Liverpool’s summer transfer window has been pretty impressive. After spending a record fee for signing Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, the Reds haven’t shied away this summer, having gone and spent a record fee on a goalkeeper.
Jürgen Klopp has managed to add good squad depth this time around and the potential sale of a few fringe players in the coming weeks isn’t going to affect that.
Klopp’ side often blew teams away with their pressing but this season, they are going to have to adapt if they are to win the league. You can finish in the top four with a good attack and an okay defence, but Manchester City showed that to win the league, you’ve got to be mean at the back as well.
The 4-4-2 is one setup that allows the side to have more defensive stability. With the work rate the Liverpool attackers have, it could work well with the new players.
Liverpool with the 4-4-2 formation?
The back four won’t be affected much with the formation change. Andy Robertson and Nathaniel Clyne could be the first choice fullbacks, while Dejan Lovren and Virgil van Dijk could start at the heart of the defence with Alisson Becker starting in goal.
There are a few options in midfield. Fabinho and Jordan Henderson are players who are more defensive minded. It’s likely one of them will start.
Fabinho has the quality and the touch on the ball, but Henderson is the engine and has brilliant work rate. There could be games where both of them might start, because of how much attacking talent there is around them.
Alongside the one of the aforementioned, Klopp has the option of starting Naby Keita as well. Keita isn’t a defensive midfielder but is during the transitions from defence to attack and vice-versa.
Mohamed Salah was the player who often causes havoc on the right but the 4-4-2 will allow him to play up top alongside Roberto Firmino. Shaqiri’s signing means he can play on the right wing. Of course, he will take a while getting used to the system, because frankly, no team in Europe press like Liverpool do. But once he is settled, he could be the ideal player to have on the right.
Sadio Mane, of course, will take his place on the left. Mane has started pre-season well and is always a threat owing to his pace and ability to take on players. Needless to say, he is good at pressing as well and his defensive work rate is something Klopp can reply on.
The advantage of the formation is because of the quality and combination play of the front two in this setup, Liverpool won’t need their fullbacks to make those marauding runs all that often which would provide a lot more security at the back.
