Why 4-3-3 Will Be the Go-To Formation for Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool in 2015/16

As we approach the start of the 2015/16 season and pre-season friendlies are in full flow, attention begins to turn to what formation managers will utilise for their teams in the forthcoming campaign.

While many managers have their preferred formation almost set in stone—Jose Mourinho's 4-2-3-1 for instance—others, such as Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers, aren't quite so easy to predict.

The Liverpool boss was regarded as a 4-3-3 advocate upon his arrival at Anfield just over three years ago, having used the formation with success at Swansea City in his and the club's debut Premier League campaign.

However, the Northern Irishman went on to use numerous formations during his second season as he sought ways to pair Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge together without forcing either of them out wide. Rodgers introduced a 3-4-1-2 after Suarez returned from suspension in late 2013, and he used a midfield diamond later in the campaign as the Reds' surged toward an unexpected second-place finish.

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Both of those formations ensured that the striking duo could line up alongside each other and therefore get the best from them. It also got the best from Raheem Sterling, who prospered in the attacking-midfield role behind the deadly duo, with Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and Steven Gerrard making up the rest of the midfield quartet.

Last season, though, Rodgers sought solutions to other problems. Rather than looking to accommodate goalscorers and having a problem that all managers wish to have, Rodgers searched for ways to stop his side leaking an alarming number of sloppy goals, while also trying to create chances again in the final third.

3-4-2-1 became the formation of choice, and Liverpool recovered their form over the Christmas period, with Sterling used as an auxiliary centre-forward and Coutinho alongside Adam Lallana behind him.

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But once the wheels fell off after heavy defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal, plus an FA Cup semi-final exit to Aston Villa, Rodgers proceeded to chop and change his formation from game to game. One week it was 4-3-3, the next it was back to 3-4-2-1, then the midfield diamond returned. Indeed, in that defeat to Villa at Wembley, Liverpool used three different formations in just 90 minutes.

If it was head-scratching for fans, imagine how difficult it was for players to be used in such different ways from one game to another.

What Rodgers must do this summer, then, is decide upon his preferred formation—and stick to it.

Last season he began the campaign using 4-2-3-1, failing to learn from the mistakes of Roy Hodgson with England at the World Cup and using Henderson and Gerrard as a pairing in midfield. It failed woefully.

Thus far in the pre-season games, 4-3-3 and the midfield diamond are the only formations the Reds have used.

Signings

Last summer, Rodgers appeared to sign players to suit a 4-2-3-1 formation; Lallana and Dejan Lovren having thrived at Southampton using this shape the previous season.

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However, without two dominant holding midfielders—Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin—Lovren looked exposed in defence and suffered a torturous opening season at Anfield.

Once the 4-2-3-1 failed and was discarded in November, Rodgers proceeded to use several players out of position: Lazar Markovic, an attacking midfielder, became a wing-back; Emre Can, a central midfielder, became a right-sided centre-back; Sterling, an attacking midfielder, became a forward. It showed a clear lack of a plan, or a plan that had gone badly wrong.

This summer has seen seven signings arrive, with most of them expected to be key personnel immediately.

Nathaniel Clyne will slot in perfectly at right-back. James Milner has been assured of a central midfield role. The Reds spent £32.5 million on Christian Benteke, which arguably makes him the club's first-choice centre-forward for 2015/16.

Add in guaranteed starters such as Martin Skrtel, Henderson and Coutinho, and you have the spine of Liverpool's team in place.

4-3-3

According to the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce, the 4-3-3 formation will be Liverpool's primary setup in 2015/16.

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Pearce writes that Benteke "will play through the middle with the likes of Adam Lallana, Jordon Ibe and Firmino competing for the roles either side."

He adds that, "a midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Milner and Coutinho looks mouthwatering."

That means an XI as follows:

Mignolet—Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho/Lovren, Moreno—Henderson, Milner, Coutinho—Lallana, Firmino, Benteke

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While that lineup does look exciting on paper, it lacks any sort of holding/defensive midfielder—a role that Emre Can, Lucas Leiva and Joe Allen will all be vying for.

Therefore, a midfield with Can or Lucas holding, and Henderson and Milner slightly ahead of them, looks a little more solid and robust. That means pushing Coutinho further forward alongside compatriot Firmino and beside Benteke.

The concern there becomes whether Benteke—who often dropped deep into the space between midfield and attack while at Villa—Coutinho and Firmino will all occupy similar spaces between the lines. Who out of those is going to make the runs in behind opposition defences?

Of course, once Daniel Sturridge returns to fitness in October, the picture changes somewhat, and Rodgers will have the option to field the Englishman up front and therefore have the solution to the question over runs in behind using pace.

But that would only be possible if Sturridge is paired alongside Benteke.

Diamond

Such a partnership would be possible while using a midfield diamond and two up front, giving an XI of:

Mignolet—Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho/Lovren, Moreno—Can, Henderson, Milner, Coutinho/Firmino—Sturridge, Benteke

That's a side that appears to have more structure, but it means only one of Coutinho and Firmino gets the nod. The only way around that would be if Coutinho dropped in alongside Henderson or Milner deeper in the midfield diamond, as he did often toward the end of the 2013/14 campaign.

Rodgers would also have the option here to pair Firmino alongside Benteke up front, rotating them with Sturridge and Danny Ings.

One issue that springs to mind here is the lack of playing time these new signings will have had together before the opening day of the season. It may take some time for partnerships and understanding between the new attackers to prosper.

3-4-2-1

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Ironically, if you were to list Liverpool's 10 best outfield players (excluding the injured Sturridge), you'd have an XI that would work perfectly in the aforementioned 3-4-2-1 shape that Rodgers implemented over winter last season:

Mignolet —Can, Skrtel, Sakho—Clyne, Henderson, Milner, Moreno—Coutinho, Firmino—Benteke

This, however, doesn't appear to be how Rodgers intends to set up his side this season, having not used the formation with regularity since the FA Cup semi-final defeat and never during pre-season.

Consistency

Whatever Rodgers decides—and judging by the evidence available it will be 4-3-3—he must be consistent with his selection of formation.

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Last season saw changes made far too frequently, both within matches and from one match to another, especially when things went from bad to worse toward the end of the campaign.

Rodgers must learn from his own mistakes and give his players a framework within which they all understand their own roles and the roles of their team-mates.

Furthermore, he must use his newly appointed coaches. New assistant manager Sean O'Driscoll appears to favour the 4-3-3, the formation he used with the England under-19s most recently, and therefore provides further backing for the idea that this will be the Reds' default system.

4-3-3 will be the go-to formation for Rodgers this forthcoming season, but don't be surprised to see the 4-4-2 midfield diamond used once (if) Sturridge returns to full fitness.