Brendan Rodgers Finding a Reversal of Fortune in 3-4-2-1 Formation for Liverpool

There was a certain peevishness to Brendan Rodgers’ tone in the build-up to Liverpool’s game against Arsenal last Sunday.

Paul Wilson of the Guardian was among those to quote the Anfield manager as saying in his pre-match press conference:In a sense his frustration is understandable—although it might have been wiser to temper the self-congratulation while Liverpool are undergoing their worst start to a season in half a century; after all, while Bournemouth are clearly a decent side, a 3-1 win over a team from the Championship—no matter the tactical tweaks—shouldn’t be anything to get too excited about.

But given that Liverpool have played significantly better in the past three games—despite losing at Manchester United and only drawing against Arsenal—Rodgers does deserve some credit, and much of the discussion about his “philosophy” seems a little unfair.

When things haven’t been working, it seems a little harsh to then complain when the manager changes things so they look as though they might work.

His approach at Swansea City and in his first season at Liverpool was based on patient passing football, holding possession and wearing teams down.Then, with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in tandem, Rodgers switched to something far more vertical and direct last season.

With Suarez sold and Sturridge injured, the only player offering the same pace and directness has been Sterling (although Mario Balotelli certainly has the physical attributes to play that way, which in part explains his signing), and there has been a ponderousness at times about Liverpool this season—although a ponderousness that has come without great control of possession.

The 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1, on the evidence of three games, has begun to find a balance between the two. The shape is an unusual one, particularly when Markovic is used at left wing-back.

It is the two wide players and Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho who are key, largely because the positions they take up are so unusual.

Lallana and Coutinho operate between the midfield and defensive lines of the opposition. They can drift into the spaces wide of them, not quite as wingers, but in that awkward pocket between the opposing full-back, centre-back and anchor.

Even if the opponent plays with two holding midfielders, there is a problem given Sterling’s tendency to drop deep, away from the central defenders.If the two holders follow Lallana and Coutinho, he can find space between them; if they don’t, then one of the two is likely to be spare.

That means Liverpool will frequently find simple passing options from the back three or from one of the two deep-lying midfield positions, which in turn encourages playing the ball forward quickly from the back, to bring some verticality into their game.

Liverpool’s opening goal against Bournemouth, meanwhile, showed how valuable the wing-backs are.

After a move which had lasted 51 passes, Markovic found space on the left and crossed for Henderson arriving behind the defence from the right. He was unmarked because he had come from so deep, and headed an intelligent ball back across goal for Sterling to score.

Arsenal, on Sunday, similarly, never got to grips with Markovic’s runs from deep and his interaction with Coutinho and Lallana.

There are still major defensive issues—which cost the Reds a win against Arsenal—but at least the way Liverpool are playing from box to box is offering signs of encouragement.

Teams may come to work out a way of countering the unusual shape but, for now, Rodgers has found a way of setting a problem opponents are struggling to solve.

Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2309884-brendan-rodgers-finding-a-reversal-of-fortune-in-3-4-2-1-formation-for-liverpool