Which PL club has the strongest second XI?
Date published: Saturday 3rd September 2016 1:32
The transfer window is shut. The 25-man Premier League squads have been submitted. The first international break has crushed our initial enthusiasm. But not all is lost.
Here at F365, we have painstakingly examined the squads of eight particular clubs, because unfortunately we hate the other 12.
We predict what their most likely starting XI for the season will be, whether that is simply their best or their most effective. We have then predicted what their best second-string XI would be based on this. Draw your own conclusions, people. But enjoy it. Mainly enjoy it. Then leave angry comments about how Aaron Ramsey will definitely start ahead of Theo Walcott. But enjoy it first, at least.
Arsenal
Most likely starting XI:
Cech
Bellerin Koscielny Mustafi Monreal
Xhaka Cazorla
Walcott Ozil Sanchez
Giroud
Best second XI:
Ospina
Debuchy Gabriel Mertesacker Gibbs
Elneny Coquelin
Ramsey Oxlade-Chamberlain Iwobi
Perez
Players who do not make either: Martinez, Holding, Jenkinson, Reine-Adelaide, Bielik, Sanogo, Welbeck, Akpom.
Chelsea
Most likely starting XI:
Courtois
Azpilicueta Luiz Terry Alonso
Kante
Willian Oscar Matic Hazard
Costa
Best second XI:
Begovic
Ivanovic Cahill Zouma Aina
Mikel Fabregas
Pedro Loftus-Cheek Moses
Batshuayi
Players who do not make either: Eduardo, Chalobah, Solanke.
Everton
Most likely starting XI:
Stekelenburg
Coleman Jagielka Williams Baines
Gueye Barry
Bolasie Barkley Mirallas
Lukaku
Best second XI:
Robles
Holgate Funes Mori Browning Oviedo
McCarthy Besic
Deulofeu Cleverley Lennon
Valencia
Players who do not make either: Pennington, Davies, Dowell, Gibson, Kone, Niasse.
Leicester
Most likely starting XI
Schmeichel
Simpson Morgan Huth Fuchs
Mahrez Drinkwater Mendy Albrighton
Vardy Slimani
Best second XI:
Zieler
Hernandez Wasilewski Benalouane Chilwell
Gray Amartey King Schlupp
Musa Okazaki
Players who do not make either: Hamer, James, Kaputska, Ulloa.
Liverpool
Most likely starting XI:
Karius
Clyne Lovren Matip Milner
Can Henderson Wijnaldum
Mane Firmino Coutinho
Best second XI:
Mignolet
Alexander-Arnold Klavan Lucas Moreno
Lallana Grujic Stewart
Origi Sturridge Ings
Players who do not make either: Manninger, Sakho, Gomez, Ilori, Randall, Ojo, Brannagan, Chirivella.
Manchester City
Most likely starting XI:
Bravo
Zabaleta Stones Kompany Clichy
Fernandinho Gundogan
De Bruyne Silva Sterling
Aguero
Best second XI:
Cabellero
Sagna Otamendi Adarabioyo Kolarov
Delph Fernando
Navas Nolito Sane
Iheanacho
Players who do not make either: Gunn, Angelino, Maffeo, Toure.
Manchester United
Most likely starting XI:
De Gea
Valencia Bailly Blind Shaw
Pogba Fellaini
Mata Rooney Martial
Ibrahimovic
Best second XI:
Romero
Darmian Smalling Jones Rojo
Carrick Schneiderlin
Lingard Mkhitaryan Depay
Rashford
Players who do not make either: Johnstone, Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe, El-Fitouri, Herrera, Schweinsteiger, Young.
Tottenham
Most likely starting XI:
Lloris
Walker Vertonghen Alderweireld Rose
Dembele Dier
Lamela Alli Eriksen
Kane
Best second XI:
Vorm
Trippier Wimmer Carter-Vickers Davies
Wanyama Winks
Son Sissoko Nkoudou
Janssen
Players who do not make either: Lopez, Walkes, Onomah, Carroll.
Matt Stead
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