- Antonio Conte no longer using the 3-4-3 that won Chelsea the title last year
- Italian has moulded a new, 3-5-2 formation instead to solidify the side
- Jurgen Klopp hasn’t lost to Conte as Liverpool boss yet
- SEE MORE: ‘We have a problem’ Conte already making excuses for Chelsea v Liverpool
The most impressive thing about Antonio Conte is his ability to alter tactics and formations when it’s not working.
Last season, Chelsea started slowly, but the Italian switched to a 3-4-3 set-up which saw the Blues steamroll the Premier League – ahead of Manchester City, Spurs and ourselves.
This term though, he’s changed his formation again after some sloppy performances and is now using a 3-5-2 with Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard as strikers.
“This season I think we are changing something to find a new balance, a new solidity, to have a good balance when we are attacking and when we are defending,” Conte said, ESPN report. “I hope to continue to improve. This is the second game we finished with a clean sheet and we have to continue in this way.”
It’s worked in the two games Chelsea have used it so far, as has dropping David Luiz from the starting XI.
Liverpool’s main concern with Conte’s 3-5-2 is getting overrun in central midfield next Saturday, when the champions travel to Anfield.
He’s likely to field N’Golo Kante, Tiemoue Bakoyoko and Cesc Fabregas, with wing-backs either side providing width and extra passing options.
Klopp uses three central midfielders, but one of these will be Coutinho, who’ll be given a free licence. It’ll be crucial that Alberto Moreno and Joe Gomez step up and match Chelsea centrally.
A win will see us go level with our rivals on 25 points. It’ll be a tough ask, but they’ll be jaded after a Wednesday evening Champions League game in Qarabag, Azerbaijan, which could work in our favour.