In recent weeks we have seen Liverpool playing 3-4-1-2, an evolution of 3-5-2 formation that allows us to play with a ‘number 10’. The question is though; is this formation the future for Liverpool or is this merely reactionary, due to injuries, that have forced us to adapt?
We’ve lost Glen Johnson at right back and have moved Jordan Henderson over to the right wing back role. Jordan isn’t a right wing back; he’s a central midfielder but he is certainly a victim of his own versatility and work rate. With Martin Kelly still being eased back in and Andre Wisdom not being preferred, it is unclear whether or not Henderson will have to play this role until Glen comes back. Jordan is a hard working player and the engine that he has on him will make him adept at playing in the position but, as I’ve said; he’s just not a right wing back. He’s wasted out there in my opinion. His attributes lead him to being more suited as the work horse in our midfield. I think he should be in the Liverpool XI, I am a huge fan of his attitude and also ability but I’d rather he wasn’t shunted out to right wing back to fill a hole.
Another player out of position is Victor Moses. I’m a questionable on Moses, I’ll be honest, as although he’s played well for us and showed his ability, I’m unsure that I’d rather have a loanee playing over our own youth talent. Unless we were going to be purchasing him in the summer, of course, but if that is the case then is this loan to see his ability? If it works well, then his price will be higher than what it would have been if we had purchased him this summer. Anyway, away from the joys of transfer talk. I’m not sure if Moses is a number 10. I rate him out wide as I think he is a strong and fast but also just much more comfortable out there. I don’t think that he is anywhere near good enough on the ball technically to be able to play as a creative man behind the striker(s). He’s a powerful player – tick that off your Sky Sports Punditry bingo card now – but he’s certainly not a man who I can see threading a reverse pass through the full back and the centre back. He’s definitely out of position here.
The new formation has also put stress on our midfield duo: Lucas and Gerrard. This season neither man has particularly looked impressive. Gerrard has been better than Lucas, but both have much more to offer certainly. Lucas looks extremely uncomfortable being in a midfield two, where he has to sit next to Gerrard. He isn’t quick enough to play in that role and hasn’t look anywhere near as good on the ball as he can be, which has put further stress on the partnership. Lucas is still prone to giving away free kicks in dangerous places. We saw in the Sunderland game that under pressure, the midfield collapsed. Sunderland were woeful at times when they were on the ball and didn’t use the ball anywhere near as well as they could but our midfield seemed to be invisible and had dropped back to form a back seven. It was very much reminiscent of the Dalglish midfield in my opinion. I felt the urge to scream “PUSH OUT, GET UP THE PITCH” many times. Lucas needs competition and genuine defensive midfield competition, at that, of which Allen is not, by the way. He’s a different kind of midfielder.
Lucas would fit the 4-3-3 midfield where he can be the deeper midfielder much more than the current 3-4-1-2. It asks too much of him and with his current run of form, the suspension that came about for picking up his 5th yellow card – yes, already, may actually help him. A week out and hopefully some level of form may return or Rodgers may move Henderson over and keep Lucas out the team. We need to ensure our midfield partnership is droppable. We can’t allow them to become complacent for their places.
So, has this formation change come about due to the injuries of Coutinho and Johnson? I’m unsure. It will be extremely interesting to see if and when these players come back, whether we’ll stick with this formation. Glen could certainly play at the wing back position and Coutinho would drop straight into the 10. Hopefully Brendan has found that Enrique is one of the most frustrating footballers in existence and would give Aly Cissokho a run in the team. Enrique has been analysed enough on the fantastic podcast by Mr Hoare & I. Nothing more needs saying.
My personal feel on this formation isn’t a positive one. Although in theory 3-4-1-2 (3-5-2) means more men in midfield, we just haven’t showed this in the games that we’ve experimented it in. I feel it could work with Henderson in there as his work rate will assist in the middle but that would require Glen to come back. I’d personally go back to the 4-2-3-1, now that Suarez is back. If we can get Allen fit soon, I’d also like a Henderson – Allen midfield with Gerrard pushed further forward to play in the 10. He doesn’t have the legs he once did but I still feel that his passing ability would be useful there and if needs be, he can drop into the midfield and one of Allen or Henderson drop down to become deeper midfielder. It’s fluid in that three, as well as that front four. The midfield with the change has looked rather disjointed for a few weeks when going from back to front, something that I’m sure Brendan is looking into as it was blatantly evident against Southampton, and also Sunderland. One game we won playing average and one game we lost playing badly. It’s a trend that needs to be addressed. The midfield issue needs to be addressed.
Defensively in the 4-2-3-1, I’d have Wisdom on the right handside. He’s got some pace about him but also some attacking prowess and will allow us to balance out our width as with Glen out injured, our attacks down the right seem rather poor. We’ve lacked the overlap with the formational change.
Liverpool have started the season well, although we had the annoying defeat against Southampton, any Liverpool fan would take this start. I believe we could be much more fluid by reverting back to the 4-2-3-1 formation – or even 4-3-3 – and look at 3-4-1-2 (3-5-2) when we have everyone back. For now though, I believe the formation change is an experiment to try to get round some injury problems but it could be a fruitful change with our injured players back.
It’s a strange one. Liverpool not playing as well as they can but winning. I won’t complain whilst it is happening but if we keep playing below our ability then we’ll come unstuck eventually. We’re in October, but if Brendan is looking to start writing his Xmas wish list one of them has to be a holding midfielder to add depth but also competition. Let’s keep our eyes out for how Liverpool’s formation adapts and changes when our injured players come back but also with the fluctuation in the form of our players. Some are in fantastic form, but some need to be looking over their shoulder at their deputies. And closely.
