We should look to set up in a 4-3-3 very similar to the way Barcelona did under Pep.
I would see Coutinho playing a similar role to Iniesta in terms of playing between the lines of midfield and up front, predominately in the left channel
For this system to work you need a few things.
- Quick full back who push up and draw the oppositions wide players to them, creating space in front of them for our own wide players and midfield to exploit.
- Pacey wide players in the top 3 of your formation (if we lack two pacey wide players we should look to deploy at least one on the left. Ideally Ibe as I believe he has more pace than Lallana and Firmino and will stretch the oppositions defence and midfield more quickly, thus created space for Coutinho to exploit.
With this pace he can attack the full back and if left isolated can cause havoc. If like most teams you would see a doubling up of the winger by one of the covering CM's this would free up space for Coutinho in the channel vacated by the accelerating Ibe.
And as we have seen on numerous occasions Coutinho does his best work when drifting out to the left unnoticed, picking up the ball and then coming inside to shoot or play an incisive pass. It's hard to defend against because as long as your left sides attacker in your front 3 stays wide and your full back either backs him up or overlap the opposition will be compelled to double up in that corner or be exposed, hence leaving space for Coutinho to drop into.
Another key feature of this system working well is having pace on the opposite flank so that if the opposition floods that side of the pitch to negate the space, they leave themselves exposed to a quick switch of play and potential 2 on 1 down their left side, (Clyne & Firmino) (Again something Barca used to do so well with Alves and Messi)
- Against most sides having a striker who sits up on top on the last man and moves CB's away from the areas you want to release Coutinho means you need a striker with clever movement who is mobile and agile. (Sturridge and Suarez did this amazingly well when each was deployed up top).
Unfortunately I don't Benteke doing much of this so I would potentially look at using Firmino up top in away games with Lallana on the right.
In games against teams who literally park the bus and conceded 3/4 of the pitch to us to eliminate the space for Coutinho we deploy Benteke up top and use our overlapping full backs to cross into the box that they are camped in defending and Benteke's head will do the rest.
- Above all else for this system to work you need, quick, clever movement done at pace. You need players with an exceptional awareness of who's around them and a superb first touch (Milner fits the bill perfectly as does Firmino, Gomez and Clyne.
That's a pretty basic explanation but I'm pretty sure you've already hit the quote button said something like 'What the f*ck is this abortion of a post?"but you did ask.
😉
