Liverpool have made Darwin Nunez their second signing of the summer season switch window. Will his arrival lead Jurgen Klopp to return to an previous favorite formation?
The potential club-record charge for 22-year-old Nunez has ruffled a number of feathers, however will it ruffle Liverpool’s formation or techniques?
The reply can be no, because the membership solely signal gamers they suppose will match what they have already got deliberate, however that doesn’t imply Nunez received’t give Klopp totally different choices.
One in every of these might be a return to his as soon as favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.
When first digging into Klopp’s techniques at Liverpool again in 2016, after he’d been in cost for one 12 months, there have been the beginnings of a transfer from the 4-2-3-1 he used at Borussia Dortmund and in early video games at Liverpool to the profitable 4-3-3 we’ve seen variations of since.
Jurgen Klopp’s techniques from Dortmund to Liverpool pic.twitter.com/pTJd8aO6jf
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) July 16, 2019
There have been tweaks in the best way the midfielders function, particularly the 2 in entrance of or alongside the holding midfielder.
Relying on their particular person strengths, these midfielders have completed the whole lot from assist the ahead line to dropping again right into a flat three – or one thing resembling that 4-2-3-1, however not fairly it.
Nunez’s arrival from Benfica has led to ideas Klopp could return to the extra orthodox model of that formation.
The Nú Lewandowski?
Many German soccer specialists, and even some Bayern followers, are dissatisfied that the perennial Bundesliga champions didn’t make a transfer for Nunez as their substitute for Robert Lewandowski.
Previous to signing for Bayern, the centre-forward was a key a part of Klopp’s Dortmund setup, and the comparisons between the Pole and Nunez by those that comply with German soccer are one other trace that Klopp might be returning to the 4-2-3-1.
The ideas appear to be that Nunez is Klopp’s new Lewandowski.
I might be pulling my hair out if I used to be a Bayern Munich fan studying this.
Spending £40m on Sadio Mane when an additional £35m will get you a long-term substitute to Robert Lewandowski. https://t.co/kRZd8rUY7g
— Stefan Bienkowski (@SBienkowski) June 11, 2022
At this second we’re merely second-guessing what Klopp and his teaching employees will do, they usually may properly persist with a 4-3-3, utilizing Nunez as a cross between Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota in that centre-forward function.
Nunez replaces the aerial goal Liverpool will miss if Sadio Mane leaves and likewise the awkward centre-forwardness of the departed Divock Origi.
In some methods he’s a substitute for each gamers and would permit the membership to focus their recruitment efforts on different positions and attributes.
His all-round skill and athleticism, plus the very fact he’s nonetheless younger sufficient to be moulded into the kind of striker Klopp desires him to be, means the Lewandowski comparisons could have some weight, however in the intervening time the comparisons are principally positional.
No. 10 or second striker
Within the place alongside or behind Nunez on this hypothetical 4-2-3-1, Liverpool would have plenty of choices.
It might rely on whether or not they need to use this place to accommodate a playmaking No. 10 or a assist striker. They’ve choices for each and can probably use each sooner or later.
You’ll be able to think about Firmino having fun with a brand new lease of life on this function as a mixture of each, whereas Thiago’s all-round creativity and method means he may simply slot in as a No. 10 if wanted.
This place would even be helpful for younger gamers Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho. Liverpool signed each as extremely rated skills who’ve the standard to be first-team squad members.
For this pathway to exist and appeal to different comparable gamers sooner or later, they’ll should be taking part in video games.
The principle factor is that they’re ok to take action; Elliott has already proved as a lot, with Carvalho exhibiting promising indicators at Fulham.
A formation that accommodates a No. 10 can be splendid for them, although each are versatile sufficient to play vast within the 4-2-3-1 if wanted, or nonetheless in a 4-3-3.
Some Liverpool 4-2-3-1 choices with Darwin Nunez in entrance of a assist striker or a No.10 pic.twitter.com/1tPIdnnvWc
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) June 12, 2022
An alternative choice on this place is Jota. The Portuguese generally performed the same function for Wolves, round or behind a extra typical No. 9 in Raul Jimenez.
Final season, Jota displayed good ending instincts within the field and likewise demonstrated appreciable aerial prowess.
Think about the aerial menace of Diogo Jota behind Nunez, making it the 4-2-4 we’ve got already seen at instances from Klopp when Liverpool are trying to find a objective.
Even when that is used when not chasing late targets, Trent Alexander-Arnold may drop into midfield relatively than overlapping, which might nonetheless produce a 2-3-5 in possession which we regularly see with the 4-3-3 anyway.
Different issues
– No new midfielder wanted, but…
Midfield is broadly prompt as the following space of the staff that wants strengthening, but when Liverpool do swap to a 4-2-3-1 they may not suppose they should.
With the gamers talked about above as choices within the place behind the striker, that leaves midfield beginning spots for 2 of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Naby Keita and James Milner.
They could contemplate that greater than sufficient depth on this space.
The place Curtis Jones suits into this may stay to be seen, however you think about he may do a job within the vast positions in addition to the central midfield ones.
This implies they may wait till subsequent season to signal a next-generation midfielder, in the same age bracket to Nunez this summer season and Ibrahima Konate final.
– 4-4-2
Seeing as Nunez has been used to taking part in alongside one other striker at Benfica, there may be additionally the potential for a formation that finally ends up trying like a 4-4-2 as soon as Liverpool are defending in their very own half.
– Set-piece specialists
Nunez scored six headers for Benfica final season, the identical quantity Jota managed for Liverpool.
The Reds are seemingly an ever-increasing menace at set-pieces, by way of each supply and aerial skill, and Nunez will solely add to this.
