsh | BHA | F | Undisclosed | GTD | 2/22/2021 |
Adam Webster | BHA | D | Ankle | GTD | 2/22/2021 |
James McCarthy | CRY | M | Strain | GTD | 2/22/2021 |
Brighton & Hove Albion Projected Lineup (4-1-3-2 v. Crystal Palace): Robert Sanchez (GK), Joel Veltman (DR), Lewis Dunk (DC), Ben White (DC), Dan Burn (DL), Yves Bissouma (DMC), Steven Alzate (MC), Alexis Mac Allister (MC), Pascal Gross (MC), Leandro Trossard (FW), Neal Maupay (FW)
Notes: Brighton moved to a four-man back line without Adam Webster and didn't skip a beat. Given recent results, there's no reason to change anything even with guys like Danny Welbeck and Adam Lallana ready to start.
Crystal Palace Projected Lineup (4-4-2 at Brighton): Vicente Guaita (GK), Patrick van Aanholt (DL), Scott Dann (DC), Gary Cahill (DC), Nathaniel Clyne (DR), Eberechi Eze (ML), Luka Milivojevic (MC), Jairo Riedewald (MC), Andros Townsend (MR), Jordan Ayew (FW), Michy Batshuayi (FW)
Notes: Palace have yet to score without Wilfried Zaha this season and that likely means Roy Hodgson will continue to tinker after some down results. Townsend is a possibility to return to the wing, while no defender is safe for the starting XI. It's best to assume things will stay the same, but that's rarely been the case for Hodgson's crew.
Leeds United vs. Southampton
Injury Report | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Pos | Injury | Status | Est. Return |
Mateusz Klich | LEE | M | Hip | GTD | 2/19/2021 |
Diego Llorente | LEE | D | Strain | GTD | 2/19/2021 |
Robin Koch | LEE | D | Knee | OUT | 2/23/2021 |
Kalvin Phillips | LEE | M | Calf | OUT | 2/23/2021 |
Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo | LEE | F | Ankle | OUT | 2/23/2021 |
Gaetano Berardi | LEE | D | Knee | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Adam Forshaw | LEE | M | Hip | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Rodrigo | LEE | F/M | Undisclosed | OUT | 2/27/2021 |
Ibrahima Diallo | SOU | M | Undisclosed | OUT | 3/1/2021 |
Theo Walcott | SOU | F/M | Hamstring | OUT | 3/6/2021 |
Kyle Walker-Peters | SOU | D | Hamstring | OUT | 3/13/2021 |
Michael Obafemi | SOU | F | Strain | OUT | 3/20/2021 |
William Smallbone | SOU | M | Knee | OUT | 5/23/2021 |
Leeds United Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 v. Southampton): Illan Meslier (GK), Ezgjan Alioski (DL), Liam Cooper (DC), Luke Ayling (DC), Jamie Shackleton (DR), Pascal Struijk (DMC), Jack Harrison (ML), Mateusz Klich (MC), Stuart Dallas (MC), Raphinha (MR), Patrick Bamford (FW)
Notes: Phillips remains a doubt, but Diego Llorente is healthy and could move back into the starting XI, which would push Ayling out wide and Shackleton to the bench.
Southampton Projected Lineup (4-4-2 at Leeds: Alex McCarthy (GK), Ryan Bertrand (DL), Jan Bednarek (DC), Jannik Vestergaard (DC), Jack Stephens (DR), Takumi Minamino (ML), Oriol Romeu (MC), James Ward-Prowse (MC), Stuart Armstrong (MR), Che Adams (FW), Danny Ings (FW)
Notes: There's always a chance of rotation, or not, so while we could see Stephens and Adams come in, it's certainly possible they don't depending on their first fixture of the gameweek.