The Premier League is back, and so is the Fantasy Premier League. It can be hard to choose which players to get in, especially with the top six teams so we had a look to see what we think the lineups will be for those teams to help you decide on players.
The Premier League is ready to get started all over again, and the 2025/26 season is set to be a whirlwind ride for fans throughout the world. The top six teams have all strengthened over the summer, sparking fierce debate among their fan bases as to who will start for their team, vying for the title and/or UEFA Champions League places.
Who will start for each team is even more important for the Fantasy Premier League managers who will be hoping that the players they choose for their team will have a starring role in the season ahead. Players from the top six teams usually dominate FPL managers' lineups as they are some of the best players and cannot be left out.
Below, we predict what the lineups will be for the typical big six, despite two of them finishing 17th and 15th, and determine which players are the best to put into your FPL squad.
Liverpool
Predicted lineup:
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Gakpo, Ekitike, Salah.
The Premier League Champions and the favourites to win the title again, Liverpool have spent big in the summer and have recruited well. There will be some disappointment amongst fans that, in their most recent game, the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, the team looked vulnerable in defence despite their dynamic attacking lineup.
New signing Florian Wirtz had good moments, but Hugo Ekitike stood out and looked like a great purchase. Those two are sure to be starters for the team going forward, being quite expensive signings too. With the attacking output that the team had last season, both are sure to get FPL points for goals and assists, becoming valuable assets in any FPL team. Salah would be the safe bet to go for, and even though he is the most expensive player in the game, you cannot deny his numbers from seasons gone by, meaning you will have to find a way to get him on your side.
The questions over the choice of starters will be in defence. Virgil Van Dijk would be the only defender who is certain to start. Milos Kerkez and Jeremy Frimpong will both be sharing their load with Andy Robertson and Conor Bradley, so they would not be guaranteed starters. Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation needs to be cleared up, plus there is the possibility of Marc Guehi coming in and Giovanni Leoni, meaning more competition for that role next to Van Dijk. Depending on Aleksander Isak, the same could be said for Ekitike.
Arsenal
Predicted lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Martinelli, Gyokeres, Saka.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta finally have a striker. Whether or not a striker is what you thought they needed, he is hear and he is one of the most talked about strikers in Europe in Viktor Gyokeres. The 27-year-old has made the move to the Premier League from Portugal and comes with a lot of hype. All the reports say that Arteta still has full faith in Kai Havertz, though, so come their first game against Manchester United on Sunday, it is hard to predict who will start.
Looking ahead to the season, the two will likely be rotated and/or both used in the game, so minutes will be shared. The only other new player who will slot directly into the team is Martin Zubimendi, who will replace Thomas Partey. Noni Madueke’s role will be interesting to see. He is naturally a right winger, but with that position locked down by Saka, will Madueke challenge for the left wing position, one that needs to be addressed if Gabriel Martinelli cannot return to the highs of a couple of seasons ago?
Manchester City
Predicted lineup:
Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Ait Nouri; Rodri, Reijnders, Cherki; Marmoush, Haaland, Foden.
This lineup is the hardest to pull together and predict. Manchester City have always been big rotators under Pep Guardiola, making them the enemy of FPL managers. Not knowing who will be in the lineup means that you cannot rely on regular points from a lot of the players. Sure starters are Erling Haaland, Rodri (when he’s fit), and Ruben Dias. Rodri will not start the first game because of injury and will be fit in September which will be a blow to City. However, as said, when he is fit he will be in the team.
With a number of new signings, it will be interesting to see if they come straight into the team. Judging from the Club World Cup, rotation will still be the name of the game. Rayan Ait Nouri is the most likely to start, as City do not have another out-and-out left back, but Josko Gvardiol has been flourishing in that position over the last few seasons. Tijani Rejnders is set to have a big role for the team in midfield, especially with Rodri’s injuries and Ilkay Gundogan’s waning prowess. Rayan Cherki will be rotated with Phil Foden and other attacking options.
Chelsea
Predicted lineup:
Sanchez; Cucurella, Chalobah, Adarabioyo, James; Caicedo, Fernandez; Gittens, Palmer, Neto; Joao Pedro.
Another summer has gone by where Chelsea have seemingly bought or been in for every player. The Club World Champions bought early because of their involvement in that tournament, adding Liam Delap and Joao Pedro to their squads during the competition, with both contributing to Chelsea securing that title. Estevao and Jamie Gittens both played and impressed in the Club World Cup for different teams and now wear the blue of the South London team.
Mamadou Sarr joined from Strasbourg, and Kendry Paez from Independiente as well. Then add Jorrel Hato from Ajax, and that is all of Chelsea’s business so far, but not the end. The injury to Levi Colwill will see him out for most of the season, so a new centre-back will be bought, and Xavi Simmons has been well spoken about coming to Stamford Bridge.
This is the most settled a Chelsea side has been in a while, and you can make a solid guess for the starters. Joao Pedro and Delap will be rotated and share minutes, and the wingers will face similar treatment you expect, except for Perdo Neto, who seems to have secured his spot as number one on the right. However, with the sheer number of players that Chelsea have, rotation will come into play, especially with them being in the Champions League this year. However, that 11 played their most recent friendly, hinting that it will be their starting lineup come the first Premier League match.
Manchester United
Predicted lineup:
Onana, Yoro, Maguire, De Ligt; Diallo, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Sesko, Cunha.
Manchester United have added four players to their squad, and three of them will likely make the starting attacking lineup for the season ahead. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are Premier League proven, and Ruben Amorim hopes they will create a formidable trio with Benjamin Sesko. Sesko may not start in the first game, but you imagine the plan is for him to lead the line soon enough. If he doesn’t, Mason Mount can take one of the offensive roles with Cunha or Mbeumo being the number nine.
In FPL, it is a big question if you should bank on Mbeumo or Cunha again to have as good a season as they did last season. They will play, and you can imagine they will get goals, but for their price in the game, they may not be worth acquiring.
Ayden Heaven and Noussair Mazraoui are competing for positions in the back line, along with Lisandro Martinez when he is finally fit after the ACL injury he suffered. Diogo Dalot will be swapped with Amad Diallo depending on the type of game they play, plus Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro will both compete for the spot next to Bruno Fernandes in the middle.
Tottenham Hotspur
Predicted lineup:
Vicario; Spence, Van de Ven, Romero, Pedro Porro; Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr; Kudus, Solanke, Richarlison.
Tottenham Hotspur are in for a big season under new boss Thomas Frank. He has already shown flexibility with his side, playing all of preseason with a 4-3-3 formation, but changed to 5-3-2 against PSG in the Super Cup. New signings Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha have slotted straight into the side and will no doubt be starters even when the whole team is fit.
On Kudus, the advice for FPL managers would be to avoid this player. He may become good, but his performances last season show that he may take a while to get going. See how he is going and then get later in the season if it turns out he is going well. There is not certainty that that will happen, though.
James Maddison is out for the majority of the season, and Son Heung-min has now left, meaning you expect more players to come into the Tottenham team. When Dejan Kulusevski becomes fit again, he will slot into the side immediately.
You expect a more robust Spurs side under Frank, one that will be harder to beat and dangerous in attack. If they can keep injuries to a minimum, they will do a lot better than they did in the league last season.