Let’s get weird, yeah?
The defense remains in tact, though Joe Gomez, Sakho, the mystery left back and even Ragnar Klavan are liable to bust through at any given time. The team is fluid.
Speaking of fluidity, an interesting part of Klopp’s reign at Liverpool has a lack of rigid formation. For instance, a 4-2-3-1 can easily morph into a 4-2-2-2 during the game, or back into a 4-5-1, or anything, really, with the parts moving at light speed under Klopp.
So if they start in a 4-2-2-2 with a Sturridge and Origi partnership and Coutinho and Wijnaldum underneath, goals shouldn’t be a problem if requisite chances are carved out. Sturridge’s numbers have been stacked favorably with some of Liverpool’s greatest strikers ever since he made the move, Origi found consistency before an injury last season as well as Wijnaldum’s prowess that I have, and will continue to, wax lyrical about.
(When Wijnaldum was first linked with Liverpool, I wasn’t a fan. But, day by by, it’s really grown on me. I’ve embraced it, go’ern then, Gini!)
In the base of the midfield with any two of Can, Henderson or Milner, legs will be provided to cover a potential lack of numbers should Coutinho or Wijnaldum fail to plug space after going forward. The only issue for the base of the midfield is any three of those players do like to get forward when they can, because every player not named John Obi Mikel or Lucas Leiva does. They’ll have to play more responsible in this set up.
Next: Teamsheet 5