This article is part of our Soccer Picks series.
Note this article will be updated throughout the week with any corresponding news. To see all projected and confirmed lineups on one page, please click here.
Last update: 9:00 a.m. EDT on Mon., Oct 26
MATCHES (EDT)
- Friday, 3:00 pm: Aston Villa vs. Leeds United
- Saturday, 7:30 am: West Ham United vs. Manchester City
- Saturday, 10:00 am: Fulham vs. Crystal Palace
- Saturday, 12:30 pm: Manchester United vs. Chelsea
- Saturday, 3:00 pm: Liverpool vs. Sheffield United
- Sunday, 10:00 am: Southampton vs. Everton
- Sunday, 12:30 pm: Wolverhampton vs. Newcastle United
- Sunday, 3:15 pm: Arsenal vs. Leicester City
- Monday, 1:30 pm: Brighton & Hove Albion vs. West Bromwich Albion
- Monday, 4:00 pm: Burnley vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal (v. Leicester City)
Previous Result: 1-0 loss at Manchester City (Saturday), Europa League (Thursday)
Out: Calum Chambers (knee), Gabriel Martinelli (knee), Pablo Mari (ankle), Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring), Rob Holding (hamstring)
Questionable: Sokratis (calf), Dani Ceballos (ankle), Willian (calf)
Previous Europa League Lineup (Thurs., Oct. 22): Bernd Leno (GK), Sead Kolasinac (DL), David Luiz (DC), Gabriel (DC), Cedric Soares (DR), Thomas Partey (MC), Mohamed Elneny (MC), Bukayo Saka (MC), Edward Nketiah (FWL), Nicolas Pepe (FWR), Alexandre Lacazette (FW)
Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Leicester City): Bernd Leno (GK), Kieran Tierney (DL), David Luiz (DC), Gabriel (DC), Hector Bellerin (DR), Dani Ceballos (MC), Granit Xhaka (MC), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (MC), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (FWL), Edward Nketiah (FWR), Alexandre Lacazette (FW)
Notes: Xhaka remains in the XI after Thomas Partey started midweek, while Alexandre Lacazette is back in the front three for Nicolas Pepe, who also started in UEL. It's a similar case with Maitland-Niles, as he gives Saka some rest. Willian has a calf issue so Nketiah is back in the starting XI after playing 61 minutes Thursday.
Aston Villa (v. Leeds United)
Previous Result: 0-1 victory at Leicester City
Out: Tom Heaton (knee), Wesley Moraes (knee), Bjorn Engels (thigh), Kortney Hause (knock)
Questionable: Keinan Davis (knock)
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Leeds United): Emiliano Martinez (GK), Matt Targett (DL), Tyrone Mings (DC), Ezri Konsa (DC), Matty Cash (DR), Douglas Luiz (DMC), John McGinn (DMC), Jack Grealish (AML), Ross Barkley (AMC), Trezeguet (AMR), Ollie Watkins (FW)
Notes: Villa continue with what works and don't change anything after taking three points from each of their first four matches.
Brighton & Hove Albion (v. West Bromwich Albion)
Previous result: 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace
Out: Florin Andone (knee), Lewis Dunk (suspension), Jose Izquierdo (knee), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (hamstring)
Questionable: Davy Propper (Achilles), Christian Walton (ankle)
Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1): Mathew Ryan (GK), Dan Burn (DC), Ben White (DC), Adam Webster (DC), Solomon March (ML), Yves Bissouma (MC), Steven Alzate (MC), Tariq Lamptey (MR), Neal Maupay (AMC), Leandro Trossard (AMC), Aaron Connolly (FW)
Notes: Despite getting a draw at Crystal Palace last week, Brighton may be a bit disappointed with the result, having allowed only a single shot, which came on a penalty. The changes this week bring Alzate back into central midfield, allowing White to move back to his natural center-back role, while Connolly replaces Adam Lallana in the attack.
Burnley (v. Tottenham Hotspur)
Previous Result: 0-0 draw at West Brom
Out: Jack Cork (ankle), Phil Bardsley (COVID-19), Ben Mee (thigh)
Questionable: Matthew Lowton (knock), Erik Pieters (calf)
Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Tottenham): Nick Pope (GK), Matthew Lowton (DR), Kevin Long (DC), James Tarkowski (DC), Charlie Taylor (DL), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (MR), Josh Brownhill (MC), Ashley Westwood (MC), Dwight McNeil (ML), Chris Wood (FW), Ashley Barnes (FW)
Notes: Sean Dyche rarely changes up his XI, but an injury to Pieters could push Lowton into the squad at right-back. If not, Dyche has a big decision to make because he's out of full-back options.
Chelsea (at Manchester United)
Previous Result: 3-3 draw v. Southampton (Saturday), 0-0 draw v. Sevilla (Tuesday)
Lineup against Sevilla: Edouard Mendy (GK), Ben Chilwell (DL), Thiago Silva (DC), Kurt Zouma (DC), Reece James (DR), N'Golo Kante (DMC), Jorginho (DMC), Mason Mount (AML), Kai Havertz (AMC), Christian Pulisic (AMR), Timo Werner (FW)
Out: Billy Gilmour (knee)
Questionable: None
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Manchester United): Edouard Mendy (GK), Ben Chilwell (DL), Thiago Silva (DC), Kurt Zouma (DC), Cesar Azpilicueta (DR), N'Golo Kante (DMC), Jorginho (DMC), Mason Mount (AML), Kai Havertz (AMC), Christian Pulisic (AMR), Timo Werner (FW)
Notes: Silva stays in the starting XI following the Sevilla draw, while Ziyech remains on the bench because of a lack of match fitness.
Crystal Palace (at Fulham)
Previous Result: 1-1 draw v. Brighton & Hove Albion
Out: Wayne Hennessey (undisclosed), Nathan Ferguson (knee), Jordan Ayew (COVID-19), Connor Wickham (undisclosed), Gary Cahill (shin)
Questionable: James McCarthy (muscular injury), James Tomkins (hamstring)
Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Fulham): Vicente Guaita (GK), Patrick van Aanholt (DL), Mamadou Sakho (DC) , Cheikhou Kouyate (DC), Joel Ward (DR), Eberechi Eze (ML), James McArthur (MC), Jairo Riedewald (MC), Andros Townsend (MR), Wilfried Zaha (FW), Michy Batshuayi (FW)
Notes: van Aanholt made the bench last weekend and takes over at left-back for Tyrick Mitchell this week. Also, Eze returns to the XI, pushing Schlupp to the bench, while Jairo Riedewald stays in a central role. Sakho is back in the squad after Cahill picked up another injury.
Everton (at Southampton)
Previous Result: 2-2 draw v. Liverpool
Out: James Rodriguez (knock), Richarlison (suspension), Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Cenk Tosun (knee), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Achilles), Mason Holgate (toe), Jarrad Branthwaite (ankle), Jonjoe Kenny (ankle)
Questionable: James Rodriguez (undisclosed)
Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Southampton): Jordan Pickford (GK), Lucas Digne (DL), Michael Keane (DC), Yerry Mina (DC), Ben Godfrey (DR), Andre Gomes (MC), Allan (MC), Abdoulaye Doucoure (MC), Alex Iwobi (FWL), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (FW), James Rodriguez (FWR)
Notes: Ben Godfrey starts at right-back, while Iwobi comes in for the suspended Richarlison. James is the big question and he could be replaced by Bernard or Andre Gomes.
Fulham (v. Crystal Palace)
Previous Result: 1-1 draw at Sheffield United
Out: Kenny Tete (calf), Joachim Andersen (ankle)
Questionable: Harrison Reed (undisclosed)
Projected Lineup (3-4-2-1 v. Crystal Palace): Alphonse Areola (GK), Tim Ream (DC), Ola Aina (DC), Tosin Adarabioyo (DC), Antonee Robinson (ML), Tom Cairney (MC), Andre Zambo Anguissa (MC), Ivan Cavaleiro (MR), Ademola Lookman (AMC), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AMC), Aleksandar Mitrovic (FW)
Notes: Fulham played well last match and they stick with what's working, employing a three-man back line, though there's a chance Joe Bryan returns to the XI for Aina.
Leeds United (at Aston Villa)
Previous Result: 0-1 loss v. Wolverhampton
Out: Kalvin Phillips (shoulder), Adam Forshaw (hip), Diego Llorente (groin), Gaetano Berardi (knee)
Questionable: Liam Cooper (groin)
Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 v. Aston Villa): Illan Meslier (GK), Ezgjan Alioski (DR) Luke Ayling (DC), Robin Koch (DC), Stuart Dallas (DL), Pascal Struijk (DMC), Mateusz Klich (MC), Helder Costa (MR), Rodrigo (MC), Jack Harrison (ML), Patrick Bamford (FW)
Notes: Leeds stick with their 4-1-4-1 formation, as Struijk replaces Phillips and Alioski joins the XI at right-back.
Leicester City (at Arsenal)
Previous Result: 0-1 loss v. Aston Villa, Europa League (Thursday)
Europa Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kasper Schmeichel (GK), Timothy Castagne (DR), Jonny Evans (DC), Wesley Fofana (DC), Christian Fuchs (DL), Nampalys Mendy (DMC), Harvey Barnes (AML), Youri Tielemans (DMC), Dennis Praet (AMR), James Maddison (AMC), Kelechi Iheanacho (FW)
Out: Caglar Soyuncu (groin), Wilfred Ndidi (groin), Daniel Amartey (hamstring), Ricardo Pereira (knee)
Questionable: Jamie Vardy (calf)
Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 v. Arsenal): Kasper Schmeichel (GK), Timothy Castagne (DR), Jonny Evans (DC), Wesley Fofana (DC), James Justin (DL), Nampalys Mendy (DMC), Harvey Barnes (ML), Youri Tielemans (MC), Dennis Praet (MC), Ayoze Perez (MR), Jamie Vardy (FW)
Notes: Vardy is the biggest question and has a chance to start for Iheanacho after returning to training Friday. However, given recent form, there's a chance Cengiz Under makes his first start of the season, possibly taking over for Perez. Maddison went 60 minutes Thursday, but he may not be ready to start two matches on short rest.
Liverpool (v. Sheffield United)
Previous Results: 2-2 draw at Everton (Saturday), 1-0 win at Ajax (Wednesday)
Lineup against Ajax: Adrian (GK), Andrew Robertson (DL), Joe Gomez (DC), Fabinho (DC), Trent Alexander-Arnold (DR), Georginio Wijnaldum (MC), James Milner (MC), Curtis Jones (MC), Sadio Mane (FWL), Mohamed Salah (FWR), Roberto Firmino (FW)
Out: Virgil van Dijk (knee), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Konstantinos Tsimikas (thigh)
Questionable: Thiago Alcantara (knee), Naby Keita (COVID-19), Joel Matip (muscular injury), Alisson Becker (shoulder)
Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. Sheffield United): Adrian (GK), Andrew Robertson (DL), Joel Matip (DC), Joe Gomez (DC), Trent Alexander-Arnold (DR), Jordan Henderson (MC), Naby Keita (MC), Georginio Wijnaldum (MC), Sadio Mane (FWL), Roberto Firmino (FW), Mohamed Salah (FWR)
Notes: If Matip isn't ready, Fabinho could play alongside Gomez, similar to Wednesday. Keita returns to the XI if Thiago isn't ready.
Manchester City (at West Ham United)
Previous Results: 1-0 win v. Arsenal (Saturday), 3-1 win v. Porto (Wednesday)
Lineup against Porto: Ederson (GK), Joao Cancelo (DL), Ruben Dias (DC), Eric Garcia (DC), Kyle Walker (DR), Bernardo Silva (MC), Rodri (MC), Ilkay Gundogan (MC), Raheem Sterling (FWL), Riyad Mahrez (FWR), Sergio Aguero (FW)
Out: Benjamin Mendy (strain), Gabriel Jesus (leg), Fernandinho (leg)
Questionable: Kevin De Bruyne (leg), Aymeric Laporte (undisclosed), Nathan Ake (undisclosed)
Projected Lineup (4-3-3 v. West Ham): Ederson (GK), Joao Cancelo (DL), Ruben Dias (DC), Aymeric Laporte (DC), Kyle Walker (DR), Phil Foden (MC), Ilkay Gundogan (MC), Rodri (MC), Ferran Torres (FWR), Raheem Sterling (FWL), Sergio Aguero (FW)
Notes: Pep Guardiola goes back to his trusted 4-3-3 formation, which moves Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez to the bench in favor of Gundogan and Torres. Silva and Mahrez both went the full 90 in Wednesday's match and get rested.
Manchester United (v. Chelsea)
Previous Results: 1-4 win at Newcastle (Saturday), 1-2 win at Paris Saint-Germain (Tuesday)
Lineup against PSG: David de Gea (GK), Victor Lindelof (DC), Luke Shaw (DC), Axel Tuanebe (DC), Alex Telles (ML), Scott McTominay (MC), Fred (MC), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (MR), Bruno Fernandes (AMC), Marcus Rashford (FW), Anthony Martial (FW)
Out: Anthony Martial (suspension), Eric Bailly (undisclosed), Phil Jones (knock), Jesse Lingard (knock)
Questionable: Mason Greenwood (undisclosed), Harry Maguire (knock)
Projected Lineup (3-5-2 v. Chelsea): David de Gea (GK), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (MR), Luke Shaw (DC), Victor Lindelof (DC), Harry Maguire (DC), Alex Telles (ML), Nemanja Matic (MC), Paul Pogba (MC), Bruno Fernandes (AMC), Mason Greenwood (FW), Marcus Rashford (FW)
Notes: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sticks with a 3-5-2 formation that beat PSG. Telles moves into the starting XI, while Matic and Pogba return to their midfield roles after McTominay and Fred started midweek. Greenwood is also back in the XI, though Daniel James is another option, likely in a different formation. Edinson Cavani is also a possibility up front.
Newcastle United (at Wolverhampton)
Previous Result: 1-4 loss v. Manchester United
Out: Dwight Gayle (knee), Matt Ritchie (shoulder), Maritn Dubravka (heel), Matthew Longstaff (thigh),
Questionable: Ciaran Clark (thigh), Paul Dummett (knock), Isaac Hayden (knock), DeAndre Yedlin (knock), Karl Darlow (undisclosed)
Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Wolves): Mark Gillespie (GK), Emil Krafth (DR), Federico Fernandez (DC), Jamaal Lascelles (DC), Jamal Lewis (DL), Ryan Fraser (MR), Jeff Hendrick (MC), Jonjo Shelvey (MC), Allan Saint-Maximin (ML), Callum Wilson (FW), Joelinton (FW)
Notes: Hayden's injury gives way to Fraser for his first league start of the season, which pushes Hendrick into a central role.
Sheffield United (at Liverpool)
Previous Result: 1-1 draw v. Fulham
Out: Jack O'Connell (knee), Lys Mousset (toe), John Fleck (back)
Questionable: Max Lowe (head)
Projected Lineup (3-5-2 v. Liverpool): Aaron Ramsdale (GK), John Egan (DC), Jack Robinson (DC), Chris Basham (DC), George Baldock (MR), Sander Berge (MC), John Lundstram (MC), Oliver Norwood (MC), Enda Stevens (ML), Rhian Brewster (FW), Oliver McBurnie (FW)
Notes: Lowe's injury means a return to the usual back line for Sheffield United, which means Robinson is starting. Also, after a full week of training, Brewster gets his first start.
Southampton (v. Everton)
Previous Result: 3-3 draw at Chelsea
Out: Moussa Djenepo (hamstring), Theo Walcott (contract), William Smallbone (thigh)
Questionable: Stuart Armstrong (COVID-19),
Projected Lineup (4-4-2 v. Everton): Alex McCarthy (GK), Kyle Walker-Peters (DR), Jan Bednarek (DC), Jannik Vestergaard (DC), Ryan Bertrand (DL), Nathan Redmond (ML), Oriol Romeu (MC), James Ward-Prowse (MC), Stuart Armstrong (MR), Che Adams (FW), Danny Ings (FW)
Notes: Armstrong returned to training following COVID-19 and is needed in the starting XI given all of the injuries for Southampton's wing players.
Tottenham Hotspur (at Burnley)
Previous Results: 3-3 draw v. West Ham (Sunday), Europa League (Thursday)
Europa League Lineup (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart (GK), Matt Doherty (DR), Ben Davies (DC), Davinson Sanchez (DC), Sergio Reguilon (DL), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (DMC), Harry Winks (DMC), Erik Lamela (AMC), Gareth Bale (AMR), Lucas Moura (AML), Carlos Vinicius (FW)
Out: None
Questionable: Eric Dier (hamstring), Japhet Tanganga (thigh)
Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1 v. Burnley): Hugo Lloris (GK), Serge Aurier (DR), Toby Alderweireld (DC), Davinson Sanchez (DC), Sergio Reguilon (DL), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (DMC), Moussa Sissoko (DMC), Tanguy Ndombele (AMC), Steven Bergwijn (AMR), Son Heung-Min (AML), Harry Kane (FW)
Notes: Despite letting last week's match slip from their fingers, Jose Mourinho keeps everything the same, though Sanchez, Reguilon and Hojbjerg all started Thursday's UEL match.
West Bromwich Albion (at Brighton & Hove Albion)
Previous Result: 0-0 draw v. Burnley
Out: Hal Robson-Kanu (arm), Sam Field (knee)
Questionable:
Projected Lineup (4-1-4-1 v. Brighton): Sam Johnstone (GK), Darnell Furlong (DR), Semi Ajayi (DC), Branislav Ivanovic (DC), Conor Townsend (DL), Jake Livermore (DMC), Conor Gallagher (MC), Filip Krovinovic (MC), Matheus Pereira (MR), Grady Diangana (ML), Callum Robinson (FW)
Notes: Robinson takes over for Grant after a full week of training and Slaven Bilic keeps everything else the same after grabbing a point from Burnley last match. Ajayi returns to the XI after Ahmed Hegazi was loaned out for the season.
West Ham United (v. Manchester City)
Previous Result: 3-3 draw at Tottenham Hotspur
Out: None
Questionable: Michail Antonio (hamstring), Sebastien Haller (strain)
Projected Lineup (5-4-1 v. Manchester City): Lukasz Fabianski (GK), Vladimir Coufal (DR), Aaron Cresswell (DC), Angelo Ogbonna (DC), Fabian Balbuena (DC), Arthur Masuaku (DL), Jarrod Bowen (MR), Declan Rice (MC), Tomas Soucek (MC), Pablo Fornals (ML), Michail Antonio (FW)
Notes: The Hammers try to build on the second half of last week's result and stick with the same XI, though Ryan Fredericks hopes to win back his starting spot from Coufal.
Wolverhampton (v. Newcastle United)
Previous Result: 0-1 win at Leeds United
Out: Jonny (knee)
Questionable: None
Projected Lineup (3-5-2 v. Newcastle): Rui Patricio (GK), Willy Boly (DC), Conor Coady (DC), Max Kilman (DC), Nelson Semedo (MR), Joao Moutinho (MC), Leander Dendoncker (MC), Pedro Neto (MC), Romain Saiss (ML), Daniel Podence (FW), Raul Jimenez (FW)
Notes: More of the same for Wolves after they took three points from Leeds. Fernando Marcal could eventually take the spot of Saiss on the wing (moving Kilman to the bench), while Ruben Neves and Adama Traore are waiting for their next starts.
