06 Jun 2022 13:02:38
Ed001 mate, this might be a bit of a loaded question, and I am not sure where I am headed with this, but do you see us changing our gameplay/ style? I think we can agree that our basic tenets of the game include high press, high line, full backs bombing forward with our CMs filling up the space, CF dropping deeper etc. All this combine to make us the feared Red machine that force everyone to park the jet just to stifle us.


But, do you think:

1. There is room for the “blueprint” to be improved? I personally don’t think we need to change any facet apart from converting the chances, as was discussed in these pages before. That and perhaps for someone to be able to bin one in the top corner so teams will think twice about defending too deep?

2. Notwithstanding what I said above, is there anyone in world football today who’s worth altering some of the tenets for?

Interested to hear everyone’s take on it.

{Ed001's Note - we have already been altering the style with the arrival of Thiago to hold onto possession more. There is always room to improve though.

No, there is never a single player worth building a whole system around as you are ruined if he then gets a bad injury or loses form.}


1.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 14:42:05
If we replace Mane with a natural number 9 i think we could see more of 4231 or even 442

Fabinho Thiago Henderson Keita Milner for the 2 midfield spots (id bring in 2 top midfielders and get rid of Keita but more likely we get one and he might even stay)

Salah can play on the right as can Elliott/ Gordon. Carvalho Jones Elliott Firmino can play as the 10. Diaz, Jota, Carvalho can play on the left. Bring in a new 9 to replace Mane then Salah Firmino Jota can all play as the 9 too if needed.


2.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 14:50:01
I have pondered this previously and do wonder if we could move to a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-2-1-3 formation. I think we’d need a quality sticking mid for the latter option and another def mid to play alongside Fabinho, arguably one with a better passing range - Xabi Alonso type maybe. All theories of course.


3.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 15:00:58
you just described Thiago Johnny.


4.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 17:49:27
Get rid of Thiago and buy a Thiago like player!


5.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 17:58:38
I think Naby could replace Thiago in between him coaching and captaining the side.


6.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 18:03:36
You’d play Thiago as one of two defensive mid? Not sure I would TBH.


7.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 18:43:35
Why not Johnny? That's the exact position he played at Bayern in a 2 man holding midfield with Muller ahead as a No.10.

Thiago was a deep lying playmaker before Klopp transformed him into a box to box player. Hence why he said in an interview "Klopp taught me to run".

It would get the best out of Thiago and allow us to play someone like Carvalho as a number 10.


8.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 18:53:16
In that case maybe give it a go, thinking we probably need someone a bit younger there myself though.


9.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 19:55:02
‘Box to box’ would be stretching it a little MKS, lol.
Granted I have seen games where Thiago has made a concerted effort to stay wider left in the midfield 3 but he very often gravitates to around the centre circle and makes a 2 with Fabinho in any case.
Liverpool often use him to take deeper possession off the centre backs also.
I’d say Klopp gives Thiago a fair bit of licence to roam away from what we’ve seen previously of a conventional 3.
When you routinely play such a high defensive line, with the fullbacks pushed on, there isn’t really a set formation anyway I’d say.
Liverpool are just committed to putting lots of numbers in attacking positions.


10.) 06 Jun 2022
06 Jun 2022 20:01:42
Thiago saying Klopp taught him to run is a reference to the mileage they clock up in pre-season more than it is to his role on the pitch.
It is well known that Klopp pushes them hard when they come back from their break.


11.) 07 Jun 2022
07 Jun 2022 10:21:24
Klopp works miracles, but he doesn’t work the miracle of transforming Thiago’s legs into a box to box midfielder lol.


12.) 07 Jun 2022
07 Jun 2022 10:52:00
I'd say Thiago is pretty much playing box to box but it'ssubjective terminology. He may not play at the same intensity as Henderson as he isn't as dynamic, but he'll chip in defensively and he occasionally even pops up attacking crosses into the opposition box.

That's just how we play in my opinion. A 6 with two 8's either side. He's certainly not playing exclusively as a deep lying playmaker anymore, that's for sure. He'll press, track back, drop deep to receive, push up high in between the lines etc. How you categorise his role is completely subjective i suppose but he is pretty all action nowadays!


13.) 07 Jun 2022
07 Jun 2022 12:44:36
MK, with respect, I don't think there is anyone here who would attribute box to box midfielder to how you have just described. but otherwise agree that he does a bit of everything except for tracking back. Once the play is behind him he is out of the play until the defenders win it back or the ball is out of play.


14.) 07 Jun 2022
07 Jun 2022 17:01:39
IMO, Thiago is no box to box midfielder, MKS. Sorry to say.