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The Premier League boasts of a lot of brilliant players from Europe, South America and other continents. This has been the case for a long long time with the likes of Theirry Henry and Didier Drogba, to name a few in the recent past.
However many a time this has lead to a reduction in the number of home-bred players in teams that aim to be in the top four of the league. There have been some exceptional British players playing in the top teams; Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale, to name a few.
Although there were good British players, especially English, in the English Premier League teams, the national sides never really dominated because of the lack of a strong British core of the teams in the league. Now, however, teams have started looking at British players and have given more recognition to their home-bred academy players over a settled name in football. This was evident from England's run in the FIFA World Cup 2018. Teams like Spain and Germany have dominated world football due to teams in their respective leagues have a strong home-bred platform, thus creating a talented pool of local players to choose from.
Someone like a Jadon Sancho has proven himself away from England. However, there are many exciting youngsters in the English Premier League itself who have an English, Welsh or Scottish origin.
Now with transfer sanctions and restrictions in some form, teams are required to build a strong British core to ensure success. So now, let's look at a hypothetical situation as to how the Premier League top six would look like if the rules only allowed British players to be fielded by EPL.
This list will also take into account the players currently sent out on loan and players that are injured currently.
#6 Everton
The Starting XI: Jordan Pickford, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Michael Keane, Ashley Williams, Mason Holgate, Tom Davies, Kieran Dowell, Theo Walcott, Ademola Lookman, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Everton will have a good mix of youth and experience and some very talented players. Most players have already proven themselves at the top level. The biggest advantage that Everton would have is that they would retain England's No. 1 in goal.
However, Everton would have to play either 3 or 5 at the back and this would lead to a bit of instability in the midfield. Further, the midfield is very inexperienced and thus might struggle to dictate games. They gave good pace up front, but with ageing defenders, they lack the same at the other end of the pitch.
Thus, in summary, Everton would be good enough to make to the top six, but not any further.
#5 Chelsea
The Starting XI: Rob Green, Reece James, Ethan Ampadu, Gary Cahill, Jay DaSilva, Danny Drinkwater, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Tammy Abraham.
Chelsea has a lot of amazing talent with regard to British players. The potential in this Chelsea team is enough to set the Premier League stage on fire. The midfield is quite settled with Drinkwater Loftus-Cheek and Barkley. Drinkwater is a good player who couldn't replicate his Leicester form. Loftus-Cheek has put in good performances which earned him an England call up for the World Cup in 2018. Barkley has suddenly started showing the talent we already knew he had and keeping Kovacic out of the Chelsea line up. He has also performed well for England with 2 goals and 1 assist in their last game against Montenegro.
The front three might be a bit blow hot blow cold because all of them are talented but inexperienced. However, if they are able to pull their weight in most matches, they just might trouble the top four.
However, with the defence being unstable and not the most secure, No. 5 is what they might have to settle for.
#4 Manchester City
The Starting XI: Daniel Grimshaw, Edward Francis, Tosin Adarabioyo, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Fabian Delph, Phil Foden, Patrick Roberts, Raheem Sterling, Lukas Nmecha, Luke Bolton.
Quite a few names are unrecognisable in this lineup due to the removal of the non-British players. However, they still retain the services of Stones and Walker in defence and the new and improved Sterling in the attack.
Sterling cannot stop scoring goals and this will be important when the side plays. Delph has proven himself to be a reliable player, playing in whatever position required. Foden has gotten City fans excited and has featured a bit for the City senior team. Rob Green is a decent goalkeeper but obviously cannot fill the shoes of Ederson or Bravo.
With the number of unknown names in the team, one would be tempted to put City just outside the Champions League places. However, with arguably the best manager in the world coaching these players, it will not be long before they start realising their full potential.
#3 Manchester United
The Starting XI: Lee Grant, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Axel Tuanzebe, Ashley Young, Scott McTominay, Ethan Hamilton, Angel Gomes, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford.
Like Manchester City, the most evident area when United suffer is between the sticks. DeGea is among the best in the world and Romero has proven himself in Europe with Alkmaar, Sampdoria and Monaco and has made 96 appearances for Argentina.
Further, the likes of Tuanzebe and Hamilton might just stop United from challenging for the title. However, the defence as a whole is fairly settled with Jones, Smalling and the talented Shaw being regular starters for United. Adding to that, the front line of Lingard and Rashford is enough to scare any defence and Gomes is a very exciting talent. Lingard is a brilliant playmaker and can chip in with goals and Rashford has been performing admirably for United during Lukaku's dip in form.
But with most of the brilliance being in the attacking half of the field, third place is what United will have to contend with.
#2 Tottenham
The Starting XI: Brandon Austin, Danny Rose, Ben Davies, Eric Dier, Kyle Walker-Peters, Kieran Trippier, Luke Amos, Harry Winks, Josh Onomah, Dele Alli, Harry Kane.
Even though Davies and Dier have to slot in at Centre-Back, which is not their favoured position, they are formidable defenders and can definitely play in the centre of the defence. With Rose and Walker-Peters rounding off the defence, Spurs have a good backline even after giving the boot to all non-British players.
Spurs might have to play a sort of 4-4-1-1 formation and thus the attacking responsibility will have to be borne by Alli and one of the best strikers in world football, Harry Kane. This assures that the attacking dimension of this Spurs side is in good hands.
The only reason that Spurs might not will the title is their midfield. Trippier is a brilliant full back who can play on the wide right and has good crossing ability. However, it will still be a new challenge for him and it will be interesting to see if he stands up to it. Winks has impressed whenever he is on the pitch. But the inexperience of Amos and Onomah will be tested and teams might use this to their advantage, condemning Spurs to a second place finish.
#1 Liverpool
The Starting XI: Shamal George, Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez, Nathaniel Clyne, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Harry Wilson, Daniel Sturridge.
Yes, this will be their year. Even though a couple of names might raise questions regarding the solidity, the other names are good enough to plug any gaping holes. Shamal George is a talented goalkeeper and Harry Wilson, on loan at the moment at Derby County, has made 34 appearances and scored 11 goals and contributed 3 assists, and he is just 22. He has a cracker of a left foot to score goals from outside the box and from free kicks.
Liverpool also boasts of the most solid and settled defence and midfield. The only chink in the armour may be Clyne at Centre Back. But he is a solid defender and will not take long to learn this craft. Assuming that Clyne does not perform well, Liverpool can slot in young Nathaniel Phillips.
With a recently rejuvenated Lallana and Daniel Sturridge firing on all cylinders, the goals will keep on coming. In Alexander-Arnold and Roberston they have to best full-back pairing in Europe at the moment. And with Trent and Wilson sharing the dead ball responsibility, the opposition will be careful not to foul anyone near their box.
The Final Six from bottom: Everton, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool.
