16 Jan 2026 00:45:57
Hi Ed's, If another manager such as Alonso can in how would you see him using Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz? Would it work with Isak, Ekitike and Wirtz behind as attacking midfielder as an example?
{Ed001's Note - I have no idea how Alonso would use them as he adapts to the players, so he would be constantly tweaking it. I am sure at times he would use the three, as he looks to attack as much as possible. I doubt it would be the same every game.}
16 Jan 2026 06:52:46
At Leverkusen everything was built around wirtz, and everybody else had to adapt to his movements or try to create the most space for him to operate. Most importantly the two full backs in grimaldo and frimpong kept all the width and had a telepathic understanding with wirtz as he roamed about the field and into the half space pockets. Interestingly xabi used two 10s in his Leverkusen side as withdrawn wide players, which was how I imagined slot would use mo and flo this season. The 10 on the other side of flo would have to work really hard off the ball and fill in holes as they appeared on the pitch with Flo roaming though, and I can imagine szoboszlai could certainly do that on the right if that exact formation was to be used.
The two forwards were charged with pushing the opposition back line back with their pace and constant runs in behind, the full backs with stretching the pitch, the double pivot with baiting the midfield press (with one of the three center halves he would use stepping up to midfield in possession), trying to create as much room in the opposition half for wirtz to pick up the ball and wreck havoc.
16 Jan 2026 08:47:18
Ed01 at Leverkusen, Alonso was able to play a back 3 that morphed often into a back 4 due to the flexibility of some of his players, as well. For ex. Hincapie. As he can play both LB and CB in a back 3 or 4, he would rotate into both positions depending on the flow of the game.
Same goes with Frimpong who would morph from a wingback to a right winger or RB depending on what's going on in the game. So your're right. Alonso is always evolving the way he plays as he looks to attack the opposition from different angles and in diff. ways.
16 Jan 2026 10:23:34
Can we just get Alonso now, sounds like it would be worth watching, definitely can't get worse than the dross played now.
16 Jan 2026 10:29:03
We spanked Wirtz led Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 at Anfield. So we want to be Wirtz led Liverpool?
16 Jan 2026 10:45:30
HP, we beat Barcelona 4 -0 with Messi, Suarez, Busquets etc. what's your point?
16 Jan 2026 11:35:45
Man, if we do get Alonso I hope to God he is more successful than Slot because the mental gymnastics some of you guys are going to need to do will be brutal.
16 Jan 2026 12:00:09
We've been spanked by Nottingham forest and PSV sooo what's that suggest?
16 Jan 2026 13:21:13
It suggests to me that we weren't good enough on the day to beat a reasonable PL side and an average Dutch side in the CL. We've also beaten Arsenal and outplayed them in a draw at their place and we've beaten Real Madrid and Inter Milan, what does that suggest?