Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Josh Williams

Luis Diaz could help Liverpool unleash formation that stunned Man City

Last season, Liverpool made the trip to the Etihad to face Manchester City in November with an ace up their sleeve.

Jurgen Klopp hadn't benefited from the luxury of having many options in attack during his time in charge of the Reds, but Diogo Jota had arrived during the previous summer and the Portuguese forward had settled in well.

To Pep Guardiola's surprise, Klopp changed his customary 4-3-3 formation for the contest. Instead, he opted for a very offensive 4-4-2 formation which appeared more like a 4-2-4 whenever Liverpool initiated an attack.

VERDICT: Liverpool have just got a 30-minute tantalising glimpse into the future

PLAYER RATINGS: Harvey Elliott bright as defender shines for Liverpool

READ MORE: What Luis Diaz did before Liverpool's second goal will delight Jurgen Klopp

Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah operated as a front two through the middle, with Sadio Mane on the left flank and Jota on the right.

The Reds fell short of picking up a win with the scores ending 1-1, but the visiting side did take the lead and managed to outshoot City by nine attempts to six during the clash.

Klopp hasn't tampered with his go-to shape very often during his stay on Merseyside, but considering Luis Diaz was recently signed by the club for a fee that could rise to £49m, it could happen more often in the future.

Just three of the club's five elite attacking talents can play at once in Klopp's 4-3-3 system, but the 4-4-2 alternative that was used against City allows for an extra forward to be fielded at the expense of a central midfielder, with an example pictured below.

The forwards at Liverpool are incredibly versatile and capable of adopting multiple different positions within the confines of a 4-4-2. Salah can play on the right wing or through the middle. Jota, Mane and Diaz can play on either flank or through the middle.

4-2-3-1 is another shape that could be tested moving forward. Klopp seemed to use that formation fairly often when Xherdan Shaqiri showcased his best form in a red shirt some years ago.

Ultimately, the German now has a wealth of options up front. For the first time, he could deem the depth of his attack to be stronger than his midfield, which could result in tactical tweaks between now and the end of the campaign.

4-3-3 has always made sense but as the make-up of the squad shifts, tactics could change to suit the players.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.