Time to ditch 3 at the back?

[beejay]

Rodgers pulled this system out the bag to suit the players at his disposal but there are clear signs it's been found out and the goals have dried up.

We also have Sturridge back in the side and that creates a problem about where to fit in Sterling & Coutinho. Plus we now have Flanagan & Johnson available.

I'd be tempted to go back to the diamond formation from last season with Coutinho at the tip and Sterling moving into the "Suarez" role alongside Sturridge. It suits Sturridge more and puts Sterling in areas where he can be at his most dangerous.

I don't want Moreno anywhere near the side so would have Johnson at LB where he has arguably been at his best with Flanagan & Can challenging each other for the right back slot.

Gerrard to finish his career with us back in the centre so the line-up is :

..................................................Mignolet..............................................

Can or Flanagan...............Skrtel..............Lovren.................Johnson

------------------------------------------------Gerrard--------------------------------

-----------------------------Henderson--------------------Allen--------------------

------------------------------------------------Coutinho--------------------------------

--------------------------------------Sterling
Sturridge---------------------

Lallana or Markovic to come on to replace one of the top 3, whoever deserves to be pulled.

 

[Judge Jules]

The overall idea is worth considering but I have some issues with your actual team selection:

1. Sorry but I wouldn't bring Stevie back into the starting line-up. He shouldn't ever play just in front of the defence again, and I wouldn't bring him in ahead of our other AM options either.

2. I also wouldn't put Can at RB, which (though he could do a decent job there) would be a waste IMO. I'd give either Flanno or Manquillo (who did well in a 4-4-2) another go and use Can further forward (perhaps instead of Allen, whom I like but whose performances are too inconsistent for him to be a regular starter IMO) or as a CB option.

3. Despite his improvement in the last couple of games, for me there's no way Lovren has earned a place ahead of Sakho.

 

[Fabio]

JJ laying down some hearty doses of truth there!

 

[Hansern]

Getting Ibe back at RWB will also help a lot

 

[StevieM]

Lucas @ the base of the diamond - Can & Henderson in the middle, Coutinho & the tip.

Works for me - although Gerrard for Can and Can for Lucas also works for me.

 

[Gary25]

Lucas @ the base of the diamond - Can & Henderson in the middle, Coutinho & the tip.

Works for me - although Gerrard for Can and Can for Lucas also works for me.

I'm not sure Can is ready for Centre Mid in English football just yet. It looks a little too fast and furious for him.

 

[dantes]

Getting Ibe back at RWB will also help a lot

But getting him into the attacking three will help even more.

 

[Hansern]

But getting him into the attacking three will help even more.

Who do you drop from the team?

 

[JohnnyRocket]

I'm always uneasy with a 3 at the back. But that's just me I suppose. I always feel like a clever enough opposition using a standard 4-2-3-1 can exploit that area between the wide centre back and the wing back.

Opposition wide players, with the help of the full backs behind them can easily pin the wing backs back to create a back 5, and when that happens you loose width, and a lot of your attacking threat from the wing backs. Then, if you're brave enough to leave your wing backs further forward, creating a proper 3-4-2-1, the opposition front four can so easily stretch the back 3 out of place, creating space in the central areas.

I've always been more partial to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. There's a reason the most successful sides in football over the last 10 years have used one of those two systems.

I'd go something like this when all are back:

Mig

Flanagan Skrtel Sakho Johnson

Can

Henderson Coutinho

Ibe Sterling

Sturridge

*Edit - potentially Lucas for Can - but the big lad needs match time. Unless we shift him to right back.

 

[dantes]

Who do you drop from the team?

As above. Apart from Johnson, that is pretty much what I would opt for.

 

[beejay]

The OP was based on who is available now, so agree that Ibe & Sakho when fit would get back in.

I think Stevie has enough in his legs to see us through the last few games and the younger lads could do with his influence and experience.