Key Players at Every Big Six Premier League Club This Season

The Premier League’s curtain-raiser is just around the corner, and it will kick off as last season ended, with Liverpool front and center. The Reds romped to the title last term, finishing ten points clear of Arsenal after dominating throughout the course of the campaign. Now, they will kick off the new season, and they harbor very real hopes of successfully defending their crown.

After the record signing of Florian Wirtz, alongside the additions of Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez, real-time betting sites make the Merseysiders the team to beat once again next term. The latest real-time betting Bovada odds currently have the champs priced as the 2.80 favorites to retain the title, well clear of both the Gunners and Manchester City. But if the three of them – as well as the rest of the ‘Big Six’ – are to live up to their expectations next season, their best players will need to perform.

The landscape of the Premier League is dominated by the ‘Big Six,’ each defined not merely by collective depth but by the singular brilliance of their indispensable stars. In a season where inches separate triumph from disappointment, these clubs’ hopes rest squarely on the shoulders of their heartbeat players. Here are the most important stars for each team.

Arsenal — Declan Rice

Step into the Emirates and you’ll see the rise of a new Gunners axis, orchestrated by the steady hand of Declan Rice. Signed for a staggering £120 million from West Ham United two years ago, Rice doesn’t just anchor Arsenal’s midfield; he commands it, with precision and purpose. Last season, he boasted an 83% tackle success rate and completed over 2,600 passes, most among Arsenal midfielders, triggering Mikel Arteta to transform his midfield dynamo from an anchorman into a more box-to-box role.

Rice is the balancing act in Arteta’s relentless system—part shield, part springboard. His anticipation snuffs out counterattacks before they ignite, while his progressive passes launch red shirts in orchestrated waves. Listen to the crowd when Arsenal press high—there’s a dramatic hush, an expectation that Rice will be at the heart of it all, dictating tempo and instilling belief. The Gunners have very real ambitions of winning the title for the first time in 22 years this season following the addition of Viktor Gyokeres, but it’s Rice who will be crucial to any success his side may have.

Manchester City — Rodri

What defines sustained greatness? For Manchester City, it’s a midfielder who makes world-class football look effortless. Rodri is City’s indispensable midfield lynchpin—the pivot upon which Pep Guardiola’s empire turns. Strip away Erling Haaland’s golden boots, and you find Rodri’s laser-guided influence. With him on the pitch, City won 75% of league matches last season; without him, a mere 50%, paltry by their lofty standards.

With nearly 3,200 passes and a 93% completion rate, Rodri engineers control. His eight goals—including thunderous strikes and crucial late winners, such as the one that secured a maiden Champions League crown against Inter Milan in 2023—reflect a player who rises with the stakes.

With Kevin De Bruyne now gone, the Spaniard’s quietly, steely presence is the glue holding together a side teetering between evolution and expectation. Lose Rodri, and City’s gears grind; with him, the machine hums with dangerous inevitability.

Liverpool — Virgil van Dijk

Scan the Liverpool line-up and one figure stands unshaken: Virgil van Dijk, the Red colossus and talismanic captain. He led the league last year in both aerial duels and defensive clearances and, amid swirling tactical changes, remains Liverpool’s foundation stone. His exploits earned him a new contract despite the twilight of his career beginning to loom on the horizon; the former Southampton man remains as crucial as ever.

Van Dijk’s presence is a paradox—so dominant as to be almost invisible, until you see a crucial block, a towering header, or a calm word that steadies a nervous full-back. This season, with Arne Slot continuing to implement his technical blueprint and the team grappling with the emotional fallout of Diogo Jota’s passing, Van Dijk’s leadership will be as vital as his defensive mastery.

Manchester United — Bruno Fernandes

At a reeling Manchester United, there is only one true creator-in-chief: Bruno Fernandes. The skipper was the only positive who never shies away. United’s pathway to redemption winds through their brilliant captain.

Chelsea — Cole Palmer

There are times when clarity cuts through the fog of uncertainty, and for Chelsea, that clarity is Cole Palmer. When the attacking midfielder arrived at Stamford Bridge two years ago, he was joining a club in turmoil. Fast forward two years, and Cold P has been the driving force in Chelsea becoming champions of the world.

What sets Palmer apart is his serenity in the most frantic moments. He manipulates space, deceives defenders, and unlocks backlines with a mixture of youthful daring and experienced cool. At just 23, Palmer shoulders the burden of creativity for a side desperately searching for identity. Each crisp finish, each line-breaking pass, is a reminder that playmakers can still shine in the modern game. The England international is arguably the planet’s best of them.

Tottenham Hotspur — James Maddison

James Maddison isn’t just Tottenham’s playmaker—he’s their pulse, their tempo, and often, the difference between

frustration and delight. Last season, he crafted 68 chances and ran the show between midfield and attack. It was his persistent injuries that saw Spurs slump down to 17th in the table.

However, Europa League triumph without the former Leicester City man in the line-up means the North London club returns to the Champions League this season. Maddison will have to be at his very best if Spurs are to compete with the continent’s finest.