6) It gets more of our game-changers on the field…
By deploying the 4-3-3, only two properly creative midfielders are actually used – and both in wide positions off the central striker. Throughout the campaign, this spearhead had been Mario Balotelli or Rickie Lambert due to Daniel Sturridge’s injury, and it plainly hasn’t worked.
Rodgers is now willing to trust Sterling to play a ‘false 9’ role, meaning he’ll be used centrally (about time), but given the freedom to drop deep and collect possession.
It also enables two of either Lallana, Coutinho or Markovic to play alongside him – meaning three genuine attacking midfielders are used instead of the two more disciplined wide-men of the 4-3-3.
What’s more, they’ll have overlapping wing-backs to send to the byline, as well…
