Liverpool must abandon 4-3-3 for this tactical approach

Liverpool need to get rid of the 4-3-3 formation.

Jurgen Klopp must make some tactical changes to Liverpool’s attacking approach to continue on the road to success this coming campaign.

The tried an trusted 4-3-3 formation that has served the lanky German so well for the past three seasons is becoming stale, and somewhat predictable.

Evidence of this comes in the form of defenses consistently sitting deep and defending vigorously on the wings in the defensive half. Indeed for the past three campaigns, the Reds have had immense joy from attacks coming from wide positions.

They rely heavily on the exploits of Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, the assist totals of these two full backs for the past two campaigns is further evidence of this attacking paradigm.

In many ways this has been the gaffer’s best option since the absence of wantaway Philippe Coutinho. Without his creative ability in midfield, the injury and loss of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for an entire year and the slow growth of Naby Keita into the mix gave the Reds few options through the middle of the park.

With the return to form of Ox, and the reinvigorated efforts of Keita Klopp should seriously consider changing up his attack strategy to reflect this growth in midfield options.

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A 4-2-3-1 formation with Bobby Firmino setting up as lone striker would be a potent middle of the park attacking option. This would also give Divock Origi the middle to operate when he is called on to sub Firmino. He definitely is more threatening from the middle.

Consider this for a moment, Fabinho and/or Wijnaldum, Henderson sitting deep in holding defensive roles. In front of Robbo, Gomez, Van Dyke, and Arnold. This leaves Mane and Salah out wide with Ox or Keita in the middle of the forward three, and Bobby up top as a legitimate nine.

Having two sixes would be an added defense against quick counters that have plagued Klopp’s defense of late.

This formation gives the Reds several forward thrust options that are just not available in the 4-3-3 formation that has been their hallmark in recent years.

Henderson has really improved his forward passing game this past season and he now is a threat with balls over the top down the middle of the pitch. Fabinho and Van Dijk are also proficient over the top and through ball passers.

Trent and Robbo are still wide threats, and can spread the defense using all the pitch to their advantage. The same goes for Sadio and Mo. By spreading the field from touchline to touchline, this opens space, middle of the pitch, naturally, as no one will relish taking either fullback or the wide threats of Mane and Salah on one v one.

This also makes those angle channels more available to inside runs that Mane and Salah love to make to great effect. This, it seems to me, invites the Reds to play more to their strengths than the formation that everyone in the world has now learned to defend against with Liverpool.

Indeed, we saw this in fact, since the away loss to Nigel Pearson’s Watford on the road. Atletico made it look easy for nearly 180 minutes in their Champions League ties. Once again, in the restart mini-season, nearly every side defended Liverpool in this fashion.

Jurgen must surely be aware of this and I expect he and Pep Lijnders are burning the midnight oil to address this situation. The proposed summer transfers the Reds are entertaining also may give a clue to a change in attacking options.

Obviously, this paradigm Ive outlined here depends totally on the continued for of Ox, and the consistency and health of Keita.