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The Premier League is stockpiling footballing talent more than ever before.

Our biggest clubs are incessant in their quest to find the brightest young things, scouring the domestic game and, increasingly, extending their tentacles around the globe.

Now, even modest top-flight sides can compete with Europe's elite: see Stoke City's capture of Xherdan Shaqiri this week for evidence.

With greater financial clout has come strength in depth, with many sides now able to field two full teams of internationals should they so desire.

But which of the big guns has the strongest reserves? For the sides that finished in the top half last season, we have taken away their strongest XI (in our judgement – other opinions are available) to see who has the strongest second string. We've disregarded players out on loan.

The results – and our tentative ratings, relative to the standard of the first XI – are below. You can have your say in the poll at the bottom.

Chelsea

First XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Costa

Second XI:

Let's be generous and start with the positives, shall we? The midfield pairing would offer plenty of cover and experience, while Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao might prove a handy combination (if it was 2012).

Honestly, though, the rest of the champions' second XI is fairly tin-pot. It underlines just how few players Jose Mourinho uses on a regular basis – and, perhaps, just how fortunate the Blues have been in terms of injuries over the last year or so.

Rating: 4/10

Manchester City

First XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Delph, Toure, Silva, Sterling, Aguero

Second XI:

The archetypal team of two halves. There is a wealth of experience and quality in the shape of Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna, Martin Demichelis, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas and Wilfried Bony.

But the gaps are filled by players will very little first-team experience at the highest level: Patrick Roberts is a huge talent but has just joined, while Jason Denayer and Jose Angel Pozo are only beginning to make an impact.

Rating: 6/10

Arsenal

First XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Sanchez, Ozil, Giroud

Second XI:

This is a good side, even if it has a strong whiff of League Cup rotation about it. Danny Welbeck is the spearhead in an all-English frontline, with plenty of craft and experience in the midfield three. Most of the defence could probably make a case for being first-choice picks at the Emirates, too.

The only issue may be a lack of grit and leadership. But then this is Arsenal...

Rating: 8/10

Manchester United

First XI: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Jones, Shaw, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Mata, Depay, Young, Rooney

Second XI:

Bit of a mixed bag, this. There are clearly areas of huge strength, not least in a midfield three that boasts plenty of variety and experience. Antonio Valencia and Daley Blind are solid enough at full-back, even if neither is a natural in the role, while Sergio Romero impressed on debut against Spurs at the weekend.

The attack is more suspect. Javier Hernandez is trying to revive his career after a disappointing couple of years, while James Wilson is still waiting for a run of games in the first team. Then there is the enigma that is Adnan Januzaj. Those three could combine brilliantly... or they could leave United a little toothless if things don't click.

Rating: 6/10

Tottenham

First XI: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Bentaleb, Mason, Dembele, Eriksen, Chadli, Kane

Second XI:

Plenty of potential for excitement here, what with Andros Townsend's penchant for long shots and the maverick stylings of Erik Lamela. Dele Alli and Kieran Trippier also have huge potential, but the side is let down by a lack of experience, plus a certain goal-shy Spaniard in attack.

Rating: 4/10

Liverpool

First XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Gomez, Can, Henderson, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana, Benteke

Second XI:

Brendan Rodgers has been busy in the transfer market over the last couple of seasons, and it certainly shows in the depth of Liverpool's squad. This second-string side has enormous firepower, with Daniel Sturridge supported by Danny Ings, Divock Origi and new recruit Roberto Firmino. At the other end, the defence looks a touch error-prone but would get ample cover from Lucas and Joe Allen.

Tellingly, Mario Balotelli, Jose Enrique, Fabio Borini and Lazar Markovic fail to even make this XI.

Rating: 7/10

Southampton

(Image: Reuters / Andrew Yates)

First XI: Forster, Cedric, Yoshida, Fonte, Bertrand, Wanyama, Clasie, Mane, Tadic, Rodriguez, Pelle

Second XI: Stekelenburg, Martina, Caulker, Gardos, Targett, Romeu, Davis, Reed, Ward-Prowse, Long, Juanmi

Rating: 5/10

Swansea

First XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Shelvey, Ki, Sigurdsson, Ayew, Montero, Gomis

Second XI: Tremmel, Rangel, Bartley, Amat, Tabanou, Cork, Britton, Emnes, Routledge, Dyer, Eder

Rating: 5/10

Stoke

(Image: Action)

First XI: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters, Adam, Van Ginkel, Shaqiri, Bojan, Arnautovic, Diouf

Second XI: Given, Bardsley, Cameron, Wollscheid, Wilson, Whelan, Sidwell, Walters, Ireland, Afellay, Crouch

Rating: 6/10

Crystal Palace

(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

First XI: Speroni, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, McArthur, Cabaye, Mutch, Puncheon, Bolasie, Murray

Second: McCarthy, Kelly, Mariappa, Hangeland, Ledley, Guedioura, Jedinak, Zaha, Sako, Bamford, Wickham

Rating: 6/10

poll loading Which Premier League side has the best second XI? 4000+ VOTES SO FAR Chelsea Man City Arsenal Man United Spurs Liverpool Southampton Swansea Stoke Crystal Palace

And now to Europe...

Barcelona

First XI: Ter Stegen, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Messi, Suarez, Neymar

Second XI:

Rating: 6/10

Real Madrid

First XI: Navas, Danilo, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Modric, Kroos, Bale, Rodriguez, Ronaldo, Benzema

Second XI:

Rating: 5/10

Bayern Munich

First XI: Neuer, Lahm, Benatia, Boateng, Alaba, Alonso, Thiago, Vidal, Muller, Robben, Lewandowski

Second XI:

Rating: 8/10