New Premier League Season Set to Kick Off! In-Depth Analysis of the Starting Lineups for the Big Six
The new Premier League season officially kicks off this Friday, with defending champions Arsenal hosting promoted side Coventry City in the opening match. Foreign media have conducted a detailed analysis of the starting lineups for the top clubs, noting that the transfer window closes at 6:00 PM local time on September 1 (11:00 PM BST), giving teams time to strengthen further.
Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice gaining valuable minutes after returning to the squad. Manager Mikel Arteta hopes they will start in the opener, especially given that new signing Bruno Guimarães had ice packs on his thigh after being substituted at halftime, while Noni Madueke's performance fell short of expectations. Christos Tzolis impressed on the left flank, Myles Lewis-Skelly showed solidity in midfield, and Cristian Mosquera will replace the injured William Saliba at center-back. Martin Ødegaard, in red-hot form against Manchester City, is ready to lead the team as captain in their title defense.
At Aston Villa, Unai Emery faces a shortage of personnel. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne left this summer, while Amadou Onana, João Gomes, John Manzanbi, and Brian Majo are all injured. Alejandro Garnacho suffered a concussion in a preseason match, and Tammy Abraham limped off in the final friendly. Additionally, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa had extended breaks due to the 2026 World Cup and have not played in preseason, while Emi Martínez's future is uncertain amid negotiations with Juventus. If Abraham cannot recover, Emery may start Watkins directly. 19-year-old George Hemmings, who impressed in the European Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, could earn a chance.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso switched the defensive system from a back four to a back three during preseason. Multiple late-returning World Cup players and Wesley Fofana's suspension add complexity to predicting the starting lineup. Rogers, Reece James, Enzo Fernández, and Maxence Lacroix have only one preseason appearance each, leaving Alonso to weigh the risks. Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill are fully fit, while striker João Pedro has scored seven goals in preseason, in scintillating form.
Liverpool's 2-0 preseason win over Como on Sunday exposed a lack of depth on the bench. Andoni Iraola urgently needs more players, and the starting lineup for this weekend's clash with Newcastle United is almost set. Alisson Becker is in goal, with Milos Kerkez and Virgil van Dijk solid in defense. Conor Bradley is sidelined with a knee injury, so Jeremie Frimpong will continue at right-back. Van Dijk's center-back partner is uncertain: £60 million new signing Jeremy Jacquet impressed on debut but may be used cautiously as he recovers from a shoulder injury, while Ronald Araújo, on loan from Barcelona, is more likely to start at St. James' Park. Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Florian Wirtz are expected to feature, with Alexis Mac Allister just back and Curtis Jones close to a move to Inter Milan. Cody Gakpo will start on the left wing, with 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha being tested on the right. Despite Liverpool's pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain forwards Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, neither is likely to be available for this match. Alexander Isak will lead the line against his former club Newcastle.
Manchester City have a new manager in Enzo Maresca, with fierce competition in several positions. Gianluigi Donnarumma and Erling Haaland are locked in as starters, while Elliot Anderson, signed for £116 million from Nottingham Forest, is also confirmed. Phil Foden has been developed by Maresca as a number 10 in preseason, and Matheus Nunes was the first-choice right-back last season, but Abdukodir Khusanov earned a start in the Community Shield.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick faces a midfield dilemma. Bruno Fernandes is a guaranteed starter when fit, while André Santos, signed for £48 million from Chelsea this summer, is the only natural deep-lying No. 6 in the squad. Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo will compete for the other spot. Forward Benjamin Šeško is still recovering from injury, so Bryan Mbeumo is likely to start up front, alongside Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo. With no new left-back signed, the back four remains Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martínez.
Tottenham Hotspur narrowly avoided relegation last season due to severe injuries. Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, and Dominic Solanke are still not fully fit, and James Maddison may start on the bench. Micky van de Ven has been battling injuries all summer, and a new center-back pairing could make its debut; Archie Gray will replace Pedro Porro at right-back, as the latter is late returning from winning the World Cup. Mikey Moore is expected to join Cologne on loan in August, but the young winger has impressed in preseason and could start this weekend before leaving.