Chelsea



Chelsea’s strongest starting XI. Photograph: Guardian

Chelsea are likely to stick with last season’s formula after a surprisingly quiet summer in the transfer market. Although they are closing in on the Augsburg left-back Baba Rahman and retain an interest in Everton’s John Stones, their only major signings have been Asmir Begovic as the new understudy to Thibaut Courtois and Radamel Falcao on loan.

There is no pressing need to change the strongest defence in the league. John Terry is the leader and he will be partnered by Gary Cahill, although there will be opportunities for Kurt Zouma. Branislav Ivanovic will continue on the right, César Azpilicueta on the left.

Against lesser teams Cesc Fàbregas will play alongside Nemanja Matic in midfield, and Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian will scheme behind the striker. Yet José Mourinho can be cautious against rivals and may start Mikel John Obi or Ramires instead of Willian or Oscar in the big matches. Ramires can play on the right or in the middle.

The main question surrounds Diego Costa’s fitness. If the striker’s hamstring problems clear up, then Chelsea should win the league. Yet they will not want to have to rely on Falcao or Loïc Rémy too much. JS

Manchester City



Manchester City’s strongest starting XI. Photograph: Guardian

Raheem Sterling is the big new arrival at the Etihad and it looks as though Manuel Pellegrini intends to play his £49m signing from Liverpool on the left of a front three, taking Jesús Navas’s place alongside Sergio Agüero (when back to full fitness) and David Silva. The only thing that may complicate that situation would be if Kevin De Bruyne were to join the party before the end of the month, which would put a strain on City’s preferred 4-3-3 formation, not to mention Pellegrini’s preference for a couple of defensive-minded midfielders.

Even without De Bruyne, City should have an enviable range of attacking options, with Yaya Touré operating just behind the frontline, yet Sterling’s purchase will not only impact on wide players such as Navas and Samir Nasri. Opportunities for strikers are also going to be more limited, with Edin Dzeko (in the unlikely event he stays) and Wilfried Bony effectively reduced to substitute appearances or injury cover for Agüero.

Central defence still remains a problem. With Martín Demichelis not getting any younger, Vincent Kompany erratic last season and Eliaquim Mangala not making the expected progress, it was a surprise City were not first in the queue for John Stones’ services, instead of belatedly acknowledging interest almost as an afterthought. City do not seem as decisive as of old, perhaps because this is widely expected to be Pellegrini’s last season. PW

Arsenal



Arsenal’s strongest starting XI. Photograph: Guardian

The Petr Cech effect is already being felt. Whether Chelsea will live to regret the decision to sell the A-list goalkeeper to their cross-city rivals promises to be a subplot to their season but Arsenal are convinced they have a fortifying upgrade. They have already seen off the Blues in the Community Shield and hope that Cech can steady the jitters that have sometimes afflicted them.

The lineup is otherwise the same as last season’s and Arsène Wenger’s greatest wish is simply to have better luck with injuries, so that he will be able to field his best team more often and have them generate momentum, as they did over the second half of last season.

The biggest teaser, at present, concerns the identity of the striker, with Theo Walcott in possession of the shirt, largely on the strength of his fine performance in the FA Cup final last season. But Wenger has said he remains open to opportunities on the market, and the club continues to monitor the Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. Even without him, Arsenal have a lineup that bristles with power. DH

Manchester United



Manchester United’s strongest starting XI. Photograph: Guardian

Rio Ferdinand doubts whether Louis van Gaal knows what his best defence is, so it would not be all that surprising if no one else has much of a clue either. Matteo Darmian appears likely to be the first-choice right-back, despite Van Gaal initially saying the Italian would start behind Antonio Valencia in the pecking order, and if this is to be the season of Luke Shaw – as the manager has promised – that is left-back taken care of, too. Van Gaal is currently persisting with combinations of Daley Blind and Phil Jones or Chris Smalling for the centre-back positions – yes, even after all that money spent further up the pitch – though it is hard to believe Marcos Rojo will not get a look-in once he is back after his summer with Argentina.

Talk of United playing 3-5-2 at this stage of last season seems to have been abandoned in favour of a more workaday 4-3-3, though given Van Gaal wants Wayne Rooney as an out-and-out striker and he keeps talking up Memphis Depay as a No10, the 4-2-3-1 he has been fielding in pre-season seems more likely. Depay could play forward left in a 4-3-3 but if he plays in the central position behind Rooney that would leave Juan Mata out on the wing or out of the team. For wide players in a 4-2-3-1 United have options in Ashley Young, Valencia, Adnan Januzaj and even Ander Herrera or Marouane Fellaini, though there is still the possibility of Pedro joining from Barcelona as a replacement for Ángel Di María.

Should that happen it would leave a raft of midfielders surplus to requirements but United do not seem too worried about waste. Mata seems a more natural fit for the central role in a forward three with Depay cutting in from the left but Van Gaal seems to want his new signing behind Rooney. Herrera too appears likely to be squeezed out of midfield by the arrivals of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, and the question many United fans are asking is whether the same fate will befall Michael Carrick, still one of their best players. The best guess is that Carrick will be preferred at the start of the season, with Schneiderlin possibly making way. Neither Carrick nor Schweinsteiger has the sort of injury record that promises selection every week, so Van Gaal may be able to get away with rotating them once the season gets under way.

David de Gea is still at the club at time of writing, and Sergio Romero does not appear the ultimate replacement, so the former is still available for selection here despite the apparent certainty of him leaving. PW

Tottenham Hotspur



Tottenham Hotspur’s strongest starting XI. Photograph: Guardian

The most eye-catching change from last season will be the presence of the £11.4m signing from Atlético Madrid, Toby Alderweireld, in central defence. He will partner Jan Vertonghen in a kind of coming together of their roles in the Belgium team. At international level, Alderweireld is the right-back; Vertonghen the left-back.

Mauricio Pochettino has added the right-back Kieran Trippier from Burnley and although the 24-year-old is not expected to dislodge the first-choice Kyle Walker at the beginning of the season, he will certainly provide competition. Trippier was impressive for Burnley last season and Walker’s fitness record is chequered, to say the least.

Kevin Wimmer, the big centre-half, has been signed from FC Köln to further swell Pochettino’s defensive options and the manager hopes the unit will prove to be more secure than the one that shipped 53 goals in the Premier League last season. It will be imperative to retain the outstanding goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who has made it known he would be open to a move to a Champions League club.

The line of three behind the talisman Harry Kane looks set to feature Mousa Dembélé, in the short-term at least. Dembélé is up against the erratic Erik Lamela but Tottenham are looking to sign a new wide attacker, plus cover for Kane. DH

Liverpool



Liverpool’s strongest starting XI. Photograph: Guardian

The chance to exorcise last season’s demons at Stoke City may come too soon for Roberto Firmino with the £29m summer signing having played only 67 minutes in pre-season, and Emre Can could start at the Britannia Stadium in a three-man midfield, but this probable team highlights exactly where Brendan Rodgers felt the need to strengthen.

Liverpool look stronger with Nathaniel Clyne at right-back, James Milner offers experience and balance in the centre, Jordon Ibe’s impressive development may be rewarded with a regular start, so too Joe Gomez at left-back, and a concerted effort has been made to address last season’s serious weaknesses in attack.

Danny Ings’ work-rate and movement have impressed but Christian Benteke, the costliest summer recruit at £32.5m, is favourite to lead the attack at the start of the campaign. The Belgium international scored a fine goal against Swindon Town in his first appearance for the club and his understanding with Philippe Coutinho, Firmino and Ibe will be crucial to Liverpool’s prospects.

However, the overall defensive unit continues to offer cause for concern, Raheem Sterling’s pace will be missed and whether central midfield has the quality required for a challenge to the top four remains to be seen. AH