3) Gets attacking midfielders closer to the centre-forward…
One of the problems so far this term is that Christian Benteke has been isolated – with the wide players in the 4-3-3 often tracking back and leaving him without support. He’s won his headers, but there’s rarely been anyone to lay the ball off to. Tonight, Divock Origi will fill in for him, but he won’t do at the weekend. Crucially, this formation, if we stick with it, means Roberto Firmino could play closer to Coutinho, as Adam Lallana will tonight, and hopefully the pair can form the kind of relationship they’ve shown with Brazil – tucked in behind a centre-forward. With overlapping wing-backs, Benteke, or whoever plays up top, will have crosses to feed off as well.
