The Barclays Premier League Thread 2014/2015

[Lineker]

Will Daniel Sturridge make his first appearance in a Liverpool shirt since 31 August 2014? The England striker returns to the substitutes bench after five months out injured. But there is no Steven Gerrard, who needs one more outing to become the third Reds player to make 700 appearances. Gerrard, who has a tight hamstring, is replaced by Adam Lallana. West Ham United make three changes to the side that started the last Premier League game on 18 January. In come defenders Joey O'Brien and Winston Reid, while midfielder Morgan Amalfitano also starts. Striker Andy Carroll faces his former club, while 16-year-old defender Reece Oxford is on the bench and will become West Ham's youngest Premier League player is he features.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Henderson, Lucas, Moreno, Markovic, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling.

West Ham XI: Adrian, O'Brien, Collins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Amalfitano, Nolan, Downing, Carroll, Valencia.

Adnan Januzaj makes his first Premier League start since 8 November as Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal makes three changes from the team that drew with Cambridge United in the FA Cup. Luke Shaw, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney come into the starting XI and replace Marouane Fellaini, James Wilson and the injured Michael Carrick. Leicester make only one change from the team that beat Tottenham in the FA Cup, with Marcin Wasilewski replacing Liam Moore in the Foxes defence. Jamie Vardy, involved in all five goals when Leicester beat United 5-3 in September, starts up front.

Man Utd XI: de Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Januzaj, Di Maria, Rooney, van Persie, Falcao.

Leicester XI: Schwarzer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, de Laet, Drinkwater, King, Schlupp, Vardy, Kramaric, Ulloa.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis hands midfielder Callum McManaman his West Brom debut following from his £4.75m move from Wigan, one of three changes to the side that beat Birmingham in the FA Cup. Hugo Lloris returns to captain the Tottenham side, who show four changes from the side that drew with Sheffield United to secure a place in the Capital One Cup final.

West Brom XI: Foster, Wisdom, McAuley, Dawson, Lescott, Yacob, Brunt, Morrison, McManaman, Anichebe, Berahino.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose, Dembele, Mason, Eriksen, Paulinho, Lamela, Kane.

Crystal Palace make one change from their last Premier League match - a 3-2 win at Burnley - as Marouane Chamakh comes in for Wilfried Zaha. For Everton there is also one change as Aiden McGeady replaces Ross Barkley, who drops to the bench. Kevin Mirallas starts after recovering from a hamstring strain.

Crystal Palace XI: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Dann, Kelly, McArthur, Ledley, Puncheon, Chamakh, Sanogo, Gayle.

Everton XI: Joel, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Baines, Barry, Besic, McGeady, Naismith, Mirallas, Lukaku.

Mark Hughes has to reshuffle his Stoke side from their FA Cup win over Rochdale as Stephen Ireland comes in for the injured Bojan Krkic. Asmir Begovic comes back in goal to replace Jack Butland. Bobby Zamora misses out for QPR with Nico Kranjcar playing off leading scorer Charlie Austin in an otherwise unchanged side to that which lost to Manchester United last time out.

Stoke XI: Begovic, Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Wilson, N'Zonzi, Whelan, Arnautovic, Ireland, Moses, Walters.

QPR XI: Green, Isla, Dunne, Onuoha, Hill, Vargas, Henry, Barton, Fer, Kranjcar, Austin.

Winger Adam Johnson and defender Anthony Reveillere are among five changes for Sunderland. Recent arrival Jermain Defoe starts up front. Burnley are unchanged for the ninth successive Premier League game.

Sunderland XI: Pantilimon, Reveillere, Vergini, O'Shea, van Aanholt, Bridcutt, Johnson, Larsson, Gomez, Wickham, Defoe.

Burnley XI: Heaton, Trippier, Keane, Shackell, Mee, Boyd, Marney, Jones, Arfield, Barnes, Ings.

[DavidMarrio]

So...Chelsea seem a bit bitter over a few things. Gave me a good chuckle reading it.

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/01/pre-match-briefing--chelsea-v-manchester-city--part-one.html

Also yay for Sturridge and Ibe being on the bench. Massive game considering where West Ham are in the table, hopefully put on a better performance compared to the one against Bolton.

Edited January 31, 2015 by DavidMarrio

[Whisper]

At least it looks like LVG isn't playing 3 at the back. Substitute Januzaj for Herrera and that's the best team we could've picked today.

Edited January 31, 2015 by Whisper in the Wind

[Rafael]

''What if David Ginola was Shola Ameobi's brother?''

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Eriksen freekick! 1-0.

[Lineker]

Our Great Dane

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

If Eriksen had joined Liverpool and if every goal he'd scored this season had hit the post last season for Liverpool then if every shot that had hit the post for Liverpool last season has gone in then they would have won the league.

[Lineker]

AND THE DEMON MAKES IT TWO.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

I'll look forward to that then. My stream's a few minutes behind.

[Thrilla]

ROCK YOU LIKE A HARRY KANE

[Chris2K]

I looked at the score and thought; "Well that's good. Bet it's Eriksen and Kane."

Yup.

[Plubby]

Eriksen thought the game would end two minutes after he scored. Kept looking at the ref funny.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Stunning save from Lloris.

[Lineker]

Utd 2-0 up against Leicester. First van Persie and now Falcao.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Another save!

[Thrilla]

Leicester getting a spanking. Think I was a bit too generous on my Super6, only took United to win 3-1.

[brenchill]

Leicester, Burnley and Hull for the drop?

[Benji]

Holy shit this is a hilarious spanking.

[Thrilla]

If the Dingles keep their strike line intact, I feel they'll stay up and QPR will go down

[Szumi]

Markovic wastes a golden chance to go up at the stroke of half-time. We've been far superior to West Ham, but missing a striker. C'mon Studge!