Starting with the controversial inclusion of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, here are 12 Premier League players we think should be dropped.

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
The momentum isn’t great after Fernandes produced his best performance of the season against Brentford, but he’s been absolutely indispensable in every other game in 2024/25.

Erik ten Hag cannot rely on injury-prone Mount Mason as a direct replacement for his captain, suggesting more of a line-up change. Could we see an old fashioned 4-4-2 at Old Trafford?

The physical threats of Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund could wreak havoc up there, while Marcus Rashford is better suited to partner up front than be alone on the wing. That gives Amad an opportunity to start, which he almost deserves.

Relinquishing the captaincy is something the Ten Hag won’t think about, but the Portuguese midfielder isn’t Manchester United a better team. There’s going to be a storm, I can feel it.

Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)
Trossard on the bench and Trossard at the start are two completely different players. The ability to mark the Belgian in the clutch did it one of Mikel Arteta’s best autographs but many of his goals have come from the bench, including the equalizer against Bayern Munich and the opener against Aston Villa this season.

Martin Odeegaard’s injury threw a spanner in the works. It saw Arteta switch to a 4-4-2 with Trossard partnering Kai Havertz up front, who has been more successful than the Belgian in the captain’s midfield position.

The problem Arteta has is that Fabio Vieira is on loan at FC Porto and Emile Smith Rowe has been sold – two correct decisions, especially in the case of the latter. That left teenager Ethan Nwaneri as Odegaard’s only similar replacement. He’s damn good, mind. He might be worth a chance, but against Liverpool? Probably not.

With that in mind, it’s more us to urge Arteta to play Trossard up front in a 4-4-2 (sorry for the obsession with correct play) or drop him on the bench where he’s far more effective .

Joelinton (Newcastle United)
Eddie Howe needs to freshen things up and more creativity and dribbling ability in midfield wouldn’t go amiss. Joelinton has been pretty poor this season and starting Joe Willock could be just what the doctor ordered.

Howe’s reluctance to hand 90 minutes to Sandro Tonali is a midfield change we feel is more necessary. It seems bizarre that he never starts and never finishes games for Newcastle when one of his greatest qualities is his engine. We understand he has been suspended for the better part of a year but has more than enough playing time to avoid being attached with 20 minutes to go every week. He’s one of your best players, Eddie!

Michael Antonio (West Ham)
No matter who West Ham sign and how much money they cost, Antonio always finds himself starting up front by October. He is inevitable.

We don’t care if Niclas Fullkrug is injured. We don’t care if Jarrod Bowen is better in right. We want to see Bowen play through the middle. Crysencio Summerville on the left, Lucas Paqueta on the back and Mohammed Kudus on the right. Bing, bang, bosh.

A lot needs to change at West Ham, and the manager could be the one sacrificed. Paqueta has not helped his new boss with his performances and could be part of a mass meltdown against Manchester United, a game for which Kudus is suspended, which will likely give Antonio another chance at the top.

Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
Liverpool Head coach Arne Slot won’t change a winning formula, surely? Well, he did by giving up Luis Diaz. Just like in the Trossard bank conundrum, Holland Gakpo and Liverpool Gakpo are two completely different players. He is superb for his country and just OK for his club.

Diogo Jota’s injury against Chelsea should help Gakpo keep his place, but Diaz is waiting in the wings while Darwin Nunez shone off the bench to start the week.

Darwin needed his goal against RB Leipzig and the fact that it turned out to be the only goal of the game – to make it nine out of nine in Europe for the Reds – is even better.

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Robert Sánchez (Chelsea)
Spanish goalkeeper Sanchez has been rather unconvincing this season and summer signing Filip Jorgensen is breathing down his neck. The Premier League side have yet to find out if the Dane is better than Sanchez, but they surely will soon. Bobby Sanchez’s annual cull is coming.

The former Brighton man couldn’t fight his way back from Djordje Petrovic last season and has just two Premier League clean sheets in 24/25, conceding and saving a penalty in one of them.

We speculated that two errors leading to a goal against Brighton would be the end of Sanchez under Enzo Maresca, but the new Blues head coach kept the faith. How long it will continue to do so is an interesting topic.

Wes Burns (Ipswich Town)
An average WhoScored match rating of 5.96 it says all you need to know, really.

Conor Chaplin has been bloody amazing throughout the leagues for Ipswich and now deserves a proper crack at the Premier League, with Burns certainly coming out.

Kevin Schade (Brentford)
Schade came in due to an injury to Yoane Wissa, who is now back to fitness and must return to Thomas Frank’s starting XI.

The 22-year-old German lacks conviction in front of goal and is simply a very overwhelming footballer. He played through the middle against Manchester United and failed to register a shot on goal or a tackle, which is frankly embarrassing against a side completely out of sorts.

Wissa is a very capable leader and proven Premier League goalscorer. It’s not just a change we want to see, but one we expect to see against Ipswich on Saturday.

Andreas Pereira (Fulham)
Saying a side from the middle of the table should give up the player with the joint second most important passes in the Premier League this season it’s certainly bold, but here we are.

Reiss Nelson has provided an interesting impact off the bench and while he doesn’t have the same creativity as Pereira, there’s no debating that he works harder and has more of an edge in the final third, two of the most basic things a premiership can do. League striker should possess.

Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)
We disappointed and enjoyed Gundogan’s return to Man City as a no-lose situation for all involved. While nobody can be labeled a ‘loser’ from the transfer, the German’s form has been disappointing and it is probably time for a change.

Pep Guardiola has plenty of options and nothing can be ruled out. Nathan Ake returned from injury this week and could slot into defence, pushing John Stones up top. His return could also see Rico Lewis move into a more natural centre-half role, where we believe he is capable of playing.

A more conventional change would see 2024/25 Premier League Player of the Year Phil Foden make the starting XI.