Blog Pollin’: Choose Your Own Formation

By: Noel | February 10th, 2011

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about Liverpool’s use of a three man defence in the past two matches, and so perhaps it’s been easy to forget, but up until Stoke there was a clear preference for four defenders in a 4-3-3. There’s room for both systems, of course, but over the course of a season a side will tend to have a primary system–something that suits them best, and that they can use to impose their style of play on most opponents when either the level of the opponent and some special threat don’t require a radical change of approach.

With that in mind, the question this week is which formation do people see as the best choice for Liverpool’s primary system moving forward? Three center backs and variations on a 3-6-1, or two center backs and two fullbacks in a 4-3-3?

The 3-6-1 used the past two matches has a few obvious points in its favour, namely that if all of Liverpool’s center backs are playing well it’s one of the club’s deepest positions, and as long as Agger is fit and on form there’s at least one player capable of stepping up in possession when having three defenders loitering in their own half might otherwise be overkill. Also, with the usual fullbacks starting higher up the pitch it’s a system that lends itself to a little more natural width. On the flip side it risks a log jam in the limited attacking positions, especially once Carroll regains fitness and if the team is to avoid taking off midfielders and losing the possession battle in midfield as a result. There’s also the constant danger that against a side that can attack with decent width–United and Tottenham likely being the best examples of such in the top half of the table–the wingbacks will end up pinned back as part of a five man back line that leaves Liverpool outnumbered elsewhere on the pitch and thoroughly stuck in their own end.

The 4-3-3, on the other hand, is a bit more of a known quantity, and it more easily incorporates players like Kuyt, Suarez, and Maxi in the wide forward positions. Also, with enough possession, giving the fullbacks time to move forward and provide width becomes less of an issue. With the similarities to the 4-2-3-1 many of the players are used to performing in, it seems a natural fit for the personnel and the likely safe pick.

So, which way would you go in the upcoming matches if you were the manager?

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Category: Miscellaneous

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Jay Wright

433 - start giving Kelly some games at centreback asap. He's a decent right back, but he could be immense at centreback and allow us to play higher up the pitch, due to his pace, technical ability and aerial ability all being far superior to that of Skrtel and Carragher.

Reina
Johnson-Kelly-Agger-Aurelio
Gerrard-Lucas-Meireles
Suarez-Ngog-Jovanovich

Subs: Jones/ Wilson/ Carragher/ Poulsen/ Cole/ Pacheco/ Kuyt
LIVERPOOL GREEK FUN

4-2-3-1 Because is the best system now in football and most succesfull we can play this system even if suarez in top of the attack even suarez at the left and steven jerrard behind the attacker
Tropics Red

Another comment would be that back in the days of Barnes, Beardo and Aldridge we set up as 4-4-2, but essentially played a 4-3-3 because Houghton tucked inside from the right, Barnes played high up on the left and Beardo dropped deep to collect. We could quite easily replicate that with Gerrard tucking in from the right, Johnson overlapping providing width, Suarez dropping deep from Carroll. The only missing link would be a pacey skilfull left winger.
Tropics Red

The concept of a formation based on the existing players needs to be able to morph with the vision of the club going forward. KK has been indoctrinated in the 'pass and move' philosophy and I would expect that his formations will enhance a possesion based approach. 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-6-1 (3-3-3-1) all suit that approach, so I wouldn't be suprised if we used variations throughout the rest of the season. I don't think this is a bad thing - others may say we should play our best players in our best formation and not worry about the opposition, but in the modern game I'm not sure that confidence is sensible anymore. Just look at last years CL Final. Barca just played their way, no Plan B, no thought that their approach may be nullified by tactics. In the day and age of squad rotation and hopefully, EPL, CL, FAC and LC fixtures, I'd like to think we could blood alot more of the young players in systems that suit their introduction and fully use the squad.
Grubb

Isn't it nice to be talking about options! With Roy it was defensive 4-4-2 or defensive 4-2-3-1. Our new found flexibility is great, not only does it confuse the opposition, but it also gets us debating and discussing!

I personally want to see a 4-3-3. I think it suits our players, and the kind of players we should be associated with in the next transfer window (yeah it IS a bit early to be alluding to the next window, but I'm a transfer window junkie, no mistake - Hazard and Suarez supporting Carroll? I lie awake dreaming about it. More than sex.)

I hope the 3-6-1 formation is used occasionally to give us flexibility against certain opponents and that we regularly trot it out to our advantage, but not as our standard formation.

I've been wondering if Stoke was a dress rehearsal for a system designed with Chelsea in mind, and business as usual will be restored against Wigan - an attacking and fluid 4-3-3. What better system to help Luis settle than the one he's successfully been playing in Holland?
Rosco

You again! What is this phantom role your playing these days?
Kai

I must 1st declare I'm no tactical guru and spend most of my Sunday league games playing a very fluid 8-0-2 or 2-0-8 formation depending on where the ball is.

Seems like we can (almost) all agree on the midfield axis of Lucas, Stevie G & Meireles, with 1 or 2 wing-backs bombing forward. We sorta know our forward line would be the big Geordie up front, either lone with Suarez in support or alongside or cutting in from wide a la Messi.

Since we're talking of acquiring a new CB for depth & a possible long-term replacement for Carra, we could be targeting someone who is confortable in an advanced CB/very defensive CM. With this, we could be playing a very interchangable 3 or 2 CBs and a midfield trio/quartet depending on the run of play/opposition's tactics. This CB/DM can move up along Lucas for a 4-2-2-2/4-2-3-1 or fall back into a 3-6-1/3-5-2 throughout the match.

We need players with a good tactical sense for this or we'll be leaving gaps/playing opponents onside or generally be a massive balls-up. Or this idea will be a massive balls-up anyway.
Dj-Chutfield

3-6-1 has been working well so far, but 3 defenders went out of use for a reason. I can already see what'll happen the day it's defeated; the southern press will be calling King Kenny outdated, Liverpool FC dismissed as a team from the past that has yet to adapt to modern football...

Against a team that plays primarily down the middle 3-6-1 is ideal especially if Agger is fit. Against teams with width, however, I'd much rather see us go back to 4-3-3 in possession and 4-2-3-1 when the opposition has opposition. When Kuyt, Carroll and Suarez are fit, I'm not sure how they can all fit into a 3-6-1.

PS, whatever happened to that fella named Jovanovic? Does Kenny not rate him? He's really not half bad!
bro

i would have kuyt as a cf then luis behind in the ss role. gerrard and raul in attacking mid role with lucas who controled the flow at chelsea behind them 2 in dm role. then play with wing backs still. now depending on who is injured or not i would have glen and kelly in the same place. but of course if not glen on the right fab on the left. 3 at the back with the same as chelsea but if skrtel out then of course kyrgiakos there. so 3-1-4-2. so with lucus ther gerrard and raul can get up ther so can the wing backs knowing he can get back to help the 3. if the wing back stay back lucas can push up the pitch to.
Slime

with the qualities of kelly and johnson going up the field, I feel like it would be a little wasteful to have them sit back behind 2 wingers in a 4-3-3. Also, I think the 3 center backs of Agger, Skrtel, and Carragher is the best defensive line-up we could have, with one of them always covering for another. Here is my ideal line-up once everyone is fit:

Carroll
Suarez

Meireles

Gerrard

Lucas
Johnson Kelly

Agger Skrtel Carragher

This system will keep the center triangle of Meireles-Gerrard-Lucas intact, while we still have Suarez a little deeper than Carroll to play the supporting striker role and to come back into the midfield to receive passes. Johnson and Kelly will provide us with the width as they have been in the advanced fullback positions, which will be very important considering the aerial threat that Carroll possesses. I know this line-up omits Kuyt, but I still think this is the best balanced out line-up we could put out for a game. I don't think his touches and passing are good enough to fit into this midfield, and with Suarez and Carroll up top it's hard for him to compete with those two. He would definitely be a great sub to bring in up front though. With that said, I also think it's important what Kenny and Steve said about adapting to the different opponents that we come up against. I hope that is the case, and I'm sure it will be, because each team that we play possesses different types of players and use different systems.
CSD

It really depends on the opposition as well as the players who are available. All three might be good options depending on those two variables.
Jerod

I agree, though as Noel and Joel have mentioned, the 3-6-1's inherent weakness against a team with natural width makes the 4-3-3 our best all-around formation.

But, as you say, it really does depend on the strengths and weaknesses of the given opponent.
Tom Foolery

Totally. So, Wigan on Saturday...I'd go 4-3-3. Don't watch too much Wigan, but I think they run with one up front (Rodallega), and five through the midfield. I expect wing play, with players like N'Zogbia in their lineup, and Figueroa rampaging from fullback.
Rumor of a Kelly ankle injury, so bring GJ to the right, Fabio on the left, Carra and Agger between, Lucas, Gerrard, Raul, then Maxi, then Suarez, then Kuyt.
Impose play. Nullify their threat on the wings with composed MIDFIELD possession (too much defensive possession for my nerves to take against Chelsk), and swift offensive moves.
3-nil reds. Maybe too much confidence, but the King tends to bring that outta people, it seems.
Yann

I might be wrong, but I think N'Zogbia is out suspended, for a headbutt I think it was.
Noel

Well that just takes the fun right out of things. I demand stratified opinion and an unwillingness to compromise!
CSD

lol..We had that under Rafa... the 4-2-3-1 that was shoved down our throats regardless of opposition or who was filling the roles.
Red2death

3-5-2.

The 2 upfront being Suarez and Carroll because on paper at least they're a good matchup. And I'm sure that partnership something they had in mind when they purchased Carroll.

3-5-2 also gives flexibility during matches, which we know Dalglish likes. It could easily morph into more of a 5-3-2 when teams choose to exploit the wings, or a 3-6-1 if the main battle is in midfield or if we just want to see a game out.

The key would be those 3 at the back. Against Chelsea we had Carragher, Skrtel and Agger all fit and on form. We know that's highly unlikely to remain the case for an entire season, so we do need backup. Soto is ok, I'd actually put him in ahead of Skrtel. But we still need someone to replace Carra long term - and one who can work with the other 2 in that formation.
arnie pie

Absolutely correct, I think the key to this formation is the flexibility, so depending on how Wigan lines up against us, we should be able to neutralise their strengths (be it through the middle or down the wings etc.) which we've shown in good effect against Stoke and Chelski. And like an old badminton coach used to say to me, "don't change something unless it starts making you lose" (or something that sounded much cooler than that).

Let’s hope we continue our winning ways and bring up our 4th straight win and really start putting pressure on that elusive 4th spot. Could we finish above Chelski the supposed ‘bigger club’? With King Kenny at the helm, we can dream again.
Rosco

I'm on your boat Red. Partly because I'm unsure of Carrolls inclusion in the current system, though greatly down to that I've been setting my teams up in FIFA that way since way back 96'
Joel

The problem I see with continuing with the 3-6-1 is that it's a formation that easily falls victim to width. Chelsea had no width, ignoring the obvious counter to our formation, instead preferring to smash their heads against the wall. Stoke lacked width because they were playing very defensively, with their wingers consistently staying deep to provide 5 men across midfield.

4-3-3 really fits our squad as we have wide forwards rather than wingers. The only first team player who doesn't have an easily spotted position here is Maxi, but he'd be just fine as one of the midfield 3 or playing wide in the attacking 3. Our midfield is very effective with Raul/Gerrard playing in front of Lucas.