Premier League week 1 predictions: Big club starting lineups - ESPN

The Premier League is back! After a couple of irritating summer months filled with other competitions, other sports and even things like going outside and enjoying the fresh air, we're locked back in for the 2025-26 season, which begins Friday as champions Liverpool host Bournemouth at Anfield.

If you've missed much of the wheeling and dealing in the transfer window, consider this a great way to catch up as ESPN reporters chronicle and assess the likely starting XIs for matchday 1: in short, how all the big clubs will line up this weekend to begin their 38-game battle toward the title.

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The exercise not only shows you the kind of starting power the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City boast, but also where they might still need to strengthen before the summer window closes at 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. BST) on Monday, Sept. 1. So let's get into it: How will each big club line up this weekend?

Arsenal's busy summer of transfer business has generated plenty of excitement and intrigue, but fans might have to wait a few weeks to see most of the new faces brought in take up a first XI spot — especially since the opener is a tough trip to Old Trafford. That said, given the sheer number of injuries sustained last term, simply getting the likes of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães and Ben White back in the team will freshen things up considerably.

If Havertz leads the line, the Gunners' long-awaited, marquee striker signing Viktor Gyökeres would be forced to make do with a place on the bench. He'll almost certainly take to the pitch in some fashion, and once he does, all eyes