Liverpool FC: The Reds Will Come in Many Shades This Season

In the early days of the second reign of King Kenny the First, he was faced with a tough away trip to Stamford Bridge and set out the team in the outdated 3-5-2 formation after having unveiled it against Stoke city to good effect.

It worked quite well against the Blues, stifling play up the middle and counting on Johnson and Kelly to provide the width. As Chelsea tired late on, Liverpool took control of the match and were well worth their winner in the end. It is this kind of flexibility that has made Liverpool a better side since his return. Instead of forcing a system onto a group of players, Dalglish gets the best out of his players by asking them to do what they are best at.

With the role of Andy Carroll so up in the air at the moment and the return of Steven Gerrard imminent, it would be useful to take a look at some of the other possible formations that Dalglish might have to consider during a long season against varying opposition.  

Liverpool in the 4-3-3 Formation

Liverpool deployed this formation to good effect against Arsenal though it was a severely depleted side. Suarez was on the bench after short rest following the Copa America. This put Kuyt and Downing alongside Carroll with Henderson in support on the right, Adam dictating play and Lucas in a holding role.It was useful against Arsenal in that it stopped play up the middle and allowed Liverpool to press the Gunners high up the pitch. That being said, I feel that this is far from their most creative formation.

It could become more so with the return of Steven Gerrard. With Henderson still young, and in all honesty a player for the future, it would be Gerrard who would slot into that attacking midfielder role ahead of Adam and Lucas. Under current form this would leave Suarez in the middle with the interchangeable Kuyt and Downing on the wings. Having Gerrard bombing forward is what all Liverpool supporters love to see and with the movement of Suarez dragging defenders out wide, this could be a promising look for the Reds.

All this without even considering the potential of Craig Bellamy. His final season at Manchester City was a masterclass in attacking wing play. I am sure we all can remember his performance against Manchester United leaving Rio Ferdinand in the dust to belt home a screamer. It remains to be seen whether he can find that kind of form again at 32.

Regardless, he is a pretty good foil for Suarez given the pressure on the squad during a long season. But he is best coming in from the wing with three up top. If he can get back to his best he might be able to supplant Kuyt in a squad with three attacking players ahead of midfield.  

Liverpool in a 4-2-3-1 Formation

Against a team like Manchester City it might be advantageous to play them at their own game given the front four at at their disposal. Having two holding midfielders can tip the balance in your favor against potent opposition. In this system, on current form Lucas and Adam would be in the holding roles. The formerly maligned Lucas has finally blossomed into a top class defensive midfielder, something that Liverpool have been missing since the departure of Mascherano.

Speaking of former Liverpool holding midfielders, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to suggest that Adam and Lucas together can be as effective as Alonso and Mascherano were together during the year Liverpool finished runner-up to Manchester United.

That brings me to the next possibility for this formation. This is the shape that brought about the best in Steven Gerrard while in support of the then unplayable Fernando Torres. On a side note, how great is it that Torres has scored only one goal and been benched since he left? But I digress.

So when Gerrard comes back into the side, Kenny might want to create another potent duo and have Stevie in support of Suarez with Downing and Kuyt on the wings. With your best player waiting to come back into an already flowing side, it would behoove you to cater the team to maximize his effectiveness. 

This formation also allows more space for Enrique to get forward. With two holding midfielders there is more protection for your central defenders. This would allow Enrique, the best new signing so far, to deliver some of the quality balls of which he is capable.

This is where you could find a role for the big man, Carroll. Downing and Enrique both were seen as providers to the Geordie with Suarez running on past the center backs. This would necessitate Gerrard being moved out to the right at the expense of Kuyt. You could move Suarez and leave Gerrard in the hole but I think the partnership of Suarez and Carroll would be more advantageous: Gerrard coming inside and linking up play on the right and Downing and Enrique providing the width and crosses from the left.

Something to consider.  

Liverpool in a 4-4-2 the Old Fashioned Way

This is the formation that Dalglish prefers and what I think is our best option heading towards goal. It is also the formation that I believe causes the most selection problems. As the Reds went covered before, Lucas and Adam can really become a top class central midfield pairing. With the destructive influence of Lucas and the passing range of Adam, it should become a long-term partnership.

Whether or not Henderson is a better central midfield player or a right sided player remains to be seen. The conundrum is where Gerrard fits in given the promise of Adam and Lucas. I don't think Adam or Lucas deserved to be swapped out and think it is worth trying to get all three of them on the same field. Best laid plans would mean that Gerrard has to be moved out to the right hand side with Downing impressive so far on the left.

In one of Steven's best seasons, 2005-2006, he scored over 20 goals in all competitions and did so from a right handed midfield position. Only Gerrard knows if he is still capable of being effective out by the touchline. But with his unbelievable right foot, no one would question Dalglish for giving it a go.

Working the ball up the touchline and getting into wide positions is paramount under this system. Downing and Enrique I think will be fantastic over the course of this season providing service on the left hand side. The only question is who the will be providing service to? At the start of the season it was a nonstarter whether or not Andy Carroll would start up front along Suarez. Now just four games into the season, he is finding it hard to get a start.

The understanding between Kuyt and Suarez is plain to see and was evident even last season after Suarez joined the side. Their movement and tireless work ethic are a thorn in an opposing team's side and create a lot of space to be exploited. At the moment I think this is the better choice. But when Suarez and Carroll arrived to replace Torres, the pairing did wet the appetite.

Carroll was used as the lead striker in a paring with Ameobi where he shone for Newcastle. He was the reason Liverpool lost to the Magpies before his transfer last season. When you upgrade your strike partner from Ameobi to Suarez, one would think you could only get better. After promising displays last season, it's been a mixed bag for Carroll so far. Logic says that AC and Luis up front is still a lot of goals waiting to happen. Let's hope logic prevails. 

The selection issues for this formation are a good problem to have. I think once Gerrard comes back into the side it is Henderson that misses out the most. In the 4-4-2, Bellamy will be a great substitute again for Suarez. Gerrard can play for Adam with Lucas. Kuyt can play on the right and Gerrard can play support striker in a modified 4-4-1-1. We will have to wait and see how Kenny gets the best out of his squad. 

The Reds Might Need Them All

The Premier League season is renowned for being the most grueling nine months of football on the planet. Having a squad that can do the job against varying styles of play will be crucial to picking up maximum points week in and week out. Against Stoke City this past weekend, despite having 73 percent of the possessions they were unable to find a breakthrough and were counting on the referee for a reprieve.

They did dominate the match but only threatened on few occasions. Being able to adapt the team and produce goals will help the Reds achieve their goals over the course of the season.

In order for them to regain their place among Europe's elite, it is imperative that they are able to employ a variety of effective formations assuming they break into the Champions League come next season. Long way to go and many more weeks to fret and hopefully celebrate.