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#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.
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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.
