There are probably 3 positions up for grabs now for the run in to the end of the year, not just this game as most of the positions have a clear starter due to injuries/lack of depth.
The places up for grabs are
RCB - seems to be Matip v Konate. For me Joel is miles better and starts when fit, he just has all the attributes that compliment VvD perfectly and he's smarter positonally when Trent steps infield. I think he starts v Fulham and he keeps going
LCM - Jones had it to himself up until his red card, then missed a month through suspension and looked average since coming back. His timing couldn't really have been worse as his suspension coincided with Gravenberch getting physically up to speed and putting in some eye catching performances. For all his obvious talent Gravenberch looks like the sort of player who can be 8/10 one week and 4/10 the next. I suspect Jones starts v Fulham because he didn't midweek, but he's got to deliver or he will find himself back on the bench
CF - With Jota out for a while the two wide positions look nailed down, the CF position looks anything but. Nunez looked ready to kick on after his heroics v Newcastle, but it didn't happen. He's gone cold, at least in the PL with just 2 goals since August. He's been unlucky at times, but he's also been extraordinarily wasteful too, he looks more effectiveoff the bench when a game opens up. Gakpo was meant to start this season running after joining last January, but again he just hasn't. He's played well in parts but he's starting to look like a player that's struggling at this level. I don't think he starts today despite a good run out midweek. Nunez looks more dangerous, marginally.
‐--------------------Kelleher
Trent -- Matip ----VvD ---Tsimikas
---Szoboszlai -- Mac---- Jones
Salah ------------ Nunez -----------Diaz
The places up for grabs are
RCB - seems to be Matip v Konate. For me Joel is miles better and starts when fit, he just has all the attributes that compliment VvD perfectly and he's smarter positonally when Trent steps infield. I think he starts v Fulham and he keeps going
LCM - Jones had it to himself up until his red card, then missed a month through suspension and looked average since coming back. His timing couldn't really have been worse as his suspension coincided with Gravenberch getting physically up to speed and putting in some eye catching performances. For all his obvious talent Gravenberch looks like the sort of player who can be 8/10 one week and 4/10 the next. I suspect Jones starts v Fulham because he didn't midweek, but he's got to deliver or he will find himself back on the bench
CF - With Jota out for a while the two wide positions look nailed down, the CF position looks anything but. Nunez looked ready to kick on after his heroics v Newcastle, but it didn't happen. He's gone cold, at least in the PL with just 2 goals since August. He's been unlucky at times, but he's also been extraordinarily wasteful too, he looks more effectiveoff the bench when a game opens up. Gakpo was meant to start this season running after joining last January, but again he just hasn't. He's played well in parts but he's starting to look like a player that's struggling at this level. I don't think he starts today despite a good run out midweek. Nunez looks more dangerous, marginally.
‐--------------------Kelleher
Trent -- Matip ----VvD ---Tsimikas
---Szoboszlai -- Mac---- Jones
Salah ------------ Nunez -----------Diaz
