NB: These are the 18/19 lineups. For 19/20 lineups click here:
Do you wonder who will be starters in the Premier League? How nailed on are each player? Which players are the biggest contenders to break into a starting XI? All those questions and more down below:
Last Update: August 9th, 9PM (BST)
(Post Deadline Day Update. Brighton, Chelsea, Cardiff, Everton, Fulham, Leicester, Wolverhampton)
NB:
-
These are not GW1 lineups, but predicted XI’s for the whole season.
-
The number on the kit is predicted starts/nailed-on-ness on a scale from 0-38.
-
This article will be updated every day until the FPL deadline arrives.
-
Any tips/help welcome. Take a look at your favorite team and tweet me @Maefteda if you find any errors.
Teams:
Arsenal
Bournemouth
Brighton
Burnley
Cardiff
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Huddersfield
Leicester
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle
Southampton
Tottenham
Watford
West Ham
Wolverhampton
Arsenal:
XI Contenders (Starts): Ramsey (27), Mustafi (24), Kolasinac (16)
Other Potential Starters: Cech
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness (Wenger): 27.72 out of 38 matches
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness (Emery, PSG): 25.54 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Emery rotates more than Wenger, even when PSG finished 2nd behind Monaco.
- Koscielny a sure starter when he returns from injury (late December).
- Pay attention to Ramsey’s contract situation, awkward fit for Emery’s tactics.
Bournemouth:
XI Contenders (Starts): Fraser (25), A. Smith (22) and D. Gosling (20)
Other Potential Starters: Daniels
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 28.09 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Injury prone Stanislas already injured, doesn’t start more than 20 but makes the most of it.
- With Lewis Cook staying and Jefferson Lerma coming in, central midfield is finally sorted.
- Expect Eddie Howe to experiment defensively, after a leaky 17/18 season.
Brighton:
XI Contenders (Starts): Knockaert (22), March (19), and Murray (16)
Other Potential Starters: Balogun
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 31.09 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Dunk and Duffy a major reason they stayed up last season, but new signing Balogun lurks.
- Striker woes with Murray getting old. They hope Andone is their answer, but hard to tell.
- Expect rotation with March and Knockaert, but the 3 behind the striker are super talented.
Burnley:
XI Contenders (Starts): Lennon (24), Barnes (22) and Gibson (20)
Other Potential Starters: Pope, Westwood
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 28.27 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Back 4 should be more consistently available after poor injury luck last season.
- Gibson won’t replace Tarkowski or Mee, but takes some starts from them, most likely Mee.
- Pope/Heaton reversed roles from last year, with Pope out for 3 months this time.
Cardiff:
XI Contenders (Starts): Gunnarsson (23), Zohore (21) and Ecuele Manga (20)
Other Potential Starters: Jazz Richards, Smithies
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 36.27 out of 46 matches
Additional Notes:
- When Etheridge is busy with Asian Cup at the start of 2019, Smithies will get his chance.
- Peltier starter last season, but Jazz Richards might be more suited to PL.
- Always a chance of panic buys in January if they expectedly are fighting relegation.
Chelsea:
XI Contenders (Starts): Christensen (22), Pedro (20) and Batshuayi (18)
Other Potential Starters: Fabregas
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness (Conte): 28.36 out of 38 matches
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness (Sarri, Napoli): 33.11(!) out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- 10/11 players started in 30+ matches for Sarri last season, only Ghoulam (injuries) didn’t.
- Luiz, Rudiger and Christensen fighting for the 2 CB spots, all suit Sarri’s style.
- Pay attention to who wins out of the CBs, Morata/Giroud and Willian/Pedro, 30+ starts likely.
Crystal Palace:
XI Contenders (Starts): McArthur (25), Kouyaté (24) and Ward (17)
Other Potential Starters: Guaita, Sørloth
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 27.00 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Hennessey kept World Cup winner Mandanda out of the Palace GK spot. Guaita too?
- Zaha will likely rotate between striker and forward, if he stays.
- If Benteke finds his form, he can be nailed, Sørloth has impressed in pre-season though.
Everton:
XI Contenders (Starts): Bernard (25), Davies (22) and Keane (22)
Other Potential Starters: Baines
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness (Koeman/Allardyce): 26.45 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Bernard’s two best positions are filled by Everton’s two most expensive signings ever.
- Baines will be phased out by Digne eventually, but the Everton legend might start for now.
- Keane was a big signing a year ago, but new signings Mina and Zouma should play.
Fulham:
XI Contenders (Starts): McDonald (21), Chambers (20) and Le Marchand (20)
Other Potential Starters: Vietto
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 36.45 out of 46 matches
Additional Notes:
- Fulham could hardly field the 5 at the back 30 days ago, but now have a plethora of options.
- 7 out of 11 projected starters are new. It might take some time for them all to adjust.
- After deadline day, I think it’s safe to say that Sessegnon won’t play any left back this year.
Huddersfield:
XI Contenders (Starts): Hadergjonaj (22), Durm (22) and Diakhaby (18)
Other Potential Starters: Löwe, Depoitre
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 29.18 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Durm, Smith, Löwe, Kongolo and Hadergjonaj will share a lot of games between them.
- Mounié is developing while Depoitre had a good patch in 17/18. Mounié plays more in 18/19
- Sobhi has been looking to break out for a while. With Ince gone, he’ll get his chance.
Leicester:
XI Contenders (Starts): Ghezzal (22), Gray (22) and Albrighton (18)
Other Potential Starters: Morgan, A. Silva
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 29.00 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- They will switch between 3-5-2, 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1. 3 CB signings points me towards 3-5-2.
- If Gray develops and Ghezzal finds his best form, the formation should accommodate them.
- Defence should be a lot more settled than last year with new signings and Chilwell ready.
Liverpool:
XI Contenders (Starts): Shaqiri (25), Wijnaldum (23) and Milner (22)
Other Potential Starters: Clyne, Matip, Lallana
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 25.45 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Unusual amount of rotation last year with big transfers and the rotation at GK/RB.
- Matip unlucky to miss out behind one of the world’s best defenders and Dejan Lovren.
- Mané, Firmino and Salah were rock solid starters, but expect more rotation with Shaqiri.
Man City:
XI Contenders (Starts): Sané (26), Jesus (25) and Silva (22)
Other Potential Starters: Otamendi, Gundogan
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 28.54 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Pep has mentioned that we need to get used to David Silva not playing as much as before.
- Bernardo Silva can continue in his #10 role with de Bruyne dropping into midfield.
- Otamendi not a sure thing in central defence, all 4 CBs will rotate often.
Man Utd:
XI Contenders (Starts): Rashford (22), Jones (22) and Martial (20),
Other Potential Starters: Shaw
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 28.45 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Bailly should be a sure starter without injuries and WC, 2nd CB spot up for grabs.
- Luke Shaw can win the LB spot if he starts well, but likely to be a sub after one bad game.
- Despite pleas, Martial and Rashford will have a tough time becoming regular starters.
Newcastle:
XI Contenders (Starts): Atsu (22), Diamé (18) and Muto (16)
Other Potential Starters: None
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 24.72 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Rondon not likely to get more than 10 goals, but he might open up space for Perez
- Schär steps right into the spot vacated by the unfortunately injured Lejeune.
- Benitez tends to rotate a lot, last season’s numbers were not a coincidence.
Southampton:
XI Contenders (Starts): Armstrong (24), Højbjerg (20) and Ings (18)
Other Potential Starters: Bednarek
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 25.90 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Forster is linked away, so expect McCarthy to start. Gunn is a future GK for them.
- Mark Hughes played with a back 3 to end last season, Cedric, Bertrand and 3rd CB benefits.
- Austin always struggles with injuries, but should be nailed when fit. Ings a capable backup.
Tottenham:
XI Contenders (Starts): Sanchez (23), Aurier (20) and Rose (20)
Other Potential Starters: None
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 30.45 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Pocchettino fields a strong 11 and doesn’t rotate much except full-backs.
- Alderweireld has a year left on his contract and might get sold, Sanchez ready to step in.
- Lucas Moura and Lamela will fill in when Son is occupied with Korea in August and Jan/Feb.
Watford:
XI Contenders (Starts): Sema (23), Cleverley (22) and Kiko Femenía (18)
Other Potential Starters: Holebas, Prödl
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 24.54 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- A lot of players in the squad, a lot of rotation and a lot of possible starters.
- Kabasele a sure thing in defence, hard to know who accompanies him through the season.
- Pereyra/Hughes/Deulofeu could very well start, but Sema has impressed in pre-season.
West Ham:
XI Contenders (Starts): Yarmolenko (25), Antonio (20) and Masuaku (18)
Other Potential Starters: Diop, (Reid and Lanzini when fit)
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 26.36 out of 38 matches
Man City (15/16) Nailed-on-ness under Pellegrini: 27.09 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Ogbonna a likely starter but either one of Diop/Balbuena/Reid/Rice could start next to him.
- Lanzini will for sure start when/if he returns. Yarmolenko and Wilshere cover for him.
- Chicharito will play a bigger part than last season, even with Lucas Perez coming in.
Wolves:
XI Contenders (Starts): Saïss (24), Costa (22) and Cavaleiro (20)
Other Potential Starters: Bennett
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 35.36 out of 46 matches
Additional Notes:
- Jota a likely candidate to play up front should Jimènez not pan out.
- Adama Traore steps right into the other wing, Costa and Cavaleiro also capable.
- Dendoncker’s best position is CDM, but their biggest need was a 3rd CB.
Do you agree with the starting XI prediction for your team? Do the projected starts seem correct? If not, go ahead and tell me what I need to fix. I will keep updating this until the FPL deadline is here.
Follow @Maefteda