View: Duo dropped in key Bilic double change – West Brom predicted XI v Soton
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic could hand Conor Gallagher and Branislav Ivanovic their first Premier League starts for the club on Sunday when the Baggies take on Southampton at St Mary’s.
After some big positives in the 3-3 draw with Chelsea, it is unlikely that Bilic will do anything too drastic to alter his team, which means that the 3-4-3 formation could be used yet again on the south coast.
But after less-than-impressive starts to the campaign by Dara O’Shea and Romaine Sawyers, we’re predicting that Bilic will drop those two players to bring in new signings Gallagher and Ivanovic.
Ivanovic could start in a back-three, ahead of goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, with Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley on either side of him.
The former Chelsea defender, who arrived on a free transfer this month, has bags of Premier League experience and Bilic is bound to try and use him to beef up a defence that has conceded more league goals than any other top-flight club so far this season.
Kieran Gibbs is still suspended so Conor Townsend is set to start as the left-sided wing-back while Darnell Furlong is expected to keep his spot on the right.
In the midfield, captain Jake Livermore is predicted to start alongside loanee Gallagher, who showed some promise on his Baggies debut against Brentford but was ineligible to play against parent club Chelsea last week.
In the attack, Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana are likely to start either side of Callum Robinson after he scored twice in the draw with Chelsea.
All three attackers are in good form at the moment and even if Bilic brings in a new striker before Sunday, we doubt they would replace Robinson after his clinical display against Frank Lampard’s men.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies have been offered the chance to sign this Ligue 1 striker on loan for £6million.
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