How to read a football lineup
A football lineup shows the eleven players chosen to start, with substitutes listed separately. Read the headings first, shirt numbers second and formation last: the numbers in 4-3-3 describe ten outfield players, with the goalkeeper added separately.
What does starting XI mean?
Read a real team sheet
- Starting XI
- 11 selected starters, including the goalkeeper.
- Substitutes
- Named on the bench. Being listed does not mean they played.
- Shirt number
- Identifies a player. It does not count their place in the XI.
Liverpool vs Arsenal
Completed match · · Official selection
Choose a name to read its selection and shirt number.
Alisson Becker: named to start. Shirt number 1.Starting XI11 players
Selected to begin this match.
Named to start
Selected to begin this match, not guaranteed a full match or a fixed tactical position.
Shirt number 1 identifies the player, not a place in a ranking or a playing position.
Substitutes9 players
Named as possible replacements.
This is a past selection, not a prediction for the next match. A missing name here does not establish an injury.
XI is the Roman numeral for eleven. The starting XI contains one goalkeeper and ten outfield players. Starting eleven and starting lineup mean the same thing.
The number beside a name is usually the player's shirt number. It does not tell you their place in a ranking or whether they start: number 41 may be in the XI while number 9 is a substitute. Read the starter or bench heading to see which group they belong to.
What is the difference between the bench and the squad?
The matchday squad is the starting XI plus the named substitutes. In the Premier League, clubs can name up to nine substitutes. The bench gives the manager options to use during that match.
The registered season squad is a wider eligibility list. A player can be registered without being picked for a particular fixture. The separate substitution and squad-registration guides explain those rules in detail.
How do you read 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2?
Read a formation from defence to attack. A 4-3-3 groups four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. That makes ten outfield players; the goalkeeper is separate. A diagram labelled 1-4-3-3 includes the keeper as its first 1.
Count the lines, then add the keeper
Read the numbers from defence towards attack. Choose a formation, then a line on the pitch.
4 + 3 + 3 = 10
10 outfield players + 1 goalkeeper = 11 players.
What 4-3-3 tells you
Four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards make ten outfield players. Read from the defensive line nearest your own goalkeeper towards the forwards nearest the opponent's goal.
The goalkeeper is one of the eleven players, but is left out of these formation names.
Illustrative roles only. This is not a claim about a real match's formation or verified player positions. Players can move and the shape can change during play.
Read all three formation examples
- 4-3-3: 4 + 3 + 3 = 10 outfield players
Four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards make ten outfield players. Read from the defensive line nearest your own goalkeeper towards the forwards nearest the opponent's goal.
- 4 defenders. The first four describe the defensive line. They do not include the goalkeeper.
- 3 midfielders. The middle three describe a midfield line. The number alone does not specify each player's job.
- 3 forwards. The final three describe the forward line, often a central forward and two wider players.
- 4-2-3-1: 4 + 2 + 3 + 1 = 10 outfield players
Four defenders, two deeper midfielders, three attacking midfielders and one forward make ten outfield players. The final one is the forward; the goalkeeper is separate.
- 4 defenders. Four players in the defensive line, with a goalkeeper behind them.
- 2 deeper midfielders. The two describe a deeper midfield pair, separate from the attacking midfield line.
- 3 attacking midfielders. The three sit behind the lone forward in this description. They are not three extra defenders.
- 1 forward. The final one is the forward, not the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper is omitted from the formation name.
- 3-5-2: 3 + 5 + 2 = 10 outfield players
Three defenders, five players in the midfield line and two forwards make ten outfield players. The wide players in that five are often wing-backs who can drop deeper when defending.
- 3 defenders. Three describe the defensive line. A back three is different from three players in the whole team.
- 5 midfield line. Five describe the midfield line. The wide players are often wing-backs and can drop deeper when defending.
- 2 forwards. The last two describe the forward line. Player movement can still change the shape during play.
Add one goalkeeper to each example for eleven players in total.
The same arithmetic works for 4-2-3-1: a back four, two deeper midfielders, three attacking midfielders and a striker. A 3-5-2 has three defenders, a midfield five, usually including two wing-backs, and two strikers.
The decoder uses generic roles to explain the notation. In a match, players move and the same team can attack and defend in different shapes. The positions drawn on a lineup graphic are a starting description of the team, not fixed places for all ninety minutes.
What do GK, DEF, MID, FWD and (C) mean?
GK means goalkeeper, DEF defender, MID midfielder and FWD forward. More specific labels include CB for centre-back, LB and RB for left- and right-back, CM for central midfielder, and ST for striker. A broad MID label alone will not tell you whether someone plays deep or just behind the striker.
A C or (C) beside a name identifies the captain on a team sheet. It does not change their playing position. In commentary, a number nine can mean the centre-forward's role, regardless of the number on that player's shirt.
Does being named mean a player actually played?
A team sheet records selection. A substitute only makes an appearance if they come on, and a starter may leave the pitch before full-time. After the match, check the substitution events or appearance record to see who took part.
A late official change can also alter the announced XI before kick-off. Check the latest sheet and the fixture date when comparing lists: a saved sheet from last week's match is not a forecast for the next one.
Named on the bench is not the same as played.
The team sheet lists the player as a substitute. That tells you about selection, not whether they will take part.
In this example the player later comes on. Check the match's substitution record and appearances to establish participation, then recorded minutes for playing time.
Fictional example, not the players in the real team sheet above. A substitute can also remain unused: the second picture is a possibility, not a guaranteed next step.
Does 'not in the squad' mean a player is injured?
If a player is missing from the starting XI, check the bench next. A cropped graphic or a list showing only starters cannot tell you who has been left out of the whole matchday squad.
Absence from the complete sheet does not explain why a player was omitted. Injury, suspension, ineligibility and a manager's selection decision are different possibilities. Look for a dated club or league explanation; without one, the reason is unknown.
How can you tell a predicted lineup from an official XI?
Read the status before trusting the names. A predicted XI is a forecast; an official XI is backed by the team sheet for that match. Eleven names in a polished pitch graphic do not make a prediction official.
On Match XI, check the fixture and team, then the lineup status. The announcement guide explains when to look for the official names; the lineups hub takes you to current matches.