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Drawing any kind of big, concrete conclusions based on preseason performances is often a futile exercise, bearing little or no correlation with what ends up unfolding once the season begins.
Last summer was an excellent case, as Liverpool won just three of their seven pre-season friendlies (two of those wins were against Tranmere Rovers and Bradford City), losing to Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Napoli. After murmurs of concern over the summer, compounded by an almost total lack of transfer activity, 26 wins and a draw in the first 27 Premier League matches followed.
But while reading too much about the results isn’t too helpful, the preseason may offer some intriguing clues in terms of tactical adjustments and style changes that could be implemented in the weeks and months ahead.
It has been remarkable, in this context, that Jürgen Klopp has been playing in Liverpool’s form for the last two games in the run-up to the season opener against Leeds United at Anfield next weekend. In the second half of the Community Shield against Arsenal at Wembley, we saw what looked like something between 4-2-3-1 and 4-2-2-2 as Liverpool exercised dominance and played with much greater fluidity and cohesion. . although without the winning goal to take advantage of the well-deserved draw by Takumi Minamino.
Meanwhile, yesterday against Blackpool, Liverpool lined up in a similar type of system early on, but this time it looked more like a 4-2-1-3 with the three forwards taking their usual positions and Minamino hovering at No. 10. in the back.
While these various systems tend to shift and blur into each other within games, the common thread that ties them all together is the double pivot of midfield, in contrast to the usual three-man setup in the standard 4-3-3 of Klopp. Of course, it is quite possible that these were nothing more than experiments in the last two games, with yesterday’s setup perhaps dictated by available personnel, but nonetheless, it has been interesting to see Klopp depart from the usual model.
The merits of doing so are plentiful. Having that narrow two-man midfield axis allows Liverpool to play with four attackers in the first place, which, especially in matches against lower wingers defending in a compact low block, could be very effective, as it was. in the first half of 2018. / 19. Opens up a range of positions for players like Minamino, Curtis Jones and Naby Keita, all of whom thrive when playing between the lines, linking midfield with attack. Harvey Elliott and Xherdan Shaqiri are also better prepared to play this way than at 4-3-3.
One of the problems with Liverpool’s usual three-man midfield, made up of a single No. 6 and two forward No. 8s on each side, is how delicately balanced and dependent on certain individuals it is to function cohesively. When it works best, it provides the perfect platform to facilitate the prowlers on the sides and front three, but if the combination is even a little off the track it may be blunt or too open.
The No. 6’s role in this Liverpool team is so demanding that only Jordan Henderson and Fabinho can play it, and even then they may be exposed if the No. 8s ahead are too offensively minded, making it difficult to fit in. More than one of Keita, Jones, Minamino or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the team at the same time Liverpool are playing 4-3-3.
In 4-2-3-1 (or any of the other similar variations), however, there are all kinds of combinations that Klopp could choose depending on the opponent and the situation within the games. Against stronger teams, it could be a sturdy, muscular pairing of Fabinho and Henderson (or Gini Wijnaldum, in case Barcelona’s ties don’t materialize into something concrete), who are more than capable of dominating midfield at once. . Where the emphasis is more on Liverpool to break sides, Keita could also play double pivot, and ideally Thiago Alcantara would adapt as well, if the ongoing transfer saga finally comes to a positive conclusion.
In theory, it would also reduce the creative load on Liverpool’s full-backs with a fluid and interchangeable four-man attack, which would address the problem of opposing sides specifically set to restrain Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as it was. more and more the case as the 2019/20 season progressed.
Finding the right combination is imperative, as the 4-2-3-1 (or 4-2-2-2) runs the risk of being overrun if the two midfielders are not given adequate defensive support in front of and around them, But given the sheer amount of options available to Klopp in that area, and the defensive work rate of Liverpool’s attacking players in general, there is no reason it cannot bear fruit.
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