We have Walker, Danilo and Mendy instead of Clichy and Zaba. We have 7 forwards who are top quality and I think 5 of them should be on the pitch in the advanced positions which a 4-1-4-1 can give.
----------KDB------------Silva/Silva----------
Sterling-------------------------------------Sane
----------------Aguero/Jesus------------------
My take from the Liverpool Pre-Match thread....
Attack (2-1-5-2)
....................Ederson
..........Kompany......Otamendi
................Fernandinho
Walker..Bernardo..KDB..Silva..Mendy
...........Aguero.......Jesus
Collapsing Defence (4-2-3-1/4-5-1)
....................Ederson
Walker....Kompany......Otamendi....Mendy
............Fernandinho....KDB
...Bernardo....Aguero/Jesus*.....Silva
.................Aguero/Jesus*
*Trade off
However, I'm absolutely not opposed to a 3-5-2/5-3-2, swapping out Bernardo for Stones. I think that against an "all-midfield/counter attacking" team like Liverpool, I think it is important to play 2 upfront and play them in the inside right and inside left positions to keep the back four honest and make their forwards work in midfield. They play a supposed 4-3-3, Firminho up top with wingers, but those wingers are really breaking midfielders...but devastating ones on the counter (Sane and Salah). This is why it might be good to go with 3 at the back to allow one of the CB to slide over if the active side FB is caught upfield.
One of the things that is difficult for our own midfield is that Pep likes to switch the play across the field to the opposite sid FB hugging the touchline. We see KDB playing that ball all the time, but if it is cut out, we are wwwiiiiddddeeee open on that side. Accordingly, while the FBs are "flying FBs," it is important that the far side FB stays home to maintain a tight back line UNLESS our DM is in place to cover up. This type of play requires everyone to have their head on a swivel, especially the coordination needed between the midfield and the FBs. Whether we are there today or not, I'm not sure, but that is where we are heading.
CMs have always had that "You go, I'll stay" mentality, but to do that in a team wide basis is much more difficult, because if one player misreads the situation, it becomes plain to see where the wide open spaces are and a good counter attacking team takes advantage of that, as the breaking forwards seek to exploit the space.
The modern game, as played by the likes of Pep, Klopp, Conte and Mourinho, is one of constant motion, rotation, and exploitation of the opposition weaknesses as they arise. All those teams have exceptional strengths, which is why the games become more about pulling players around and out of position than just the old style "one on one" battles of CF vs CB.
What is very interesting to me is that Klopp has built a team in Pep's image, but, in many ways, a bigger, stronger, and perhaps even faster version! I think people write off Liverpool at their peril this season. I'm not sure how much depth he has in the squad, as it looks like they only have 14-15 serious players, and I think their defence is far worse than ours, but their whole game plan is to stop you breaching their midfield and even attacking their back four....again, a Pep trait!
It'll be a very interesting game and one I've opened a few days off for, as it is definitely worth flying thousands of miles to see this one in person, versus watching live in my shorts from the comfort of my armchair and 60 inch UHD TV!!!
