It is clear that Chelsea have assembled a super talented squad of players. In fact, Darren Bent claims that four Blues stars are the best in their position in the Premier League.
Last year, Chelsea had the youngest team in the history of the Premier League across the whole season.
Of course, we’re backing Enzo Maresca’s young group to achieve big things in the 2025/26 campaign. They will need to compete against some proven teams such as Arsenal, Manchester City and reigning league champions Liverpool, though.
Robbie Fowler tips Chelsea to finish second in the upcoming Premier League campaign. On paper, they have a starting line-up that can stand up to anyone else in the division, but the question mark is around the consistency and endurance over a 38-game season.
Darren Bent picks Chelsea quartet in best Premier League XI
During a conversation on talkSPORT Drive (11 August), Darren Bent was tasked with selecting the Premier League’s best player in each position to build a starting line-up.
He selected Reece James and Marc Cucurella as the best full-backs in England’s top division right now. In addition, he named Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo as the best defensive midfielder because Manchester City’s Rodri is returning from a long-term injury, while Cole Palmer was his preferred creative midfielder.
| Position | Player | Club |
| Goalkeeper | Alisson | Liverpool |
| Right-back | Reece James | Chelsea |
| Centre-back | William Saliba | Arsenal |
| Centre-back | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool |
| Left-back | Marc Cucurella | Chelsea |
| Defensive midfielder | Moises Caicedo | Chelsea |
| Central midfielder | Declan Rice | Arsenal |
| Attacking midfielder | Cole Palmer | Chelsea |
| Right-winger | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
| Striker | Erling Haaland/Alexander Isak | Manchester City/Newcastle United |
| Left-winger | Eberechi Eze | Crystal Palace |
On their day, Chelsea’s full-backs are as good as you will see in the Premier League. As for Caicedo and Palmer, the Blues’ most recent Player of the Season recipients, they ooze class.
With Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne exiting the Premier League this summer, Chelsea’s Palmer could be the natural successor as the Premier League’s top playmaker.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or nominee is someone we expect a lot from going into his third season at Stamford Bridge.
According to Jody Morris, Chelsea superstar Palmer can go to the next level now that he gets to play Champions League football in the upcoming 2025/26 season. We’ve got absolutely no doubt that the left-footed attacking midfielder will deliver on the biggest stage, which is something he usually does for club and country.
Chelsea have the best full-back depth in the world
If there’s one area where Chelsea are the strongest right now, it’s definitely in the full-back spots.
Blues captain and first-choice right-back James is a different level when he’s on the football pitch, so it’s been pivotal to see him stay fit in 2025. In reserve, Malo Gusto provides an outstanding deputy, someone who can step in and out of the XI with ease.
At left-back, Cucurella has taken his game to a different level in the past 18 months. The biggest difference going into the new season is that he now has competition and cover after Jorrel Hato’s arrival from Ajax. Incidentally, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink raved about Hato after he secured a move to Chelsea.
Regardless of the combination at full-back, Chelsea supporters should feel very confident in the new campaign.
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