Manchester United return from their Capital One Cup exit midweek to face a tricky trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Alan Pardew’s side are on a two-game losing streak for the first time this season, seeing them dropping down to 7th heading into the weekend. They were also thrashed 5-1 at Manchester City in the cup themselves midweek.
United held City to a 0-0 at Old Trafford last weekend and have now kept three clean sheets in their last four league games.
Here’s the side I think Louis van Gaal will field at Selhurst Park:
Goalkeeper: David de Gea
The defence in front of him has really improved of late as David de Gea was barely tested by the Premier League leaders last weekend. The Spaniard should be busier this weekend with the pace and threat of the Palace attack.
The defence in front of him has really improved of late as David de Gea was barely tested by the Premier League leaders last weekend. The Spaniard should be busier this weekend with the pace and threat of the Palace attack.
Defence: Matteo Darmian, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo
Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are forming a good partnership in the middle. Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo should be in for a busy game with the pace that Crystal Palace have and use down the wings. Rojo in particular with his positioning against former-United forward Wilfried Zaha. The Argentine will need to be careful when challenging Zaha in the box as he goes down easily.
Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are forming a good partnership in the middle. Matteo Darmian and Marcos Rojo should be in for a busy game with the pace that Crystal Palace have and use down the wings. Rojo in particular with his positioning against former-United forward Wilfried Zaha. The Argentine will need to be careful when challenging Zaha in the box as he goes down easily.
Midfield: Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Anthony Martial
Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger and Louis van Gaal’s first-choice holding midfield partnership now with Michael Carrick taking his place among the substitutes. We’re waiting on Memphis Depay to return to first team action at some point but Anthony Martial continues to play on the left of late. Juan Mata will be looking for a successful matchup versus Pape Souaré.
Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger and Louis van Gaal’s first-choice holding midfield partnership now with Michael Carrick taking his place among the substitutes. We’re waiting on Memphis Depay to return to first team action at some point but Anthony Martial continues to play on the left of late. Juan Mata will be looking for a successful matchup versus Pape Souaré.
Striker: Wayne Rooney
Despite being out-of-form this season, Wayne Rooney continues up front. If the club captain starts this weekend then I’m not sure what it will take for the Dutch manager to drop him after being woeful and ineffective versus City last weekend. Martial has proven to be the better striker of the two this season but van Gaal doesn’t appear to have noticed this by playing the young French striker out wide recently.
Despite being out-of-form this season, Wayne Rooney continues up front. If the club captain starts this weekend then I’m not sure what it will take for the Dutch manager to drop him after being woeful and ineffective versus City last weekend. Martial has proven to be the better striker of the two this season but van Gaal doesn’t appear to have noticed this by playing the young French striker out wide recently.
Swansea Predicted XI to Face Arsenal
Swansea City will be looking to build on their victory at Aston Villa last weekend when they host an injured-plagued Arsenal on Saturday.
The Gunners are down to the bare bones in midfield with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott the latest casualties during the Capital One Cup exit to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday. The duo join Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Tomáš Rosický, Mikel Arteta and Danny Welbeck already out.
Garry Monk is much more fortunate on the injury front with a clean bill of health for the Welsh side who didn’t play midweek. Arsenal also have a trip to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League midweek to negotiate.
Here’s the Swansea team I think we’ll see looking to dent Arsenal’s title challenge:
Goalkeeper: Łukasz Fabiański
The former Arsenal goalkeeper had one spectacular game versus his old employees last season but is four games without a clean sheet and only has two all season.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper had one spectacular game versus his old employees last season but is four games without a clean sheet and only has two all season.
Defence: Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernández, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor
The centre-backs will have in-form Olivier Giroud to deal with whilst Kyle Naughton could well face Santi Cazorla down that wing due to a lack of midfielders available for the visitors. Alexis Sánchez hasn’t played on the right wing too often under Wenger but is the only player available capable on that wing this weekend.
The centre-backs will have in-form Olivier Giroud to deal with whilst Kyle Naughton could well face Santi Cazorla down that wing due to a lack of midfielders available for the visitors. Alexis Sánchez hasn’t played on the right wing too often under Wenger but is the only player available capable on that wing this weekend.
Midfield: Jack Cork, Jonjo Shelvey, André Ayew, Gylfi Sigurðsson, Jefferson Montero
Gylfi Sigurðsson should be looking to exploit Mathieu Flamini who hasn’t had much football this season and didn’t look very good 12 months ago when he did play. Jonjo Shelvey’s passing from deep could also be a useful weapon for the attack. Jefferson Montero should be looking at Douglas Costa’s first-half display versus Héctor Bellerín recently whilst André Ayew will be looking for success against Nacho Monreal and by drifting inside.
Gylfi Sigurðsson should be looking to exploit Mathieu Flamini who hasn’t had much football this season and didn’t look very good 12 months ago when he did play. Jonjo Shelvey’s passing from deep could also be a useful weapon for the attack. Jefferson Montero should be looking at Douglas Costa’s first-half display versus Héctor Bellerín recently whilst André Ayew will be looking for success against Nacho Monreal and by drifting inside.
Striker: Bafétimbi Gomis
Swansea’s striker is without a goal in his last six Premier League matches since starting the season with a goal in each of his first four. The Arsenal defence has been pretty solid of late conceding only once in their last three league games and shutting out Bayern Munich during that run. The Swans have failed to score in three of their last six.
Swansea’s striker is without a goal in his last six Premier League matches since starting the season with a goal in each of his first four. The Arsenal defence has been pretty solid of late conceding only once in their last three league games and shutting out Bayern Munich during that run. The Swans have failed to score in three of their last six.
Arsenal Predicted XI to Face Swansea
An injury-plagued Arsenal face a busy week, starting at Swansea City tomorrow before going to Bayern Munich midweek and then host Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby next Sunday.
Whether this will be a season-defining week for Arsène Wenger we’ll wait and see, but they will almost-certainly need three points in Wales on Saturday to remain joint-top of the Premier League with Manchester City hosting Norwich City at the same time.
The hosts have a clean bill of health and did not feature in the Capital One Cup midweek so will have had additional time to prepare for this match. Swansea ended a five-game winless streak last weekend by coming-from-behind to win 2-1 at Aston Villa last weekend. They had failed to score in three of those previous five.
Here is the team I see Arsène Wenger naming at the Liberty Stadium:
Goalkeeper: Petr Čech
Five clean sheets in his first 10 Premier League games as a Gunner, although only two of these have come on his travels. Petr Čech should be kept busy by the Swansea City attack.
Five clean sheets in his first 10 Premier League games as a Gunner, although only two of these have come on his travels. Petr Čech should be kept busy by the Swansea City attack.
Defence: Héctor Bellerín, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal
Per Mertesacker has been back in the starting lineup of late because of a mysterious injury to Gabriel Paulista. The defence has been performing well of late although were somewhat lucky to only concede one versus Everton last weekend. All four of these were rested in the Capital One Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.
Per Mertesacker has been back in the starting lineup of late because of a mysterious injury to Gabriel Paulista. The defence has been performing well of late although were somewhat lucky to only concede one versus Everton last weekend. All four of these were rested in the Capital One Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.
Midfield: Mathieu Flamini, Francis Coquelin, Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Özil, Santi Cazorla
Arsène Wenger was handed a huge blow earlier this week when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott were both ruled out for the next three games. Arsenal are now down to their bare bones in midfield, with Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Tomáš Rosický, Mikel Arteta and Danny Welbeck already sidelined. We should see Mathieu Flamini retain his place from midweek given there is no one else available, whilst Alexis Sánchez should switch sides to play on the right wing and Santi Cazorla pushed forward to the left.
Arsène Wenger was handed a huge blow earlier this week when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott were both ruled out for the next three games. Arsenal are now down to their bare bones in midfield, with Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Tomáš Rosický, Mikel Arteta and Danny Welbeck already sidelined. We should see Mathieu Flamini retain his place from midweek given there is no one else available, whilst Alexis Sánchez should switch sides to play on the right wing and Santi Cazorla pushed forward to the left.
Striker: Olivier Giroud
Arsenal’s striker is in good form and should start these next three games with both Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck out.
Arsenal’s striker is in good form and should start these next three games with both Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck out.
Liverpool Predicted XI to Face Chelsea
Jürgen Klopp is looking for his first Premier League this weekend and to add one final nail in the coffin to Chelsea’s bleak chances of defending their title this season.
The Blues start the weekend three points behind Liverpool, nine points off the UEFA Champions League places and 11 points behind leaders Manchester City.
Liverpool have draw eight of their last 10 in all competitions but were 1-0 winners over Bournemouth in the League Cup on Wednesday night; 24 hours after Chelsea were dumped out versus Stoke City.
The Reds could welcome back Christian Benteke and Dejan Lovren this weekend.
Here is the Liverpool team I think we’ll see at Stamford Bridge:
Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet
Only one clean sheet in his last seven Premier League games but that came in Klopp’s first and only previous away game as Liverpool manager. Simon Mignolet has only conceded one goal in 180 minutes of league action since the German manager took over.
Only one clean sheet in his last seven Premier League games but that came in Klopp’s first and only previous away game as Liverpool manager. Simon Mignolet has only conceded one goal in 180 minutes of league action since the German manager took over.
Defence: Nathanial Clyne, Martin Škrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Alberto Moreno
Dejan Lovren should miss out as he’s not had much training under Klopp whilst Mamadou Sakho and Liverpool’s defensive record has been good so far since the change in manager. It will be interesting to see how far forward the full-backs push on as they will likely be up against Eden Hazard and Willian down the flanks.
Dejan Lovren should miss out as he’s not had much training under Klopp whilst Mamadou Sakho and Liverpool’s defensive record has been good so far since the change in manager. It will be interesting to see how far forward the full-backs push on as they will likely be up against Eden Hazard and Willian down the flanks.
Midfield: Lucas, Emre Can, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho
Which Emre Can will turn up on Saturday? The German has had a fixture of being a good force in midfield and liable at defending. Although Cesc Fàbregas has had a quiet start to the season Liverpool fans won’t want to see Can giving the Spaniard time and space in possession. James Milner’s hard workrate should see him playing a fair bit under Klopp, at least whilst Jordan Henderson is sidelined. Philippe Coutinho could face double coverage.
Which Emre Can will turn up on Saturday? The German has had a fixture of being a good force in midfield and liable at defending. Although Cesc Fàbregas has had a quiet start to the season Liverpool fans won’t want to see Can giving the Spaniard time and space in possession. James Milner’s hard workrate should see him playing a fair bit under Klopp, at least whilst Jordan Henderson is sidelined. Philippe Coutinho could face double coverage.
Striker: Christian Benteke
Liverpool’s big summer signing is back from injury and should be fit to start this weekend. Divock Origi has been very quiet in his place, and although the youngster’s pace could certainly be a threat versus John Terry you have to expect the more experienced striker to get the nod in this one.
Liverpool’s big summer signing is back from injury and should be fit to start this weekend. Divock Origi has been very quiet in his place, and although the youngster’s pace could certainly be a threat versus John Terry you have to expect the more experienced striker to get the nod in this one.
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