Jurgen Klopp today played down the significance of Liverpool’s recent system change.
In our past two fixtures, Liverpool set out in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum in a double pivot, with the manager’s hand slightly forced due to the absence of Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita.
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We scored four goals against both Red Star and Cardiff, but when pressed on whether he’d stick with the tactic, Klopp said it wasn’t that important – hinting we’ve actually used a diamond as well without the media picking up on it!
“Being without two midfielders should always be possible to deal with. A third one would be more problematic,” Klopp told his Melwood press-conference today.
“It’s good for us that we could deal with it the way we did, the boys did well with the change of the system.
“Players shouldn’t lose rhythm with a little change, it really isn’t that massive a difference.
“We are not that stubborn system wise, we never were…
“We’ve already played a diamond this season and nobody mentioned it!
“We try to use the players in the best way and allow them to shine.”
The game in question was actually the first of the season against West Ham, when Roberto Firmino essentially played as a no.10, with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane as central forwards.
The width was provided by Andrew Robertson and Naby Keita down the left and Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner on the right!
But really, Salah and Mane play such narrow roles, and Firmino is so happy to drop deep, that our 4-3-3 can often be interpreted as a diamond anyway.
Versus Arsenal on Saturday, we think this is the way Klopp will go, as it allows us an extra midfielder, namely Milner, to enter the fray.
If we’re in need of creativity and goals as the game progresses, Xherdan Shaqiri can provide it from the bench.