Premier League depth charts for all 20 teams: Who is key?

The Premier League season has started, and with the transfer window closed until Jan. 1 there will be no more incomings or outgoings (unless a free agent can be snapped up.)

As teams start to hit their stride and new additions from the summer become accustomed to their surroundings, it’s time to take a look at where the players stand in their respective squads.

Here are depth charts of the best options for the first XI and backup XI for all 20 clubs in the league. Of course, it’s hard to predict who could be called upon as the fixtures pile up, but this should give you an idea of how strong each team is.

(Note: Each player appears in the main squad list once, even if he could fit into multiple spots. We have also included injured players, though those likely to be out for the season are noted separately.)

ARSENAL

Goalkeeper: David Raya, Neto, Tommy Setford
Right-back: Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Left-back: Jurriën Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney
Centre-back: William Saliba, Gabriel, Jakub Kiwior, Riccardo Calafiori,
Central midfield: Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard, Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand
Forward: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling
Striker: Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz

FIRST XI (4-3-3)

Raya
White – Saliba – Gabriel – Timber
Ødegaard – Partey – Rice
Saka – Havertz – Martinelli

SECOND XI (4-3-3)

Neto
Tomiyasu – Kiwior – Calafiori – Tierney
Merino – Jorginho – Zinchenko
Sterling – Gabriel Jesus – Trossard

EXTRAS: Setford, Salah-Eddine, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly

The result of Arsenal’s relatively prudent transfer campaign was a further strengthening of two already potent departments: Italy defender Calafiori was brought in to compete for the left centre-back/left-back slots — perhaps too formidable a talent to contend with sporadic shifts — while Spain international Merino bolsters central midfield with industry, tactical expertise and physicality.

Manager Mikel Arteta might eventually choose to shift Rice to No. 6 (for Partey) for Merino to feature next to Ødegaard. Consequently Arsenal, who already had the best defensive record last season, should be even harder to break down.

Only Sterling (clearly an upgrade on Reiss Nelson, who has been loaned to Fulham) joined as an attacking reinforcement, but as long as Arteta prefers his “False No. 9” setup with Havertz, the priorities make sense. High-scoring wingers have proved an efficient recipe for Arteta, and Havertz’s movement creates space for the likes of Saka, Martinelli, Trossard and Sterling to exploit.

Emerging teenage talents such as Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly can be used for further rotation, but a couple of injuries could expose the lack of depth.

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ASTON VILLA

Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez, Robin Olsen, Joe Gauci, Oliwier Zych
Right-back: Matty Cash, Kosta Nedeljkovic
Left-back: Lucas Digne, Ian Maatsen
Centre-back: Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres, Kortney Hause, Sil Swinkels
Defensive midfield: Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara, Lamare Bogarde
Central midfield: Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey
Forward: Emiliano Buendía, Morgan Rogers, Jaden Philogene, Leon Bailey
Striker: Ollie Watkins, Jhon Durán,

FIRST XI (4-4-2)

Martinez
Cash – Konsa – Torres – Digne
Bailey – Tielemans – Onana — McGinn
Rogers – Watkins

SECOND XI (4-4-2)

Gauci
Nedeljkovic – Swinkels – Diego Carlos – Maatsen
Philogene – Barkley – Onana – Ramsey
Buendia – Duran

EXTRAS: Olsen, Zych, Bogarde
LONG-TERM INJURY: Hause, Kamara, Mings

Aston Villa’s squad does seem on the lean side for a Champions League participant (especially for one of the most tactically flexible coaches around), but loaning promising youngsters such Iling-Junior (Bologna), Dobbin (West Brom) and Moreno (Nottingham Forest) can only mean that Unai Emery feels comfortable with its size and that he can find answers to potential shortages if needed.

The full-back slots look particularly strong (especially at left-back with Digne and Maatsen). Instead of bringing in another centre-back, 31-year-old Diego Carlos was deemed sufficient as cover, while Barkley is the only experienced backup in central midfield. (Though Ramsey and McGinn can tuck into the middle too, if necessary.)

In the attacking department, Villa decided against bringing in a direct replacement for winger Moussa Diaby, who left for Saudi Arabia, which means responsibility rests on Bailey and Rogers for penetrative pace in the wider areas. Up front, Duran is looking increasingly impressive — and has two Premier League goals already this season — as an understudy to Watkins.

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BOURNEMOUTH

Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mark Travers, William Dennis
Right-back: Adam Smith, Max Aarons, Julián Araujo
Left-back: Milos Kerkez
Centre-back: Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, James Hill, Dean Huijsen
Defensive midfield: Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook, Tyler Adams, Philip Billing
Central midfield: Justin Kluivert, Alex Scott, David Brooks
Forward: Marcus Tavernier, Antoine Semenyo, Luis Sinisterra, Dango Ouattara
Striker: Evanilson, Enes Ünal

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Arrizabalaga
Araujo – Zabarnyi – Senesi – Kerkez
Christie – Cook
Tavernier – Kluivert – Semenyo
Evanilson

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Travers
Aarons – Hill – Huijsen – Smith
Adams – Billing
Ouattara – Scott – Sinisterra
Unal

EXTRAS: Dennis, Araujo, Brooks

Bournemouth came through the first weeks of the window in uneventful fashion, but the late transfer of Solanke to Spurs rocked the boat somewhat. With their top scorer gone, the club forked out €35m to sign Brazilian centre-forward Evanilson from FC Porto. And with Ünal — the club’s only other recognised No. 9 — suffering recurrent injury worries, Bournemouth will have to hope that Evanilson stays fit.

Elsewhere, coach Andoni Iraola has every reason to feel pleased with the state of his squad: Arrizabalaga (on loan from Chelsea) replacing Neto (loaned to Arsenal) in goal should work fine and the defensive line is unchanged from last season, with fine cover both centrally and at left-back.

With Adams nearing fitness, the centre of midfield is finely poised too. Given the uncertainty surrounding the central strikers, Iraola should be safe in the knowledge that he has a fine selection of attacking midfielders — particularly if Sinisterra stays clear of injury trouble.

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BRENTFORD

Goalkeeper: Mark Flekken Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson Matthew Cox
Right-back: Mads Roerslev, Aaron Hickey
Left-back: Rico Henry, Jayden Meghoma
Centre-back: Sepp van den Berg, Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer, Ben Mee, Nathan Collins, Kim Ji-Soo
Central midfield: Vitaly Janelt, Christian Nørgaard, Mathias Jensen, Josh Dasilva, Paris Maghoma
Forward: Bryan Mbeumo,, Kevin Schade, Mikkel Damsgaard, Fábio Carvalho, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Ryan Trevitt, Yunus Konak, Gustavo Nunes
Striker: Yoane Wissa, Igor Thiago, Keane Lewis-Potter, Iwan Morgan

FIRST XI (4-3-3)

Flekken
Roerslev – Collins – Pinnock – Henry
Janelt – Nørgaard – Jensen
Mbeumo – Wissa – Schade

SECOND XI (4-3-3)

Valdimarsson
Ajer – Van den Berg – Mee – Meghoma
Trevitt – Konak – Yarmolyuk
Damsgaard – Fabio Carvalho – Lewis-Potter

LONG-TERM INJURIES: Dasilva, Hickey, Thiago

EXTRAS: Cox, Kim, Morgan, Nunes

Amid a batch of injuries, coach Thomas Frank has made good use of his resourcefulness when assembling his starting XIs this season. While Henry should soon be back on the pitch, both full-back Hickey and striker Thiago, the €33m club-record signing, are not expected back for months.

With a string of versatile defenders and midfielders, Frank still manages to deploy well-balanced, competitive lineups. Even so, he may have wanted another fully fledged left-back in his squad and one or two more experienced midfielders to choose from.

The injury to Thiago, however, is a serious blow. With Ivan Toney moving to Saudi Arabia, a heavy load rests on Wissa — who, despite not being a classic No. 9, has done exceptionally well when leading the line. Still, Brentford’s wingers can be dangerous and once Carvalho is fully integrated he should add some extra creativity.

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BRIGHTON

Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen, Jason Steele, Killian Cahill
Right-back: Joël Veltman, Jack Hinshelwood, Tariq Lamptey
Left-back: Ferdi Kadioglu, Pervis Estupiñán, Imari Samuels
Centre-back: Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Igor Julio, Adam Webster
Defensive midfield: Carlos Baleba, Mats Wieffer, James Milner, Matt O’Riley
Central midfield: Jakub Moder, Yasin Ayari, Cameron Peupion
Forward: Solly March, Joao Pedro, Kaoru Mitoma, Julio Enciso, Simon Adingra, Yankuba Minteh, Brajan Gruda
Striker: Evan Ferguson, Danny Welbeck, Georginio Rutter

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Verbruggen
Veltman – Van Hecke – Dunk – Kadioglu
Baleba – Wieffer
March – Joao Pedro – Mitoma
Ferguson

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Steele
Hinshelwood – Webster – Igor – Estupinan
Milner – O´Riley
Adringa – Enciso – Gruda
Welbeck

EXTRAS: Cahill, Lamptey, Samuels, Moder, Ayari, Peupion, Minteh, Rutter

Having spent more than £200m during the summer, it’s no surprise that Brighton boast an abundant squad. Not just strong in numbers; in certain positions (full-backs, wingers, even the centre of midfield) there is almost excessive competition.

With some key names missing for the first three Premier League fixtures, young manager Fabian Hürzeler may not have encountered too many selection dilemmas but it’ll be intriguing to learn how the German can keep his talented squad happy once the injury list has diminished and fitness levels are up to expected standards.

Having said that, Brighton have an outstanding track record in the transfer market and you doubt their strategy at your own peril. Apart from a left-footed centre-back, the squad is nicely balanced: lots of speed and one-vs-one expertise in wide positions, plus a fine blend of technically gifted and hard-working footballers.

As much as they are renowned for predominantly signing up-and-coming additions, Brighton also understand the value of experience.

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CHELSEA

Goalkeeper: Robert Sánchez, Filip Jørgensen, Marcus Bettinelli, Lucas Bergstrom
Right-back: Malo Gusto, Reece James
Left-back: Marc Cucurella, Ben Chilwell
Centre-back: Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoît Badiashile, Josh Acheampong
Defensive midfield: Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Romeo Lavia, Renato Veiga
Central midfield: Cole Palmer, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei, Omari Kellyman
Forward: Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, João Félix, Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, Mykhailo Mudryk, Tyrique George
Striker: Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu, David Datro Fofana, Deivid Washington

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Sanchez
Gusto – Fofana – Colwill – Cucurella
Fernandez – Caicedo
Madueke – Palmer – Nkunku
Jackson

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Jörgensen
James – Disasi – Adarabioyo – Badiashile
Lavia – Dewsbury-Hall
Sancho – Chukwuemeka – Pedro Neto
Joao Felix

EXTRAS: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Chilwell, Acheampong, Veiga, Casadei, Mudryk, George, Kellyman, Guiu, Datro Fofana, Guiu, Washington

Chelsea’s squad-building has been a constant talking point since the club came into BlueCo’s hands and their hunger for new talent seems to have no limits. As one would expect from a club that recruits at such a high volume, the squad is packed with exciting, young footballers. Yet, there are many questions left unanswered.

How do they deal with the right-back slot when James regains fitness? How can hugely promising players such as Chukwuemeka and Casadei carry on their development with little hope of playing time? Or how can the wealth of attacking midfielders — some of which are of a similar standard — not compromise Enzo Maresca’s quest to find his best XI? And how long can centre-backs with international aspirations — Disasi and Badiashile — be content languishing on the bench? And, last but not least, how did Chelsea end up signing dozens of players without bringing in a quality out-and-out centre-forward?

Besides, one key ingredient is missing: experience.

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CRYSTAL PALACE

Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson, Matt Turner, Remi Matthews
Right-back: Daniel Muñoz, Joel Ward
Left-back: Tyrick Mitchell, Jeff Schlupp
Centre-back: Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guéhi, Trevoh Chalobah, Nathaniel Clyne, Chadi Riad, Rob Holding
Central midfield: Adam Wharton, Jefferson Lerma, Cheick Doucouré, Will Hughes, Justin Devenny, Kaden Rodney
Attacking midfield: Eberechi Eze Daichi Kamada, Matheus França, Ismaïla Sarr
Striker: Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eddie Nketiah, Franco Umeh-Chibueze, Asher Agbinone

FIRST XI (3-4-2-1)

Henderson
Richards – Lacroix – Guéhi
Munoz – Wharton – Lerma – Mitchell
Eze – Kamada
Mateta

SECOND XI (3-4-2-1)

Matthews
Clyne – Chalobah – Riad
Ward – Doucouré – Hughes – Schlupp
Matheus Franca – Sarr
Nketiah

EXTRAS: Matthews, Devenny, Rodney, Umeh-Chibueze, Agbinone

LONG-TERM INJURY: Holding

Despite losing two undisputed regulars — Olise and Andersen — and letting long-serving forwards Edouard and Ayew depart, the South London club managed to land on their feet at the closure of the transfer window. Three new centre-backs (plus, keeping hold of Guéhi amid interest from Newcastle) ensure ample options in the rearguard, and the centre of midfield also comes across as reasonably solid.

The go-to names in wide areas might be seen as safe rather than spectacular and while no one expected Olise to be replaced by a player of the same standard, keeping Eze is a huge bonus. Up front, manager Oliver Glasner got an outstanding 13 goals in 13 games from Mateta after his appointment in February and, even if the Frenchman proves incapable of delivering to the same standards this campaign, Nketiah is an exciting Plan B.

Palace might be slightly weaker when measured against last season, but there’s still enough quality in the side to guide the club to a mid-table finish.

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EVERTON

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford, Asmir Begovic, João Virgínia
Right-back: Roman Quintyne, Nathan Patterson, Seamus Coleman
Left-back: Vitaliy Mykolenko, Ashley Young
Centre-back: Jarrad Branthwaite, Michael Keane, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien
Defensive midfield: James Garner, Idrissa Gueye, Tim Iroegbunam, Orel Mangala
Central midfield: Abdoulaye Doucouré, Jesper Lindstrom, Harrison Armstrong
Forward: Jack Harrison, Dwight McNeil, Iliman Ndiaye, Youssef Chermiti
Striker: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja, Beto

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Pickford
Coleman – Tarkowski – Branthwaite – Mykolenko
Garner – Gueye
Harrison – Doucouré – McNeil
Calvert-Lewin

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Begovic
Patterson – Keane – O´Brien – Young
Mangala – Iroegbunam
Chermiti – Lindstrøm – Ndiaye
Broja

EXTRAS: Virgínia, Quintyne, Armstrong, Ndiaye, Chermiti, Beto

As Everton enter another season with off-pitch issues looming like a cloud, another relegation battle is very much on the cards; with no points from the first three games, their prospects look pretty bleak. Conceding 10 goals in the process is unfamiliar for a Sean Dyche side and the club’s defensive woes need to be rectified quickly as it’s hard to see this squad scoring their way to safety.

Losing defensive midfielder Amadou Onana to Aston Villa was undoubtedly a huge blow — his ability to protect the centre-backs may partly explain their poor defensive record this season — but having defender Branthwaite back from injury should help. The experienced Dyche has picked three different right-backs so far (including the 39-year-old Young on both sides), which makes it hard to see what his plan is, so he might have to tinker for some time to find the right balance going forward.

None of the summer signings offer any significant attacking guarantees and in the absence of a high-scoring centre-forward, Lindstrøm or Doucouré should offer some goal threat from midfield. Unlike most other Premier League sides, Everton look particularly lean in the wide attacking areas, while they have plenty of centre-forwards.

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FULHAM

Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno, Steven Benda, Alex Borto
Right-back: Kenny Tete, Timothy Castagne
Left-back: Antonee Robinson, Ryan Sessegnon
Centre-back: Issa Diop, Joachim Andersen Jorge Cuenca Calvin Bassey, Luc de Fougerolles
Defensive midfield: Sander Berge, Andreas Pereira, Sasa Lukic, Harrison Reed
Attacking midfield: Emile Smith Rowe, Tom Cairney, Josh King
Forward: Adama Traoré, Alex Iwobi, Reiss Nelson, Harry Wilson, Martial Godo
Striker: Raúl Jiménez, Rodrigo Muniz, Carlos Vinícius

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Leno
Tete – Diop – Andersen – Robinson
Berge – Pereira
Traore – Smith Rowe – Iwobi
Muniz

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Benda
Castagne – Cuenca – Bassey – Sessegnon
Lukic – Reed
Wilson – Cairney – Nelson
Jimenez

EXTRAS: Borto, De Fougerolles, Wilson, Josh King, Godo, Vinicius

In their usual fashion, Fulham had resort to some clever moves over the summer — their net spend amounted to a modest £20m — to mitigate the loss of a couple of influential players. The American-owned club generally divert from the trend of signing emerging talents, opting instead for tried-and-tested players in their mid-20s. Perhaps it’s not the most exciting transfer strategy, but it should keep the ship floating safe in Premier League waters.

Despite Tosin Adarabioyo’s exit, Fulham still have four centre-backs of pretty similar quality. In midfield, however, Berge has been brought in to plug the gap left by Joao Palhinha’s move to Bayern — while Norway international Berge might not be as dominating a presence, he offers options in midfield and enables coach Marco Silva to play with one holding midfielder whenever he switches to a 4-3-3 formation.

Arsenal duo Smith Rowe (signed for £27m) and Nelson (loan) also bring proven ability to support and supply the club’s two competing centre-forwards: Muniz and Jimenez.

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IPSWICH

Goalkeeper: Aro Muric, Christian Walton, Cieran Slicker
Right-back: Ben Johnson, Axel Tuanzebe, Janoi Donacien
Left-back: Leif Davis, Conor Townsend
Centre-back: Luke Woolfenden,Jacob Greaves, Cameron Burgess, Dara O’Shea, Harrison Clarke
Defensive midfield: Sam Morsy, Kalvin Phillips, Massimo Luongo, Jens Cajuste
Central midfield: Sammie Szmodics, Conor Chaplin, Jack Taylor
Forward: Omari Hutchinson, Chiedozie Ogbene, Jack Clarke, Nathan Broadhead, Wes Burns
Striker: Liam Delap, Ali Ibrahim Al-Hamadi, George Hirst

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Muric
Johnson – Woolfenden – Greaves – Davis
Morsy – Phillips
Ogbene – Szmodics – Hutchinson
Delap

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Walton
Tuanzebe – O’Shea – Burgess – Townsend
Cajuste – Luongo
Broadhead – Chaplin – J. Clarke
Al-Hamadi

EXTRAS: Slicker, H. Clarke, Taylor, Burns, Hirst

The Premier League newcomers were the third-biggest net spenders (£120m) in European football over the summer. Whether that was a calculated gamble or outright folly will transpire soon enough, but it’s evident that Ipswich are determined to avoid the same trap that caught out relegated Luton Town last season.

While the squad has unquestionably been strengthened, the heavy transfer outlay also presents manager Kieran McKenna with some challenges. New signings Greaves and Szmodics have already settled into the side, but accommodating other new faces such as O’Shea and Jack Clarke at the expense of players that served the club so well last season (let alone gaining promotion from League One the season prior) requires a fine balancing act. Especially without losing the squad’s outstanding team spirit.

Yet tough decisions are inevitable when restructuring a squad that has achieved two promotions on the bounce — it’s only natural that some will drop off as the level sharpens. With some limitations in the centre of midfield, it will be interesting to see whether the squad are good enough to survive in the Premier League.

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LEICESTER CITY

Goalkeeper: Mads Hermansen, Daniel Iversen, Danny Ward, Jakub Stolarczyk
Right-back: James Justin, Ricardo Pereira
Left-back:Victor Kristiansen, Luke Thomas
Centre-back:Caleb Okoli, Wout Faes, Conor Coady, Jannik Vestergaard
Defensive midfield: Wilfred Ndidi, Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp, Boubakary Soumaré, Hamza Choudhury
Attacking midfield: Bilal El Khannouss, Facundo Buonanotte, Michael Golding, Will Alves
Forward: Fatawu Issahaku, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Stephy Mavididi, Kasey McAteer
Striker: Jamie Vardy, Odsonne Édouard, Patson Daka, Jordan Ayew

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Hermansen
Justin – Okoli – Faes – Kristiansen
Winks – Ndidi
Fatawu – El Khannouss – DeCordova-Reid
Vardy

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Iversen
Pereira – Coady – Vestergaard – Thomas
Soumaré – Skipp
McAteer – Buonanotte – Mavididi
Edouard

EXTRAS: Ward, Stolarczyk, Choudhury, Golding, Alves, Ayew

Leicester didn’t suffer too many vital departures. Sure, manager Steve Cooper would’ve liked to keep Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who had a tremendous season in midfield but followed Enzo Maresca to Chelsea, but if El Khannouss lives up to his potential then creativity and flair in midfield shouldn’t be in short supply.

Having bounced back to the Premier League at the first attempt, Leicester boast a fair amount of experience from the highest level and look like they are well-equipped to gather enough points to stay up — especially now they have escaped a points deduction for PSR breaches.

One aspect to monitor is how Cooper decides to handle the centre-forward spot: can 37-year-old talisman and club captain Vardy carry on producing, or will the time come for one of the two summer signings from Crystal Palace — Edouard or Ayew — to spearhead the attack?

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LIVERPOOL

Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker, Caoimhín Kelleher, Vitezslav Jaros
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Bradley
Left-back: Andrew Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas
Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah
Defensive midfield: Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones
Attacking midfield: Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott
Forward: Luis Díaz, Mohamed Salah, Federico Chiesa, Cody Gakpo
Striker: Diogo Jota, Darwin Núñez

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Alisson
Alexander-Arnold – Konaté – Van Dijk – Robertson
Mac Allister – Gravenberch
Salah – Szoboszlai – Diaz
Jota

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Kelleher
Bradley – Gomez – Quansah – Tsimikas
Endo – Jones
Chiesa – Elliott – Gakpo
Nunez

EXTRAS: Jaros, Morton

Liverpool resisted the temptation to make the wholesale changes that often come with a new manager. Instead they had a mini clear-out, parting company with the likes of Fábio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg, while loaning out highly rated talents such as Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak. The arrival of a No. 6 was widely anticipated — with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi turning down a move — but Gravenberch has looked magnificent in a deeper role thus far. Liverpool also turned down loan offers for Morton and the 21-year-old may eventually see playing time in that position as the season progresses.

Arne Slot can be reasonably satisfied with the depth of his squad. Bradley provides excellent cover at right-back, Quansah has proved reliable when called upon as a deputy to Konate or Van Dijk, while Jones and Elliott are quality options in the centre of midfield.

High-profile internationals Chiesa and Gakpo will also push for starting slots in attack if they can stay fit, whereas Núñez should rival Jota for the No. 9 position as the fixtures start to pile up.

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MANCHESTER CITY

Goalkeeper: Éderson, Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson
Right-back: Kyle Walker, Rico Lewis
Left-back: Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Aké
Centre-back: Rúben Dias, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Josh Wilson-Esbrand
Defensive midfield: Rodri, Mateo Kovacic
Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan, Bernardo Silva, Matheus Nunes, Nico O’Reilly James McAtee
Forward: Phil Foden, Jérémy Doku, Sávio, Jack Grealish
Striker: Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb

FIRST XI (4-1-4-1)

Ederson
Walker – Akanji – Dias – Gvardiol
Rodri
Foden – De Bruyne – Silva – Doku
Haaland

SECOND XI (4-1-4-1)

Ortega
Lewis – Stones – Aké – Gvardiol
Kovacic
Savio – Gündogan – Nunes – Grealish
Bobb

EXTRAS: Carson, Wilson-Esbrand, McAtee, O’Reilly

True to form, manager Pep Guardiola has kept his squad relatively slim. Rather than boosting numbers with positionally one-dimensional players, he chooses to mitigate injuries or suspensions by tweaking his formation (City have started the season with a back three of a kind) or trusting his players’ capabilities to appear in different roles.

With Sergio Gomez gone to Real Sociedad, there’s one less option at left-back, but the left-footed Aké has proved perfectly capable of shifting wide whenever needed. In the middle of midfield, the champions have even appeared less reliant on Rodri, with Kovacic and Lewis starting the season well in No. 6/ No. 8 hybrid roles.

And while the attack offers credible options, Guardiola will have to come up with another stroke of ingenuity if Haaland suffers injury or suspension. Without an out-and-out backup for the Norway international, fielding Bobb — once he recovers from his broken leg — as a “False No. 9 seems the most likely move.

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MANCHESTER UNITED

Goalkeeper: André Onana, Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton
Right-back: Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui
Left-back: Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Harry Amass
Centre-back: Lisandro Martínez, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelöf
Defensive midfield: Manuel Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Toby Collyer
Central midfield: Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Daniel Gore
Forward: Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Amad Diallo
Striker: Rasmus Højlund, Joshua Zirkzee, Ethan Wheatley

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Onana
Dalot – De Ligt – Martinez – Shaw
Mainoo – Ugarte
Garnacho – Fernandes – Rashford
Højlund

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Bayindir
Mazraoui – Maguire – Yoro – Lindelöf
Casemiro – Eriksen
Antony – Mount – Diallo
Zirkzee

LONG-TERM INJURY: Malacia

EXTRAS: Heaton, Amass, Evans, Collyer, Gore, Wheatley

Despite undertaking a £200m squad revamp in the summer, Erik ten Hag still faces some dilemmas in finding his best XI. Though the arrival of fresh legs at centre-back was desperately needed, it’s puzzling why the club opted to keep Maguire and, with De Ligt and Martinez appearing as the preferred partnership, 18-year-old Yoro might find it hard to get the games his development requires when he returns from injury.

In midfield, though Ugarte will no doubt bring energy and tenacity — and should easily represent an upgrade to Casemiro — the lack of a defined playmaking “pivot” persists. In attack, Ten Hag has an intriguing array of talent and Zirkzee offers a different skill set to Højlund, but the main challenge for the coach is to make them function as a cohesive unit.

With the exception of Yoro, United’s shadow team is once again made up of senior internationals. On paper at least, the squad looks impressive. But, as in previous years, there aren’t many signs that the team will work seamlessly together on the pitch.

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NEWCASTLE UNITED

Goalkeeper: Nick Pope, Martin Dúbravka, Odisseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy, Mark Gillespie
Right-back: Valentino Livramento, Kieran Trippier,
Left-back: Lloyd Kelly, Lewis Hall, Matt Targett, Jamal Lewis, Alex Murphy
Centre-back: Dan Burn, Fabian Schär, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman
Central midfield: Joelinton, Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimarães, Joe Willock, Lewis Miley, Isaac Hayden, Sandro Tonali
Forward: Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Miguel Almirón, William Osula, Garang Kuol
Striker: Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson

FIRST XI (4-3-3)Pope

Livramento – Schär – Burn – Kelly
Longstaff – Bruno Guimaraes – Joelinton
Gordon – Isak – Barnes

SECOND XI (4-3-3)

Dubravka
Trippier – Krafth – Targett – Hall
Miley – Tonali – Willock
J. Murphy – Wilson – Almiron

LONG-TERM INJURIES: Botman, Lascelles

EXTRAS: Vlachodimos, Ruddy, Lewis, Gillespie, A. Murphy, Hayden, Osula, Kuol

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe may reign over one of the most abundant squads in the Premier League, but the numbers really come in useful. Few managers have had to deal with so much forced change as Howe, and this season he’s had to start the campaign with a makeshift defence.

Despite all the chopping and changing, Newcastle have performed well and though Howe could probably have offloaded a few of his squad players to raise cash for a couple of high-profile signings (like Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi), his pragmatic approach has paid off and the second string are pulling their weight.

The club’s cautious strategy has a flipside, though: with a fully fit squad Newcastle certainly have the depth for a finish in the top five or six, but to close the gap on the top three they will need some better players. The most pressing questions this season are whether Tonali can work his way back into the first XI after his length betting ban, and if another high-scoring striker would have taken the pressure off Isak and the injury-prone Wilson.

Also, why do they have FIVE goalkeepers?

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Goalkeeper: Matz Sels, Carlos Miguel
Right-back: Neco Williams, Andrew Omobamidele, Eric Da Silva Moreira
Left-back: Ola Aina, Álex Moreno, Harry Toffolo
Centre-back: Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, Willy Boly, Zach Abbott
Defensive midfield: James Ward-Prowse, Ibrahim Sangaré, Elliot Anderson, Ryan Yates, Danilo
Attacking midfield: Morgan Gibbs-White Nicolás Domínguez, Ben Perry
Forward: Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Elanga, Ramón Sosa, Emmanuel Dennis, Jota Silva
Striker: Chris Wood, Taiwo Awoniyi, Hwang Ui-Jo

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Sels
Williams – Milenkovic – Murillo – Aina
Ward-Prowse – Sangaré
Elanga – Gibbs-White – Hudson-Odoi
Wood

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Carlos Miguel
Omobamidele – Boly – Morato – Alex Moreno
Anderson – Yates
Dennis – Dominguez – Sosa
Awoniyi

LONG-TERM INJURY: Danilo

EXTRAS: Abbott, Da Silva Moreira, Toffolo, Jota, Hwang

Forest have escaped relegation for the past two years and they may have done enough to survive this season too. One of the most active in the transfer market since their return to the Premier League, the Greek-owned club moved quickly to sign Ward-Prowse from West Ham when influential midfielder Danilo broke his ankle on the opening day of the season.

Defensively, Forest may only have two goalkeepers in the squad but they boast a second XI that isn’t too far behind the first XI in terms of quality. The same goes for midfield: 21-year-old Anderson has already demonstrated that he can hold his own at the highest level and Yates is a dependable resource too.

The outlook for the attack is also healthy: there’s pace and one-vs.-one ability out wide, with aerial strength up front (Wood) and penetrative speed (Awoniyi) too. Paraguay international Sosa may also turn out to be a surprise package on the wing.

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SOUTHAMPTON

Goalkeeper: Aaron Ramsdale, Gavin Bazunu, Alex McCarthy, Joe Lumley
Centre-back: Jack Stephens, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek, Ronnie Edwards, Nathan Wood, Charlie Taylor, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Jayden Moore
Right wing-back: Yukinari Sugawara, James Bree
Left wing-back: Kyle Walker-Peters, Maxwel Cornet, Ryan Manning, Juan Larios
Central midfield: Flynn Downes, Joe Aribo, William Smallbone, Adam Lallana, Mateus Fernandes, Lesley Ugochukwu, Tyler Dibling, Romeo Akachukwu, Joseph O’Brien-Whitmarsh
Forward: Ryan Fraser, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ross Stewart, Jay Robinson, Samuel Amo-Ameyaw
Striker: Ben Brereton Díaz, Adam Armstrong, Cameron Archer, Paul Onuachu,

FIRST XI (3-5-2)

Ramsdale
Stephens – Bednarek – Harwood-Bellis
Sugawara – Aribo – Smallbone – Downes – Walker-Peters
Brereton-Diaz – Armstrong

SECOND XI (3-5-2)

McCarthy
Edwards – Wood – Taylor
Bree – Lallana – Ugochukwu – Mateus Fernandes – Cornet
Archer – Amo-Ameyaw

LONG-TERM INJURIES: Bazunu, Stewart

EXTRAS: Lumley, Manning, Moore, Larios, Bella-Kotchap, Dibling, Akachukwu, O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Fraser, Stewart, Robinson, Onuachu

While Southampton started the season by keeping faith with the core of the team that won them promotion, they have a huge squad and it’s likely that more of the summer signings will be on show after the international break given their disappointing start to the season.

From the new faces, Ramsdale is clearly a strong addition, though how the competition for the No. 1 spot will play out when the promising Bazunu is back from injury is a question for another day. One could argue that manager Russell Martin could have signed another defender — in particular a left-footed one — but the midfield does look of a higher standard and at least three out of the five from the second XI should be hopeful of seeing some regular action.

Another question is whether forward Sulemana will be reintegrated into the squad after his loan move to Ajax collapsed.

Also, scoring enough goals to stay up might be tricky as none of the forwards have much of a goal-scoring reputation at the highest level. So you can expect plenty of rotation and possibly a January signing up front.

Bella-Kotchap and Onuachu are expected to move to Turkey before its transfer deadline closes on Friday.

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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario, Fraser Forster, Brandon Austin, Alfie Whiteman
Right-back: Pedro Porro, Djed Spence
Left-back: Destiny Udogie, Sergio Reguilón
Centre-back: Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies
Central midfield: Yves Bissouma. James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall
Forward: Son Heung-Min, Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert
Striker: Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, Timo Werner

FIRST XI (4-3-3)

Vicario
Porro – Romero – Van de Ven – Udogie
Sarr – Bissouma – Maddison
Kulusevski – Solanke – Son

SECOND XI (4-3-3)

Forster
Spence – Davies – Dragusin – Reguilon
Gray – Bentancour – Bergvall
Johnson – Richarlison – Odobert

EXTRAS: Austin, Whiteman, Moore, Werner

As a result of a significant summer clear-out, Spurs boast a younger squad with plenty of exciting names jostling for playing time (including academy graduates such as Mikey Moore.) Defensively, the starting XI is expected to look pretty much like last season — with an excess of left-footed players — and the same can be said for the three expected to start in the centre of midfield.

The attack has undergone a bit of a revolution, however. So much so that it may take manager Ange Postecoglu some time to work out his best composition. With £55m new arrival Solanke on the pitch there’s at least a main focal point in attack, without the need for Kulusevski to deputise or Son to move centrally. But as we’ve seen from the first three games of the season, it’s unclear which of Kulusevski, Odobert, Johnson or Richarlison will accompany the two surefire starters (Son and Solanke when fit again) on the teamsheet.

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WEST HAM UNITED

Goalkeeper: Alphonse Areola, Lukasz Fabianski, Wes Foderingham
Right-back: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Vladimír Coufal
Left-back: Emerson, Aaron Cresswell
Centre-back: Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Kaelan Casey
Defensive midfield: Guido Rodríguez, Tomás Soucek, Edson Álvarez, Carlos Soler
Attacking midfield: Lucas Paquetá, Danny Ings, Andrew Irving
Forward: Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Guilherme
Striker: Michail Antonio, Niclas Füllkrug

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

Areola
Wan-Bissaka – Todibo – Kilman – Emerson
Soucek – Rodriguez
Bowen – Lucas Paqueta – Kudus
Antonio

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Fabianski
Coufal – Mavropanos – Casey – Cresswell
Alvarez – Solér
Summerville – Ings – Luis Guilherme
Fullkrüg

EXTRAS: Fotheringham, Irving

West Ham can look back on a hectic summer but, apart from Kurt Zouma, the majority of departures were fringe players who were replaced. Even so, a few snags persist. At centre-back only Mavropanos provides good backup to the starting duo and though Álvarez and Soucek can deputise, they might be needed in their preferred midfield positions as there isn’t a wealth to choose from there either.

Further up the pitch it does look slightly more reassuring. Fullkrüg was brought in as a traditional No. 9 and he should take some pressure off Antonio up front and pose a different threat. While Guilherme is ostensibly looked at as a future prospect, he’s an exceptional talent who could shine, and Summerville gives another great option to Bowen and Kudus.

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WOLVES

Goalkeeper: José Sá, Sam Johnstone, Tom King, Daniel Bentley
Right-back: Nélson Semedo, Matt Doherty, Pedro Lima
Left-back: Rayan Aït-Nouri
Centre-back: Toti Gomes, Yerson Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, Craig Dawson, Bastien Meupiyou
Defensive midfield: João Gomes, Mario Lemina, Boubacar Traoré, André, Luke Rawlings
Attacking midfield: Matheus Cunha, Tommy Doyle, Luke Cundle
Forward: Hwang Hee-Chan, Jean-Ricner Bellegard. Rodrigo Gomes, Goncalo Guedes, Carlos Forbs, Enso González
Striker: Jørgen Strand Larsen, Pablo Sarabia, Sasa Kalajdzic

FIRST XI (4-2-3-1)

José Sá
Semedo – Mosquera – Toti – Äit-Nouri
Joao Gomes – Lemina
Hwang – Matheus Cunha – Bellegarde
Strand Larsen

SECOND XI (4-2-3-1)

Johnstone
Lima – Dawson – Bueno – Doherty
André – Traoré
Rodrigo Gomes – Doyle – Guedes
Sarabia

LONG-TERM INJURY: Kalajdzic

EXTRAS: King, Bentley, Meupiyou, Rawlings, Cundle, Forbs, González