'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With the COVID-19 pandemic wrecking the finances of clubs, not many big-money signings have happened in the last year or so. But many clubs have conducted shrewd business by making a slew of quality free transfers.
European powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona are strapped for cash and have struggled to make suitable additions to their rosters. However, Premier League teams like Manchester City and Chelsea haven't hesitated to splurge big this summer to further bolster their already formidable rosters.
PSG, Leipzig and AC Milan are some of the other clubs that have also made significant additions to their squads ahead of the new season.
On that note, here's a look at the five best starting XIs in the game at the moment:
#5 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid aren't one of the richest clubs on the continent, but they have made some shrewd acquisitions over the years. The defending La Liga champions also have one of the best starting XIs in the game, with a nice blend of youth and experience.
In Jan Oblak, the Rojiblancos have arguably the best keeper in the game at the moment. In front of the Slovenian, Atletico have Jose Maria Gimenez and Stefan Savic, flanked by full-backs Kieran Trippier and Renan Lodi. Oblak kept a league-leading 18 clean sheets last season, playing a big part in their La Liga triumph.
Atletico also have a fabulous midfield, comprising the ever-present Koke, Marcos Llorente, Belgian Yannick Carrasco and the new arrival Rodrigo De Paul. Up front, they have Luis Suarez, who is one of the most prolific strikers in the game.
His strike partner is the young Joao Felix, who arrived at Atletico on a big transfer two summers ago.
Last season, Suarez arrived from Barcelona and scored 21 league goals to help Atletico to their first league title in seven years.
With Real Madrid and Barcelona not in the best of health, Diego Simeone's men will fancy their chances of a successful title defense.
Atletico (4-4-2): Oblak; Trippier, Savic, Gimenez, Lodi; Carrasco, Llorente, De Paul, Koke; Suarez, Felix.
#4 Liverpool
Liverpool may have floundered in their Premier League title defense last season, but they have a formidable starting XI, with quality in every area of the field.
Their custodian, Alisson Becker, is regarded as one of the best in the game. The same goes for their returning centre-back Virgil van Dijk, whose season-ending injury put paid to their hopes of a successful title defense.
The Dutchman had not missed a league game in his previous two seasons at Liverpool. To keep Van Dijk company, Liverpool have the excellent Joel Matip, who had another injury-enforced absence last campaign.
In Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, the 2019-20 Premier League champions have arguably the best full-back partnership in the game. The duo launch marauding runs forward to create an overload and lend width to Liverpool's attack.
Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara form a formidable midfield for Liverpool, with the latter a standout performer in a near decade-long stint at European giants Bayern Munich.
Up front, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino form one of the most devastating attacking trios in the game. They have played together for four seasons, playing a key role in the Reds' Champions League and Premier League triumphs in successive seasons.
Salah has started the 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a bang, becoming the first player to score in five successive season openers.
It remains to be seen if the Reds can continue their good form all season and contend for the league title once again.
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Alcantara; Salah, Firmino/Jota, Mane.
#3 Chelsea
Chelsea, who won the Champions League last season, are among the contenders for the Premier League after reuniting with Inter Milan's prolific striker Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian, along with one of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, and Mason Mount, should feature in the attacking third this season. Werner and Havertz will hope for better sophomore campaigns after an underwhelming last season, as both men arrived on English shores after prolific campaigns in the Bundesliga. On current form, Havertz is expected to get the nod over Werner.
Under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea have often used a three-man defense, which means Ben Chilwell, originally a left-back, has had to adapt to playing in an unfamiliar left wing-back role.
The Blues have Reece James, the experienced Jorginho and N'Golo Kante in midfield. Jorginho recently starred for Italy at Euro 2020, while Kante is known as one of the best active defensive midfielders in the game.
In defense, the Blues can call on the experienced Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta. The excellent Edouard Mendy should continue to start ahead of the error-prone Kepa Arrizabalaga.
With more than a decent team at their disposal, Thomas Tuchel's men look good enough to contend for the 2021-22 Premier League title and also go deep in the Champions League.
Chelsea (3-4-3): Mendy; Silva, Rudiger, Azpilicueta; James, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Werner/Havertz, Lukaku
#2 Manchester City
Manchester City once again look like the team to beat in both England and Europe. Pep Guardiola has quality all over the pitch, starting from the back all the way up front.
In Ederson, City have one of the best custodians in the game at the moment. Just ahead of him, the Cityzens have the excellent Ruben Dias and John Stones. Dias had an excellent debut Premier League campaign last season, winning the Premier League player of the season accolade.
Joao Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy should be the two preferred full-backs. Both men started in City's 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in their first game of the 2021-22 Premier League. Kyle Walker is also an option at right-back, in which case, Cancelo could operate as a left-back.
It's a star-studded midfield for City, led by the brilliant Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium's midfield metronome, who shone at Euro 2020 as well. City also have defensive midfielder Fernandinho, who is set to partner with expensive summer acquisition Jack Grealish. Up front, the excellent Ferran Torres should feature with Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling.
Bernardo Silva is likely to see reduced game time after the arrival of Grealish. While the forward line could see either Sterling or Mahrez drop to the bench if City are successful in their pursuit of Harry Kane.
Man City (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Stones, Mendy; Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Grealish; Mahrez, Ferran, Sterling.
#1 PSG
With a slew of big signings, especially on free transfers, this summer, PSG arguably have the best starting XI in the world at the moment.
The excellent Gianluigi Donnarumma is expected to take over from Keylor Navas as he hopes to continue his excellent Euro 2020 form in his new team. In defense, the French giants have their inspirational captain Marquinhos and Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos.
On the flanks, PSG can call on the excellent Achraf Hakimi, bought from Inter Milan, and Presnel Kimpembe.
Mauricio Pochettino has former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, Marco Verratti and Juan Bernat in midfield. Verratti excelled at Euro 2020, while Wijnaldum was a mainstay for his former club.
It is up front, where things look the best for PSG. That's because Neymar and Kylian Mbappe have been joined by former Barcelona player Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the best player to have graced the game.
Considering the quality of their roster, PSG are expected to coast to another Ligue 1 title and also create a big splash in Europe, if not go all the way.
PSG (3-4-3): Donnarumma; Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Ramos, Hakimi; Wijnaldum, Verratti, Bernat; Messi, Mbappe, Neymar.
