The new season is almost upon us and Liverpool have again had a very busy summer. Last season saw the sale of Luis Suarez and the arrival of several new players, while this summer we have seen the (sour) departure of Sterling and, again, an influx of new personnel at Anfield.
With the departures, arrivals, and adequate time to reflect on the failures of the last season, it is time to look ahead to the new season and delve into the possible tactics that Brendan Rodgers will employ.
There were some disappointments from Rodgers’ last season. The beginning of the year saw a lack of intent and purpose to Liverpool’s play. There was a real lack of identity to what was going on the pitch. When Rodgers’ came to Liverpool, he preached a possession-based style of play with patience a key. With the dynamism of Suarez and Sturridge leading the attack, Rodgers’ second year saw Liverpool play a more direct, counter-attacking brand of football. The beginning of last year saw a complete lack of direction and a lack of inspiration from the sideline. As we know, however, the atmosphere at Anfield changed and the Reds went on a 13 game unbeaten run between December and March.
One of the catalysts for that impressive run was the change to a back three by Rodgers. With that change (and with the focus of all my writing being on tactics) I am going to explore the possible tactics, personnel, and formations that Rodgers will deploy this year.
The Style
Before we get into personnel and formations, it is important to talk about the style and philosophy of the team.
As mentioned, many of the last year’s failures came in the beginning of the season when Rodgers and his side seemed to be lacking any sort of style to their play. Suarez’s absence was of course a key component to that, but it doesn’t hide the fact that Rodgers failed to adjust his side. The Liverpool boss did not look to bring back the ‘death by football’ type of play that he intended on playing when he first arrived on Merseyside. He did not look have incredibly quick starts to games like Liverpool did during their title fight. There was no pressing, no fluidity, and no inspiration.
There seems to be a rejuvenation this preseason, however, and we have perhaps seen some sides of what is to come. There seems to intent to return to the high press that many thought Rodgers would bring with him to Liverpool. Rodgers talked briefly about this early in the preseason while the Reds were in Thailand.
“The first 20 minutes of each half we played with a high press to really force the game and in the second half of each half we looked to defend in a medium to low block. These are the challenges that we’ll find throughout our Premier League season. Times when to press high, in particular at home, and then away from home when at times you have to defend with a medium to low block and I thought the players adjusted and adapted very well to that.”
– Brendan Rodgers
While the idea of pressing high is nice, and what many Liverpool supporters want to see, the problem with the above quote indicates a willingness to let the opposition control the game, something that we saw far too much of against the ‘big’ teams and even smaller teams like Crystal Palace and Stoke. Rodgers needs to be bold. He always talks about how controlling the ball, rather than space, is critical to winning, so this needs to happen. Rodgers needs to cement his philosophy. There needs to be bravery in Liverpool’s play to have and keep the ball. Rodgers has to keep that belief in his side or else there could easily be a repeat of last season’s faults; the ups and downs of the season that were papered over for a bit due to a good run that coincided with a return to confidence and belief in the side.
So there are question marks over what exactly Rodgers is hoping to accomplish going into the season. His appointment of Sean O’Driscoll was thought to be a sign of a return to the ‘death by football’ type play that Rodgers alluded to during his first few weeks at Liverpool. O’Driscoll’s sides were known for good attacking football and the promotion of Pep Lijnders seems to be another appointment that is incredibly hopeful. Both coaches have their own ideas and their own methods and it will help push Rodgers. With Marsh and Pascoe beside him last year, Rodgers was too comfortable with and, more than likely, relatively unchallenged by either Marsh or Pascoe. Perhaps this overhaul will be key to pushing Rodgers even more.
The New Personnel
Another summer of a big exit with Raheem Sterling off to Manchester City, and another summer where Liverpool have used to money to buy a number of players. Personnel dictates a lot of what a manager can do with his team. At this point, personnel should not restrict Rodgers from playing a certain way as most of the players that are in a typical match day squad have been brought in under Rodgers. However, even with that, there are still a number of players with question marks over their heads about where and how they will fit into Rodgers’ master plan.
Source: avfc.co.uk
Christian Benteke – The most expensive signing of the summer has been brought in to score goals. Liverpool hit over 100 goals in the season of their title charge, but failed to get close to that last year with Sturridge injured for most of the year and the trio of Lambert, Balotelli, and Borini failing for have a big impact. Benteke is a goal scorer, but he struggles for consistency in this play. His movement generally brings him towards the ball; dropping in and getting the ball to his feet or acting as a target man further up the field as he did at Aston Villa. Liverpool need a striker with movement that is in-sync with Coutinho’s vision and creativity and Benteke really isn’t the type of player for that.
The big Belgian also lacks the work rate to really press the ball. If Rodgers does have this idea that he will return to a high pressing game, than Benteke is not the best option as the centre forward. To be fair to the new Liverpool man, one could argue that it was Lambert and Sherwood’s philosophies and tactics that stopped the Belgian from really pressing the ball with tenacity and willingness.
The last bit about Benteke is that while there are questions about his suitability in a free-flowing, possession-based approach by Rodgers and Liverpool, there is no doubting that he would add that ‘Plan B’ option that everyone is always harping on (I get it, people want a ‘Plan B,’ but for most people that seems to mean ‘play direct and get crosses in!’ There are other options). Though Liverpool were near the bottom in crosses attempted last year, with Benteke there might be a greater willingness to player a hopeful ball into the box from the wide areas.
James Milner – He came on a free from Manchester City with the guarantee from Rodgers that he would start most games and would be played in a central position, both of which he rarely saw during his time at Manchester City. That makes for a somewhat tricky proposition for the manager. Milner, in many ways, is very similar to Henderson. Both have amazing energy, noted by Rodgers. Perhaps the statement that describes them both very well is that they are both good at everything, but amazing at nothing. Milner’s energy, discipline, and willingness will help when Liverpool look to press the opposition high up the pitch. He has much needed experience to bring to the midfield and brings the ‘character’ to the team that Rodgers yearns for.
Roberto Firmino – The Brasilian signing from Hoffenheim was something of a surprise transfer. Rumours of the Milner signing had been circulating for a long while, as were rumours about Benteke, but the signing of Firmino was done swiftly and quietly, comparatively. Firmino’s time in Germany was an excellent display of what he can offer Liverpool. Whether playing as a number 10, just off the striker, in the wide areas, or deeper in midfield, Firmino has excellent creativity, an eye for goal, and good work rate like Coutinho. His creativity will allow his Brasilian counterpart to find more space, as the opposition will now have to deal with two genuinely creative players. His work rate will also allow Rodgers to playing a higher pressing game.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Firmino played as a ‘false nine’ during the Confederations Cup with Brasil, which could very much be what he does at times for Liverpool. In a way he is like Suarez in many respects. He won’t be scoring as many goals as the Uruguayan did, but he can he that tenacious ‘nine and a half’ that Suarez was for Liverpool.
Nathaniel Clyne – Another signing from Southampton, but done at a more reasonable price than the Lovren and Lallana signings of last summer. Clyne will add some much needed consistency on the right side of Liverpool’s defense. He took Glen Johnson’s number two, but will do much more for the Reds than Johnson has in the last years as the now Stoke City defender seemed like the most disinterested footballer next to Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Clyne will emulate Johnson in going forward and, despite Johnson getting more stick than deserved, our new right back will be much more reliable when defending.
Danny Ings – Another free transfer, but another good recruitment by Liverpool. The former Burnely striker will give Rodgers another option up time and by the end of the transfer window, the manager could be looking at Benteke, Sturridge, Ings, and Origi as the four strikers in the first team. Ings will have to beat out Benteke and, when he gets fits, Sturridge for time. He will see a lot of minutes in cup competitions. He offers what Benteke does not; Ings will look to get in behind the opposition’s back line which will be good for the likes of Coutinho and Firmino’s creativity.
Joe Gomez – The young newcomer has a bright future. He was arguably the highest rated player in Charlton’s youth academy and one of the best young defenders in England. He has shown well so far in the preseason and could get a baptism of fire on the opening day of the Premier League starting against Stoke at left back.
The Formation
Everyone always wants to talk about the formation. What players will fit in this or that formation? Do we have the right players for a 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, etc.? Formations don’t dictate the way a team plays; it doesn’t necessarily tell us how they will play. Of course football fans associate different formations with different styles of play (4-3-3 = Guardiola tiki-taka, 4-4-2 = Graham Taylor’s England). With that said, certain teams play better in certain formations because ‘there are more players in this or that area of pitch and that is where we like to play.’ Personnel can dictate formations as much as style, as can the manager’s preference.
For Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool, there is a big question about what formation will be played by the Reds. Rodgers came to Liverpool as a champion of a 4-3-3. During our title run, with Suarez and Sturridge fit, there was sometimes a diamond. Last year the diamond was around for a bit, but much of our success came from a 3-4-2-1. It was fitting for the players as it allowed Coutinho and Lallana for operate in the space between the opposition’s midfield and defense. It also allowed for our full backs, none of which are too highly rated for their defensive qualities, to operate as wing backs further up the field. Gerrard was able to play because he had some beside him that would be able to do more defensive work, which solved the problem of Gerrard being exposed in a regista-esque role in a 4-3-3.
4-3-3 – Taking into account the new players and the preseason matches, it seems like Rodgers is looking to play a 4-3-3 again, at least until Sturridge is back. The back line could be something like Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren (the Croatian looks to have the starting spot right now over Sakho), and Moreno. A huge question in the 4-3-3 is who plays in that holding midfield role. Emre Can could, but if he is meant to stay disciplined then it takes away his maundering runs going forward. Lucas can of course play there and if Rodgers is looking to allow the opposition to play a bit, then Lucas might be a good option, although his mobility is becoming more of an issue. Milner or Henderson could play there, they won’t be the best at it and their energy would be wasted, but both certainly have the discipline.
Further up the field, what two players play in front of the holder? As captain, Henderson will start most games and Milner came to Liverpool on what seems like a promise that he’ll start most games and that most of those starts will be in a centre midfield role. This is troubling as both Milner and Henderson are similar and there wouldn’t be much creativity coming from the midfield. Pressing would be excellent, however. Coutinho usually looks his best if he plays like a number 8. He can come deep to get the ball or he can find the space between the lines to operate in. He has good work rate and is a good tackler. Playing as one of the midfield three would give Liverpool creativity from deep and would allow the Brazilian to find a bit more space when need be.
The forward line would consist of one of Benteke, Ings, and Origi, supported by the likes of Firmino, Lallana, Ibe, and Coutinho. A 4-3-3 might be Rodgers’ preferred formation, but Liverpool don’t really have wide players, aside from Ibe, that could stretch the opposition’s back line horizontally. Firmino, Lallana, and Coutinho would all want to drift inside rather than pull a full back out of the middle of the park.
4-4-2 Diamond – This almost makes more sense for Liverpool with the players at the club. The back four can be the same as above and now the attack-mindedness of Moreno and Clyne will be hugely important going forward as there is a lack of width from midfield. Someone like Can would be able to sit at the base of the diamond (or Kovacic! Mancini seems to be playing him as a regista anyhow) with Milner and Henderson acting as shuttlers. At the top of the diamond, Coutinho would be able to operate in between the lines and support Benteke and Firmino. Here you have issues with stretching the back line, however, as neither Benteke nor Firmino are that sort of player, but it could work depending on the pace of Liverpool’s play. In a way, the big part of this would be Milner and Henderson as the shuttlers and the formation itself would be very similar to Juventus, Can for Pirlo, Milner and Henderson for Vidal (now at Bayern) and Pogba, and Coutinho for Pereyra. Obviously there are differences in quality there, but it is a similarity.
It would become even better when Sturridge came back as he would be able to stretch the opposition vertically (Ings could as well), opening up more space for Coutinho and someone like Benteke or Firmino.
3-4-2-1 – It worked last year for a good portion of the season as it allowed key players to operate in key roles. Coutinho and Lallana, in particular, thrived in this formation, as mentioned above. They were both able to find space in between the lines and pick out passes going forward.
Should Milner and Henderson start over Emre Can in the centre of midfield? Not sure the answer to that, but it seems like Can would certainly get more time if Rodgers reverted back to a 3-4-2-1 as the German youth international could slot back to defense. He is still best used in a midfield role, but now Milner and Henderson are almost guaranteed starting spots. This shape would allow Milner and Henderson to play as a double pivot in midfield (something that could also allow a 4-2-3-1 to work as well, with Coutinho in front of them), which would support the centre backs as well.
So who and what will Rodgers go for for our trip to Stoke?
Peter Motzenbecker
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