Premier League team news: How Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and City will line up
There is plenty of action to look forward to this weekend in the Premier League, and Saturday begins with Spurs looking to forget their 2-2 slip-up against Olympiacos on Wednesday as they host Leicester City.
Elsewhere, Manchester City will have to cope with only one fit centre-back as they face a much-improved Watford side at the Etihad.
Sunday sees Manchester United travel to West Ham, whilst Unai Emery will be hoping to put last week’s collapse against Watford behind them against Aston Villa.
The highlight attraction of the weekend surely comes on Sunday at 4.30pm, with Frank Lampard’s first game as a manager against Liverpool. Chelsea will be aiming to stop Jurgen Klopp’s men from picking up six wins from six.
After their midweek European exploits, here is how we think the league’s heavyweights will line up this weekend.
Spurs (vs Leicester)
Mauricio Pochettino is likely to rotate his full-backs from the game against Olympaicos, with Danny Rose and Serge Aurier set to start in place of Ben Davies and Davinson Sanchez.
Tanguy Ndombele may also drop out of the side after a poor performance midweek, with Moussa Sissoko likely to return as Spurs revert to a diamond in midfield.
Giovanni Lo Celso is Spurs’ only long-term absentee, and the game will come too early for either Ryan Sessengon or Juan Foyth to be involved.
Manchester City (vs Watford)
With John Stones and Aymeric Laporte injured, Fernandinho is set to continue his role as a makeshift centre-back alongside Nicolas Otamendi.
Benjamin Mendy came on midweek, but Oleksandr Zinchenko has been playing well and should keep his place for this game at least as Mendy continues to build match fitness.
Sergio Aguero and David Silva were rested against Shakhtar, and both are expected to come back into Guardiola’s line-up.
Manchester United (vs West Ham)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw are all unavailable for the game at the Olympic Stadium.
Solskjaer rotated heavily in the Europa League, with the likes of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Scott McTominay all set to be recalled.
Dan James is questionable after missing training this week, and Mason Greenwood could be handed his first league start of the season after scoring against FC Astana.
Arsenal (vs Aston Villa)
Arsenal also afforded a lot of his players a break in the Europa League, and Ainsley-Maitland Niles, Matteo Guendouzi and Nicolas Pepe are all in line to start against Villa after being rested.
Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney are continuing their recovery, but this match will be too soon for them as they prepare to play for the U23 side this week.
Rob Holding has already featured for the U23s, and may make the matchday squad.
Chelsea (vs Liverpool)
Frank Lampard is likely to continue with a back three as he seeks defensive stability for Chelsea.
Lampard has confirmed that Mason Mount has a chance of featuring, after picking up a knock against Valencia. He has said that “no risks will be taken, however” with regards to Mount or N’Golo Kante.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James and Antonio Rudiger are all major doubts and unlikely to play a part.
Liverpool (vs Chelsea)
This game will come too soon for Naby Keita, but Jurgen Klopp did not rule out a return for Divock Origi who missed the Champions League defeat to Napoli.
Roberto Firmino should come in for Origi after starting on the bench against Newcastle last weekend.
Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Gini Wijnaldum are also likely to be recalled after both were dropped in Naples.
