Liverpool has no settled formation to accommodate £46m new boys

Last season much praise was offered Brendan Rodgers’ way for his tactical prowess and adaptability, with his Liverpool side using more than half a dozen different formations through the course of the campaign.

The Northern Irishman was often criticised for being too set on his preferred 4-3-3 formation in his opening season, but made huge steps away from this in his second year at Anfield.

This was due mostly as he sought to accommodate Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez together up front, once the latter returned from suspension. Rodgers implemented a back three system in a 3-4-1-2 formation, allowing Suarez and Sturridge to be a more traditional front two and neither being shifted out wide.

It was something Rodgers did with great effect in the latter stages of the season, this time with a 4-1-2-1-2 shape, aka the midfield diamond. It got the best from his two star forwards and also nearly brought the title to Merseyside.

Alas, with Suarez gone, Rodgers sought a new partner for Sturridge this summer, somebody comfortable playing alongside or instead of Sturridge when the Englishman is rested/injured.

That man eventually turned out to be Mario Balotelli, having almost signed Loic Remy – a player more capable of playing wide and offering pace through the middle.

Thus far, Balotelli has looked better alongside Sturridge.

But most of the other new signings from this summer look less comfortable in diamond shaped midfield and are more used to playing within a 4-3-3 shape. Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana in particular.

Indeed, should Rodgers opt for the diamond, and given the form of Raheem Sterling, it’s hard to see where Markovic or Lallana – £46 million of new signings – fit into the side.

Liverpool’s stuttering start to the season has seen them play 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-1-2-1-2, and for part of the defeat at West Ham, 3-5-2. Such frequent changes cannot have helped the new signings fit in at the club.

Speaking after the defeat at West Ham, Rodgers said: ‘The 4-4-2 diamond worked really well but it worked well with certain players and not at the weekend. Until I get all the players back that I know are multifunctional players, I’ll look at the strength of the players we do have fit.’

That hints at the manager using one formation for the forthcoming fixtures. Much of that will depend on when Sturridge is back fit and available.

Source: Metro UK