The 2026/27 Premier League season is here, and predicting the Matchday 1 starting XIs is never easy.
Our predicted line-ups consider last season’s selections, each manager’s preferred style and formation, player fitness and injuries, and summer transfer activity. For teams with new managers, their previous tactical preferences are also taken into account.
Matchday 1 carries the most uncertainty, but the predictions should become increasingly accurate as the season progresses and each manager’s preferred
XI and rotation patterns become clearer.
Here are our predicted line-ups and formations for all 10 Matchday 1 fixtures.
Arsenal vs Coventry City
Arsenal predicted line-up (4-3-3):
Raya; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Lewis-Skelly, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Tzolis.
Coventry City predicted line-up (4-3-3):
Rushworth; van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Jay da Silva; Yirenkyi, Grimes, Onyeka; Tchaouna, Simms, Thomas-Asante.
Hull City vs Manchester United
Hull City predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Tzolakis; Coyle, Ajayi, Mendy, Giles; Slater, Crooks; Belloumi, Hjertø-Dahl, Stroud; McBurnie.
Manchester United predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Tielemans, Andrey Santos; Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo.
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland
Ipswich Town predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Scherpen; O’Shea, Diop, Greaves, Davis; Núñez, Lukic; Fatawu, Egeli, Maeda; Emersonn.
Sunderland predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Roefs; Meunier, O’Nien, Ballard, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Hume, Le Fée, Angulo; Brobbey.
Everton vs Crystal Palace
Everton predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Hackney, Armstrong; Röhl, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.
Crystal Palace predicted line-up (3-4-2-1):
Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Riad; Mingueza, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell; Ismaila Sarr, McNeil; Strand Larsen.
Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
Nottingham Forest predicted line-up (3-4-2-1):
Sels; Diomande, Milenkovic, Murillo; Aina, Schlager, Sangaré, Williams; Ndoye, Gibbs-White; Igor Jesus.
Leeds United predicted line-up (3-4-2-1):
Trafford; Rodon, Bijol, Muharemovic; Bogle, Ampadu, Stach, Justin; Wilson, Aaronson; Calvert-Lewin.
Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur
Brentford predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Sangaré, Janelt; Dango Ouattara, Jensen, Schade; Thiago.
Tottenham Hotspur predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Kinsky; Gray, van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Tonali, Mateus Fernandes; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison.
Manchester City vs Bournemouth
Manchester City predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Donnarumma; Khusanov, Rúben Dias, Marc Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Kovacic; Semenyo, Foden, Doku; Haaland.
Bournemouth predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Petrovic; Smith, Hill, António Silva, Truffert; Cook, Scott; Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier; Evanilson.
Brighton vs Aston Villa
Brighton predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Vuskovic, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Ayari, Groß; Gómez, Hinshelwood, De Cuyper; Rutter.
Aston Villa predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Barkley, Kamara; McGinn, Buendía, Garnacho; Watkins.
Newcastle United vs Liverpool
Newcastle United predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Hornícek; Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Lewis Hall; Steur, Bamba; Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Touré; Wissa.
Liverpool predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Fulham vs Chelsea
Fulham predicted line-up (4-2-3-1):
Leno; Castagne, Cuenca, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Iwobi; Bobb, King, Palacios; Gonzalo García.
Chelsea predicted line-up (3-4-2-1):
Sanchez; James, Lacroix, Colwill; Palestra, Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Neto; Palmer, João Pedro; Rogers.
Predicted line-ups are subject to change ahead of the Matchday 1 deadline, particularly following the final round of manager press conferences and late injury updates.
