Premier League teams, predicted line-ups 2017, preview: Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham

WITH two sleeps to go until Premier League kick-off, it’s time to dream of silverware (and nail your Fantasy teams). Here’s how each of the big six will likely line up, fully fit.

David Weiner

6 min read

August 11, 2017 - 6:51AM

Premier League predicted XIs for 2017-2018.

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THE wait is almost over to see which Premier League manager shocks us, changes tactics, or pulls a selection rabbit out of the hat heading into the season.

If you’re a Tottenham fan, you pretty much know what your team looks like for round one, and what it will look like when everyone’s fit.

If you’re a supporter of one of the Manchester clubs, you probably don’t even know which formation Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho will run out with, let alone who will feature.

Which signings will get unleashed straight away? Alexandre Lacazette will, you’d think, but what about at Chelsea? Will Antonio Conte’s XI essentially reflect the one that got the job done last year (minus the axed Diego Costa)?

It’s a fascinating time of year, one also fraught with Fantasy Premier League gambles and guesses, trying to read the mind of six of the best managers in world football.

Well, here goes anyway.

Here’s a guide to what each PL top four contender’s BEST XI will look like, in theory, with explanation where players are injured heading into the opening weekend.

Which line-up do you rate strongest?

HOLES: Where your Premier League will fall down this season

ULTIMATE GUIDE Part I: Arsenal => Liverpool

ULTIMATE GUIDE Part II: Manchester City => West Ham

ARSENAL

If the end to last year, and the Community Shield are any indication, Arsene Wenger has caught up with the back three fashion, hoping it adds that defensive starch to complement his rich array of attacking talent.

At the back, Laurent Koscielny is a certain starter; Shkodran Mustafi and Nacho Monreal are likely the accomplices, with Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding vying for selection.

Free transfer Sead Kolasinac looks like he could become a fan favourite down the left, with Hector Bellerin fizzing up and down the right. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been tried at wingback as well, and what Wenger does with his speedsters, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, and in particular, Danny Welbeck, who Wenger adores, will be interesting, and shows the variety in the weapons he has at his disposal.

Arsenal's predicted best XI for 2017-2018

When all are available, and focused, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil would nominally dictate the attacking third, and have a goal scoring machine ahead of them this year, via recruit from Lyon Alexandre Lacazette. He is the marquee addition, with Olivier Giroud and Welbeck impressive alternatives to change the game.

It’s midfield where Arsenal needs the names on paper to turn their pedigree into performance, especially with Santi Cazorla injured for the foreseeable future. In Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey, they have a ready made, balanced partnership - but two individuals who need to deliver consistently. For depth, Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin are available.

PODCAST: The season is officially underway! Daniel Garb and David Weiner run through the major Premier League talking points ahead of the kick-off this weekend.

C HELSEA

Antonio Conte’s best XI, for now, reflects the XI that won him the league, minus Diego Costa, who he turfed to bring in Alvaro Morata, who is not yet fully fit. If he is deemed not ready for the first week, Michy Batshuayi is likely to start. Question is, will the pair fill the goal scoring quota Costa leaves? In Eden Hazard (still injured), Pedro, and Willian, Conte has three top class players to flank his striker.

22-year-old Tiémoué Bakayoko arrives as a highly rated defensive midfielder from Monaco, and takes Nemanja Matic’s place in the squad. Cesc Fabregas will start the season alongside N’Golo Kante, but if the Blues can’t afford the luxury of the Spaniard, the Frenchman will vie for contention quickly.

Chelsea's 2017-2018 Premier League XI

The rest of the side picks itself until further signings are made: skipper Gary Cahill alongside Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz, flanked by Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso, although Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen are much needed re-enforcement given John Terry and Kurt Zouma’s exits.

Signing another wingback, or two, is paramount before the deadline closes as it’s a huge load for Alonso and Moses to shoulder with UCL games as well.

The question is: which signings will bolster these options, and which bolter will stand up from the bench - because Chelsea will need them.

LIVERPOOL

Liverpool with Virgil van Dijk and Philippe Coutinho, one, or none?

That’s the burning angst among Reds fans with a couple of unknowns hovering over Jurgen Klopp’s squad that can swing the season.

Full strength, Liverpool look superb. Last year, there was a huge reliance on Sadio Mane. This year, Mohamed Salah ensures there’s a threat on both flanks, with any one of Roberto Firmino - or Divock Origi, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings or Dominic Solanke - in the high octane front three.

Liverpool's predicted XI for the 2017-2018 season.

Adam Lallana’s early season injury is a blow in midfield. Emre Can is a good alternative, likely to work alongside Jordan Henderson, who will keep the tempo ticking, and that man, Coutinho. Georginio Wijnaldum will feature regulalry too.

Despite the stereotype of the Reds vulnerability, the defence looks familiar, with another pre-season under Klopp under its belt, although depth is questionable. Keeping Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip fit is pivotal; Andrew Robertson has arrived from Hull to challenge Alberto Moreno and James Milner at left-back.

MANCHESTER CITY

What will be more interesting in Pep Guardiola’s selection is who he actually leaves out. The Manchester City boss has been granted his transfer wishes, spent wildly, and now has, for example, the choice of Danilo, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mandy for two fullback positions. Staggering.

His formation is still up for grabs - three at the back, or four - and Danilo will likely move flexibly between fullback spots or even midfield. Despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars on freshening up his defence with fullbacks to suite his style, Guardiola still will have anxieties: Vincent Kompany’s fitness is imperative. With him, he can guide John Stones. Without him, it’s back to Nicolas Otamendi, or Eliaquim Mangala, if disaster strikes.

Manchester City's predicted XI for 2017-2018

With so many attacking riches, Fernandinho once again has a pivotal role providing the balance. Yaya Toure, and eventually when fit, Ilkay Gundogan, will add to that mix, but it’s further forward where his options are titillating.

To put it in perspective, whether you opt for 3-4-3, 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, a startling array of talent will be squeezed out. Sergio Aguero v Gabriel Jesus? Kevin De Brynne is a lock, but who out of David Silva, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva will be left out?

A lot will depend on how Guardiola balances his choice of pace, and creativity, width and more central playmakers. In the graphic above the Silva chosen is David, as an incumbent, but it would be no shock to see Bernardo, signed from Monaco, deployed there, with all wingers interchanging sides fluidly.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Jesse Lingard at wingback? Whether or not Mourinho retains that formation for big games is yet to be seen after his formation in the UEFA Super Cup, but whichever way he goes, the Special One has plenty of options at his disposal.

The locks: David De Gea, Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku.

Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian, and once fit, Luke Shaw will vie for left-back; Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and new signing Victor Lindelof will contend to partner Bailly. Nemanja Matic has been signed to allow Pogba to express himself, but Mourinho still has Michael Carrick as a passing alternative and Marouane Fellaini if he wants to be more pragmatic if needed. Given Ander Herrera’s worth last term, a 4-3-3 accommodates new man Matic and lets Pogba play in that left hand midfield free role which he thrived in at Juventus. A 4-2-3-1 likely sees Herrera edged out.

Manchester United's predicted XI for 2017-2018

Going forward, will Mourinho turn Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Lingard into workhorses, or utilise their pace to terrorise as a foil for Lukaku? He also has mercurial talent in Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Surely a combination of pace and poise will allow United to be a formidable prospect?

An injury to Lukaku would make things interesting; Rashford or Martial could lead the line, or, maybe, in 2018, a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic could earn a romantic new deal?

TOTTENHAM

Few coaches know with such certainty what they want to do this year, but already, Mauricio Pochettino is realising how important depth will be this term.

First choice fullbacks Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose could both miss the start of the season; Mr Fix It Eric Dier could see time at fullback, with Ben Davies coming in too. Ironically, a youngster on the periphery now that Kyle Walker has left is, none other than, Kyle Walker-Peters!

Otherwise, if Pochettino plays a 4-2-3-1 (there’s a bit of talk he’ll also opt for three at the back, with Dier next to the irrepressible Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen) the only uncertainty is the best XI midfield pair. Mousa Dembele’s lack of durability means he’ll be in and out of the side, but Victor Wanyama and Dier can screen, and up and comer Harry Winks is a decent, craftier option there too.

Their attacking quartet picks itself, but, they’re indispensable, particularly while Erik Lamela continues to recuperate from long term injury.

If Vincent Janssen, Moussa Sissoko and Kevin Wimmer don’t step up, then the next tier is thin if no one else arrives.