Starting Lineups:
Last Update: August 12th (6:40 PM BST)
UPDATED ALL 20 TEAMS, LET’S GO!
NB:
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These are not GW1 lineups, but predicted XI’s for the whole season.
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The number on the kit are predicted starts/nailed-on-ness on a scale from 0-38.
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This will be updated until the GW1 deadline arrives.
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Any tips/help welcome. Take a look at your favorite team and tweet me @Maefteda if you find any errors.
Contents
Arsenal:
XI Contenders (Starts): Pépé (22), Holding (19), and Martinelli (17)
Other Potential Starters: Bellerin
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 25.27 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Smith-Rowe forced his way into the team last season and will be nailed with no Ødegaard.
- Lacazette and Pépé fighting for the final XI spot. Lacazette juuuust edges it.
- Bellerin on his way out and Chambers is ready to step up.
Aston Villa:
XI Contenders (Starts): Traoré (23), Nakamba (18), and El Ghazi (17)
Other Potential Starters: Young
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 31.90 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Dean Smith says he’s gonna continue to use Watkins up front, so he partners Ings
- Ashley Young returns to the side he left angry with him. Could play WB in a 3-5-2.
- Buendía a perfect replacement for Grealish and Bailey adds some spice. Fun lineup.
Brentford
XI Contenders (Starts): Janelt (22), Caños (19) and Jansson (19)
Other Potential Starters: Dasilva
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 34.54 out of 46 matches
Additional Notes:
- Ended the season with a 3-5-2 formation after Henry got injured. Set to continue?
- Wissa comes in to accompany Toney and Mbeumo in attack. Wissa and Mbeumo flexible.
- Could swap between 3 at the back and the regular 4-3-3 formation with Toney lone striker.
Brighton
XI Contenders (Starts): Burn (22), Moder (20) and Lallana (18)
Other Potential Starters: Mac Allister, Maupay
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 28.18 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Potter never nails down a formation/lineup, Maupay never nails down finishing chances.
- Still got strong centre backs even without White, but might strengthen.
- Lack a true LWB, but heavily linked with Marc Cuccurella. Would be a class signing.
Burnley:
XI Contenders (Starts): Pieters (20), Cork (18), and Rodriguez (16)
Other Potential Starters: Collins
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 30 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Good old Burnley, nobody beats that… Well, at least they are predictable.
- Left wing McNeil always a wanted man, at right wing Burnley wants a man.
- Vydra won out the striker battle next to Chris Wood.
Chelsea:
XI Contenders (Starts): Christensen (23), Werner (21), and Ziyech (21)
Other Potential Starters: Kovacic, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, Alonso
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 25.27 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Mendy, Rüdiger, Kanté, Mount aaaand Lukaku… the rest is up for grabs.
- Kai Havertz could still break out, even as a second striker behind Lukaku.
- Such a shame to see Ziyech injured. Hope he comes back soon and becomes a regular.
Crystal Palace:
XI Contenders (Starts): Riedewald (22), Schlupp (21) and Milivojevic (18)
Other Potential Starters: Ferguson, Ward, Eze, Tomkins
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 26.27 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Eze sadly out for a while. Will be nailed once he’s fit. Ayew fills in right ahead of Schlupp.
- With Patrick van Aanholt gone, Tyrick Mitchell will deservedly be their regular left back.
- Patrick Vieira has a lot of players to choose from, but lack star quality other than Zaha.
Everton:
XI Contenders (Starts): Gomes (20), Holgate (19), and Townsend (18).
Other Potential Starters: Iwobi, Gbamin
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 28.27 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- James Rodriguez hampered by injuries and rumoured to leave. Vital at times last season.
- Doucouré playing in a more offensive role this season, like he did well at Watford.
- Lost out on Dumfries and are still fairly thin behind the ever-present Coleman at RB.
Leeds:
XI Contenders (Starts): Klich (22), Rodrigo (20), Koch (15)
Other Potential Starters: Shackleton
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 31 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Bielsas team is NAILED, but former favorite Klich juuust drops out and Rodrigo might get in.
- Young Strujik impressed as last season went on and is very versatile.
- Harrison has been kept permanently. Him and Raphinha were huge for Leeds last season.
Leicester:
XI Contenders (Starts): Evans (24), Daka (22) and Vestergaard (20)
Other Potential Starters: Soumaré, Bertrand, Justin and Fofana when fit
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 27.72 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Unfortunate injuries to talented youngsters Justin and Fofana. Vestergaard new CB.
- Daka, Soumaré and Bertrand in, means a lot more potential for rotation than last season.
- Vardy still nailed, but starting to wind down his career with younger talents around him.
Liverpool:
XI Contenders (Starts): Henderson (22), Keita (18) and Konaté (16)
Other Potential Starters: Jones
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 28.09 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip back from injury and Konaté in. No more Phillips and Kabak.
- Klopps tends to ease in new signings, so give Konaté time before he’s nailed.
- With Jota healthy, Liverpool have a new fab four. Jota and Firmino will rotate as strikers.
Man City:
XI Contenders (Starts): Gundogan (25), Jesus (22) and Torres (20)
Other Potential Starters: Laporte, Aké
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 26.18 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- No more room for Silvas in Man City, with Bernardo Silva on the out post Grealish.
- Foden is finally a solid starter for Man City, but will still get rotated after he gets fit.
- Kane still not close to signing as of season premiere. Will be a nailed striker if he comes.
Man Utd:
XI Contenders (Starts): Cavani (22), Fred (19) and Lingard (15)
Other Potential Starters: Martial
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 28.63 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Varane in and the backline is super solid. A better goalkeeper would be preferable though.
- Solskjær needs to figure out how to use Donny van de Beek.
- Sancho in and the striker spot is up for grabs. Martial seems out of it and Cavani starts 60%.
Newcastle:
XI Contenders (Starts): Hayden (23), Joelinton (20) and Clark (18)
Other Potential Starters: Krafth
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 23.36 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Willock in makes this team a lot more dynamic. Plenty of flair up front.
- Full-backs are a question mark, especially RB. Murphy in a back 5, Krafth in a back 4.
- With Lascelles back fit, the backline should be more secure. Dubravka starts when fit.
Norwich:
XI Contenders (Starts): Hernandez (22), Rupp (21) and Dowell (17)
Other Potential Starters: Gibson
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 33.54 out of 46 matches
Additional Notes:
- Sold the irreplaceable Emi Buendia, but got a couple of interesting signings.
- Oliver Skipp was vital on loan last season, Gilmour even better this season.
- Andrew Omobamidele played a lot in pre-season and the youngster might start regularly.
Southampton:
XI Contenders (Starts): Romeu (22), Walcott (20) and Redmond (19)
Other Potential Starters: Forster, Stephens
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 29 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Nate Tella is Southampton’s new favorite talent. Will get a chance this season.
- Losing Vestergaard hurts, but Salisu was really good in La Liga. Had a season to adjust now.
- With plenty of wingers, Stuart Armstrong gets put in midfield next to JWP.
Tottenham:
XI Contenders (Starts): Lo Celso (22), Bergwijn (20) and Winks (19).
Other Potential Starters: Rodon
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 27.09 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Nunu Espirito Santo needs to maximize Ndombélé, Lo Celso and Bergwijn’s potential.
- Aurier is on his way out and NES in, Doherty needs to step up and make the RB spot his.
- If Harry Kane leaves, they need to sign a replacement. Son temporarily fills in as striker.
Watford:
XI Contenders (Starts): Etebo (23), Cleverley (20), and King (19)
Other Potential Starters: Dennis, Cucho, Deeney
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 29.81 out of 46 matches
Additional Notes:
- Forwards: Pedro > King > Deeney > Dennis > Cucho > Fletcher > Gray > Success > Perica
- Bachmann took over as GK last season and is nailed. No chance for Foster.
- Will Hughes got demoted as he wants to leave the club. Plenty of CM options here.
West Ham:
XI Contenders (Starts): Masuaku (23), Yarmolenko (19) and Lanzini (18)
Other Potential Starters: None
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness: 29.63 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- Moyesiah has a pretty settled starting XI. Remains to be seen if Lingard comes back.
- Nikola Milenkovic close to signing, but not close enough for me to put him in over Dawson.
- Mark Noble’s last season at West Ham. Respect the legend!
Wolves:
XI Contenders (Starts): Moutinho (26), Traoré (24), Saïss (19)
Other Potential Starters: Marcal, Podence
Last Season XI Nailed-on-ness (Nunu Espirito Santo): 27.45 out of 38 matches
Additional Notes:
- New manager with Bruno Lage with a new system. Gives youth a chance.
- Fingers crossed for a fully healthy Raul Jimenez season, but who accompanies him up front?
- Jonny Otto once again out for months with an ACL injury. Aït-Nouri returning and is best LB.
Credit: Big shout out to buildlineup.com for providing a great XI maker. Several team subreddits, whoscored.com ++