Liverpool's Starting Lineup: Jota Benched, Nunez Starts
The Reds are among a dozen teams in action at the traditional 3pm BST kick-off time, and they are making a few changes to their lineup for the clash against Bournemouth.
Diogo Jota is benched for the game, with Darwin Nunez replacing him in the only unenforced change from Gameweek 4. The Portugal international is instead among the substitutes.
This isn't the only change for Liverpool, as manager Arne Slot has to make a change between the posts with Alisson injured. Caoimhin Kelleher comes in for the Brazilian.
Newcastle United: Isak Returns, but Livramento Misses Out
At Craven Cottage, Alexander Isak is fit to lead the line for the Magpies after recovering from eye and toe injuries. However, there are four changes elsewhere in the lineup.
Harvey Barnes, Joe Willock, Kieran Trippier, and Lloyd Kelly all come into the side as Jacob Murphy, Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall, and Sean Longstaff drop to the bench.
Newcastle's starting lineup is as follows: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Kelly, Joelinton, Willock, Guimaraes, Gordon, Barnes, Isak.
Aston Villa: Watkins Starts, But Bogarde Benched
With Ollie Watkins available as expected, Villa boss Unai Emery makes just one change to his starting XI following the wins over Everton and Young Boys. The change sees Lamare Bogarde out and Diego Carlos in, with Ezri Konsa moving over to right-back.
Aston Villa's starting lineup is: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Ramsey, Watkins.
Wolves Unchanged, Brentford Make Two Changes
Wolverhampton Wanderers are unchanged from Gameweek 4, as are Tottenham Hotspur for their clash with Brentford. The Bees, however, are without not only Yoane Wissa but also Christian Norgaard through injury, so Thomas Frank has to make two alterations.
It's Fabio Carvalho, and not Kevin Schade, joining Bryan Mbeumo up front, with Schade on the bench. Yehor Yarmoliuk deputises for Norgaard.
Everton's Lineup: Calvert-Lewin and Tarkowski Back, but Iroegbunam Misses Out
Sean Dyche has made several changes to his Everton lineup for the game against Leicester City. James Garner, Orel Mangala, Jesper Lindstrom, and Abdoulaye Doucoure are all brought into the side.
Vitalii Mykolenko, Tim Iroegbunam, Jack Harrison, and Idrissa Gueye make way from the Gameweek 4 side, with all bar Iroegbunam unavailable. James Tarkowski and Dominic Calvert-Lewin recover from injury and illness, at least.
Everton's starting lineup is: Pickford, Garner, Keane, Tarkowski, Young, Mangala, Doucoure, McNeil, Lindstrom, Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin.
Southampton's Lineup: Taylor, Fraser, and Lallana In, Stephens Out
At St Mary's, Charlie Taylor, Ryan Fraser, Adam Lallana, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis all come into the Southampton XI. Jack Stephens is banned, while Ben Brereton Diaz, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Kyle Walker-Peters are benched.
Ipswich Town: Cajuste Replaces Phillips
Ipswich's only alteration sees Jens Cajuste replace the absent Kalvin Phillips.
The Key Talking Points
These changes could have a significant impact on the Premier League landscape this weekend. Here's a breakdown of the key talking points:
- Jota's Bench Role: Diogo Jota's absence from the starting lineup is a surprise for Liverpool fans. It will be interesting to see how he performs as a substitute and if he can make a significant impact on the game.
- Isak's Return: Alexander Isak's return to the Newcastle lineup is a welcome boost for the Magpies, and he could prove to be a key player in their bid for a Champions League spot.
- Watkins' Availability: Ollie Watkins' availability is good news for Aston Villa, and his goal-scoring prowess will be crucial for them in the coming games.
- Everton's Reinforcements: The return of James Tarkowski and Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a major boost for Everton, and it could be the spark they need to turn their season around.
- Southampton's New Look: The arrival of Charlie Taylor, Ryan Fraser, Adam Lallana, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis could help to rejuvenate Southampton, and they will be hoping to secure a much-needed win this weekend.
These changes will undoubtedly add to the excitement and intrigue of this weekend's Premier League action. It will be fascinating to see how these players perform in their respective matches.
Fantasy Football Implications
The changes made by managers across the league have a significant impact on fantasy football managers' decisions. Some key talking points include:
- Jota's Impact: Fantasy managers are likely to be monitoring Jota's performance from the bench closely to see if he can provide a valuable return in limited minutes.
- Isak's Rise: Isak's return to Newcastle's starting lineup could make him a popular choice for fantasy managers, particularly given his potential for goals and assists.
- Watkins' Form: Watkins' good form in recent weeks makes him a tempting option for fantasy managers. However, his performance against Wolves will be crucial for his future prospects.
- Everton's Fresh Faces: The arrivals of Garner, Mangala, Lindstrom, and Doucoure have the potential to add some excitement to Everton's attack. Fantasy managers will be keen to see how these players perform in their new roles.
- Southampton's Uncertainties: Southampton's new lineup could make it difficult for fantasy managers to predict their performance this weekend. It may be worth waiting to see how they fare before making any decisions about their players.
As always, fantasy managers need to weigh up the potential risks and rewards before making any transfer or captaincy decisions. The changes made by managers across the league could create some unexpected results and make for an exciting gameweek for all fantasy football fans.
The Verdict: What to Expect in the Premier League
This weekend's Premier League action promises to be an exciting affair, with several teams looking to make a statement early in the season.
The changes made by managers have added an extra layer of intrigue to the matches, and it will be fascinating to see how the teams fare in their respective games. Fantasy managers will also be keeping a close eye on the performances of the players involved, as they look to secure a strong start to the season.
