Premier League Projected Lineups: Gameweek 23

This article is part of our Soccer Picks series.

MATCHES (EST)

• Saturday, 7:30 am: Aston Villa vs. Arsenal
• Saturday, 10:00 am: Burnley vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
• Saturday, 10:00 am: Newcastle United vs. Southampton
• Saturday, 12:30 pm: Fulham vs. West Ham United
• Saturday, 3:00 pm: Manchester United vs. Everton
• Sunday, 7:00 am: Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Bromwich Albion
• Sunday, 9:00 am: Wolverhampton vs. Leicester City
• Sunday, 11:30 am: Liverpool vs. Manchester City
• Sunday, 2:15 pm: Sheffield United vs. Chelsea
• Monday, 3:00 pm: Leeds United vs. Crystal Palace

Aston Villa vs. Arsenal

Aston Villa Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Arsenal): Emiliano Martinez (GK), Matt Targett (DL), Tyrone Mings (DC), Ezri Konsa (DC), Matty Cash (DR), John McGinn (DMC), Douglas Luiz (DMC), Jack Grealish (AML), Ross Barkley (AMC), Bertrand Traore (AMR), Ollie Watkins (FW)

Notes: Traore re-enters the starting XI after Anwar El Ghazi failed to show much midweek. Everything else stays the same for Villa, which is often the case.

Arsenal Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Aston Villa): Mathew Ryan (GK), Cedric Soares (DL), Rob Holding (DC), Gabriel (DC), Hector Bellerin (DR), Granit Xhaka (DMC), Thomas Partey (DMC),Nicolas Pepe (AML), Emile Smith-Rowe (AMC), Bukayo Saka (AMR), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (FW)

Notes: Gabriel comes in for the suspended David Luiz, while Aubemeyang is ready to start again, but he gives Alexandre Lacazette rest and comes into the central forward role.

Burnley vs. Brighton & Hove Albion

Burnley Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Brighton): Nick Pope (GK), Erik Pieters (DL), Ben Mee (DC), James Tarkowski (DC), Matthew Lowton (DR), Dwight McNeil (ML), Jack Cork (MC), Ashley Westwood (MC), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (MR), Matej Vydra (FW), Jay Rodriguez (FW)

Notes: The updates have been sparse for Burnley and there's a chance no one returns to the starting XI Saturday. Charlie Taylor is an option for Pieters, while Robbie Brady could enter for Gudmundsson, while Barnes and Wood remain doubts up top.

Brighton & Hove Albion Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1 at Burnley): Robert Sanchez (GK), Lewis Dunk (DC), Adam Webster (DC), Ben White (DC), Dan Burn (ML), Steven Alzate (MC), Yves Bissouma (MC), Pascal Gross (MR), Adam Lallana (AMC), Leandro Trossard (AMC), Neal Maupay (FW)

Notes: Graham Potter is forced to use Burn and Gross on the flanks because of injury, while Lallana enters the midfield and Alzate stays there after scoring the winner against Liverpool. 

Newcastle United vs. Southampton

Newcastle United Projected Lineup (4-4-1-1 v. Southampton): Karl Darlow (GK), Matt Ritchie (DL), Fabian Schar (DC), Ciaran Clark (DC), Javier Manquillo (DR), Miguel Almiron (MR), Jonjo Shelvey (MC), Isaac Hayden (MC), Ryan Fraser (ML), Allan Saint-Maximin (AMC), Callum Wilson (FW)

Notes: Even though Ritchie isn't a favorite of manager Steve Bruce, he may be needed following a hamstring issue for Lewis. The question is if both Fraser and Saint-Maximin move into the starting XI. If so, Saint-Maximin would likely play more forward and Fraser would be deployed back to the wing.

Southampton Projected Lineup (4-4-2 at Newcastle): Alex McCarthy (GK), Ryan Bertrand (DL), Jan Bednarek (DC), Jack Stephens (DC), Kayne Ramsay (DR), Moussa Djenepo (ML), James Ward-Prowse (MC), Nathan Redmond (MC), Takumi Minamino (MR), Che Adams (FW), Danny Ings (FW)

Notes: Southampton have numerous questions, but the overturning of Bednarek's red card is a huge boost. They have a lot of late-fitness tests, which would undoubtedly help, but if none of them are ready to return, Redmond and Minamino could both start. That said, they don't have a central midfielder and it's anyone's guess to how that will play out if Oriol Romeu isn't ready.

Fulham vs. West Ham United

Fulham Projected Lineup (5-4-1 v. West Ham): Alphonse Areola (GK), Tosin Adarabioyo (DC), Ola Aina (DC), Joachim Andersen (DC), Antonee Robinson (DL), Andre Zambo Anguissa (MC), Harrison Reed (MC), Kenny Tete (DR), Ademola Lookman (ML), Bobby Decordova-Reid (MR), Ivan Cavaleiro (FW)

Notes: Things haven't worked with Aleksandar Mitrovic up front, so Cavaleiro is back there. There's a chance Mario Lemina returns to give Reed or someone else a rest. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has started each of the last four and could be replaced by Decordova-Reid.

West Ham United Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Fulham): Lukasz Fabianski (GK), Aaron Cresswell (DL), Angelo Ogbonna (DC), Craig Dawson (DC), Vladimir Coufal (DR), Declan Rice (DMC), Tomas Soucek (DMC), Jesse Lingard (AML), Said Benrahma (AMC), Jarrod Bowen (AMR), Michail Antonio (FW)

Notes: Bowen comes back in for Ryan Fredericks, and otherwise, everything else stays the same. Lingard keeps his spot after bracing in his debut.

Manchester United vs. Everton

Manchester United Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Everton): 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), Marcus Rashford (AMR), Edinson Cavani (FW)

Notes: Mason Greenwood gets rested after being one of the few forwards to go a full 90 last match. That moves Martial back into the XI and keeps Cavani there after picking up an ankle knock midweek.

Everton Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Manchester United): Robin Olsen (GK), Lucas Digne (DL), Mason Holgate (DC), Yerry Mina (DC), Ben Godfrey (DR), Abdoulaye Doucoure (DMC), Andre Gomes (DMC), Alex Iwobi (AMR), Richarlison (AML), James Rodriguez (AMC), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (FW)

Notes: Carlo Ancelotti has decisions to make across the pitch, but after beating Leeds, he could keep things similar with the only difference being Rodriguez in for Gylfi Sigurdsson. Elsewhere, the defensive bench is deep with Seamus Coleman and Michael Keane also options to feature.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Bromwich Albion

Tottenham Hotspur Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. West Brom): Hugo Lloris (GK), Serge Aurier (DR), Toby Alderweireld (DC), Eric Dier (DC), Ben Davies (DL), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (DMC), Moussa Sissoko (DMC), Tanguy Ndombele (AMC), Son Heung-Min (AML), Steven Bergwijn (AMR), Carlos Vinicius (FW)

Notes: There are clear problems in the squad without Harry Kane and Jose Mourinho could go anywhere in this matchup. They won in a 4-2-3-1 against West Brom last meeting and could keep it there with Vinicius up top. 

West Bromwich Albion Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Tottenham): Sam Johnstone (GK), Conor Townsend (DL), Dara O'Shea (DR), Semi Ajayi (DC), Kyle Bartley (DC), Robert Snodgrass (MC), Jake Livermore (MC), Matthew Phillips (MR), Callum Robinson (ML), Matheus Pereira (AMC), Mbaye Diagne (FW)

Notes: West Brom could move to a five-man back line, but that's not what Sam Allardyce prefers. It's a bit of a mess for the Baggies since nothing seems to be working. There's a chance things are the same from the win against Sheffield United, but don't count on it.

Wolverhampton vs. Leicester City

Wolverhampton Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Leicester City): Rui Patricio (GK), Willy Boly (DC), Conor Coady (DC), Max Kilman (DL), Nelson Semedo (DR), Joao Moutinho (MC), Ruben Neves (MC), Daniel Podence (AMC), Pedro Neto (AML), Adama Traore (AWR), Willian Jose (FW)

Notes: Wolves try for a repeat of their midweek win even if they only capitalized after a couple red cards. Of note, Nuno Espirito Santo mentioned a couple injuries in his press conference and that could mean Ruben Neves or Daniel Podence, who were subbed off early against Arsenal. Given Podence's quick return from injury, it wouldn't be surprising if he's who Nuno was talking about.

Leicester City Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 at Wolves): Kasper Schmeichel (GK), James Justin (DL), Caglar Soyuncu (DC), Jonny Evans (DC), Ricardo Pereira (DR), Hamza Choudhury (DMC), Youri Tielemans (DMC), Harvey Barnes (AML), James Maddison (AMC), Marc Albrighton (AMR), Kelechi Iheanacho (FW)

Notes: Choudhury seemed to play well in a rare start and even with Jamie Vardy back, Iheanacho could remain in the starting XI, while Albrighton also re-enters the XI for Ayoze Perez.

Liverpool vs. Manchester City

Liverpool Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Manchester City): Alisson Becker (GK), Andrew Robertson (DL), Ben Davies (DC), Jordan Henderson (DC), Trent Alexander-Arnold (DR) Georginio Wijnaldum (MC), Thiago Alcantara (MC), James Milner (MC), Xherdan Shaqiri (FWL), Mohamed Salah (FWR), Roberto Firmino (FW)

Notes: Fabinho and Mane are both in limited training, but their status for Sunday doesn't look great, at least to start. That means more of the same for Liverpool outside of maybe Davies or Ozan Kabak starting next to Henderson. Davies is most likely after making the bench midweek.

Manchester City Projected Lineup (4-3-3 at Liverpool): Ederson (GK), Joao Cancelo (DL), Ruben Dias (DC), John Stones (DC), Kyle Walker (DR), Rodri (MC), Ilkay Gundogan (MC), Bernardo Silva (MC), Raheem Sterling (FWR), Phil Foden (FWL), Gabriel Jesus (FW)

Notes: Pep Guardiola will probably go with his most-trusted group in this spot, featuring Cancelo and Walker at full-back, while Foden re-enters and Jesus stays up top, pushing Riyad Mahrez to the bench.

Sheffield United vs. Chelsea

Sheffield United Projected Lineup (3-5-2 v. Chelsea): Aaron Ramsdale (GK), Ethan Ampadu (DC), Chris Basham (DC), John Egan (DC), Jayden Bogle (ML), John Fleck (MC), Oliver Norwood (MC), John Lundstram (MC), Max Lowe (MR), David McGoldrick (FW), Billy Sharp (FW)

Notes: There's a chance for Stevens and Osborn to enter the call, but this group has been fairly solid over the last couple weeks. Stevens would likely replace Lowe, who came on for the injured George Baldock midweek, while Osborn would take the spot of Norwood.

Chelsea Projected Lineup (3-4-1-2 at Sheffield United): Edouard Mendy (GK), Cesar Azpilicueta (DC), Andreas Christensen (DC), Antonio Rudiger (DC), Marcos Alonso (ML), Jorginho (MC), N'Golo Kante (MC), Reece James (MR), Mason Mount (AMC), Timo Werner (FW), Callum Hudson-Odoi (FW)

Notes: Thomas Tuchel could repeat the squad against Burnley in a similar matchup against a defensive side or use something similar to the Tottenham win, which featured both James and Hudson-Odoi. Either way, Christensen comes in for Thiago Silva and Kante is back in the XI for Mateo Kovacic.

Leeds United vs. Crystal Palace

Leeds United Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 v. Crystal Palace): Illan Meslier (GK), Ezgjan Alioski (DL), Liam Cooper (DC), Pascal Struijk (DC), Luke Ayling (DR), Kalvin Phillips (DMC), Jack Harrison (ML), Mateusz Klich (MC), Stuart Dallas (MC), Raphinha (MR), Patrick Bamford (FW)

Notes: More of the same for Leeds despite losing last match. With Rodrigo out, there isn't a ton of depth in the side, at least players who Marcelo Bielsa trusts.

Crystal Palace Projected Lineup (4-4-2 at Leeds): Vicente Guaita (GK), Patrick van Aanholt (DL), Gary Cahill (DC), Scott Dann (DC), Nathaniel Clyne (DR), Eberechi Eze (ML), Luka Milivojevic (MC), Jairo Riedewald (MC), Andros Townsend (MR), Jordan Ayew (FW), Michy Batshuayi (FW)

Notes: It's a bit of a guessing game with Roy Hodgson, but after another win, things should stay fairly similar. The question is how he'll replace the injured Zaha, as Townsend came in for him midweek. It also appears Ayew and Batshuayi will continue together up front until Palace lose again.