With the Premier League back in action for the first time since the summer transfer window closed, this feels like a good time to take stock.
The clubs who have finished in the top four in each of the past two seasons -- Chelsea, Liverpool, defending champions Manchester City and Manchester United -- have assembled incredibly strong squads for the rigours of the 2021-22 campaign. This quartet are incredibly well-stocked for the campaign ahead, with a depth of talent in almost every position.
Man United played a blinder late in the window as Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford to further increase Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's attacking options -- also denying local rivals City the chance of signing the five-time Ballon d'Or winner in the process. Chelsea pulled off their own deadline-day coup by landing Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid to bolster their midfield, while Liverpool added to their defensive options after last season's injury crisis.
Man City signed Jack Grealish in a British-record transfer, though the loss of Sergio Aguero has left Pep Guardiola's front line looking decidedly bare as his side embarks upon an arduous title defence.
Here we look look those four squads, judging each on a position-by-position basis before declaring overall "winners." While every squad has one or two players who can fill several slots in the team, here they are listed by their principal position, although versatility is taken into account.
Goalkeeper
Chelsea: Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Bettinelli
Liverpool: Alisson, Adrian, Caoimhin Kelleher
Manchester City: Ederson, Zack Steffen, Scott Carson
Manchester United: David de Gea, Dean Henderson, Tom Heaton
Perhaps the most overloaded position on the entire pitch with a plethora of top-tier goalkeepers to call upon, both as first choice and in reserve. For our money at least, Alisson is the most complete goalkeeper on offer (he even chips in with the odd winning goal), but his No. 2, Adrian, is the only one who is not a full international. United's other returnee, Tom Heaton, bolsters United's options sufficiently to give them the edge here
Left-back
Chelsea: Ben Chilwell, Marcos Alonso
Liverpool: Andy Robertson, Kostantinos Tsimikas
Manchester City: Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko
Manchester United: Luke Shaw, Alex Telles
While both have endured injury issues in the past, Shaw and Telles are an assured pair for United -- particularly Shaw, who has returned from a spate of setbacks to recapture the sparkling form that first landed him his big move to Old Trafford in 2014.
The ever-popular Robertson continues to be a driving force for Liverpool, while over at City, Zinchenko remains underrated as a utility man, while Cancelo is similarly versatile and able to fill in on either side of the defence. Chelsea are also able to call upon two quality left-backs, both of whom are capable of supporting attacks from the flank, while Alonso in particular doublesup as a genuinely consistent goal threat.
Winners: Chelsea
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