Andy Robertson’s damage means Liverpool are with out their first alternative left-back and that requires an answer from Jurgen Klopp for the foreseeable.
There’s a deputy available in Kostas Tsimikas, who simply signed a brand new contract. However this time it will not be a easy case of bringing within the backup.
For the previous six months, Liverpool have confronted completely different challenges on the left. With out Robertson, they could now have to discover completely different options.
Urgent considerations
At its peak, the primary Jurgen Klopp Liverpool group arrange in a 4-3-3. With a slim entrance three, the complete backs pushed excessive up the pitch to supply width.
This allowed Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to get into harmful central positions, in addition to unlocking the creativity of Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Nevertheless it additionally meant that the midfield might keep slim and compact. If the ball was misplaced, they might counter-press rapidly and successfully to cease the opponent transitioning forwards.
Final season, the midfield of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago had been unable to maintain this counter-press. Opponents might, subsequently, expose the area left behind the complete backs with direct counter assaults.
Liverpool did attempt to clear up this by splitting the centre backs, making it simpler to cowl the vast areas. However this left acres of area via the centre that Fabinho struggled to defend.
The apparent answer was to herald new midfielders who might perform the counter press. However with 11 video games nonetheless to play, Klopp addressed the tactical weak point with a tactical change: the 3-box-3 system.
By including a fourth participant into midfield, the counter press grew to become extra compact once more. However there have been additionally now three defenders within the final line, that means that the defence was safer when the press was crushed.
There was all the time an outdoor centre-back to exit vast, and all the time a presence within the centre.
In possession, Alexander-Arnold’s new place opened up the entire pitch for him to play progressive passes. Whereas his help numbers had been decreased, his impression on the assault grew along with his freedom to play ahead passes.
As soon as the summer season window opened, Klopp did overhaul his personnel in midfield. However he additionally continued with the tactical setup, counting on the improved counter press to masks the shortage of a harmful No. 6.
This has allowed Alexander-Arnold to proceed affecting the assault. However on the alternative aspect, Robertson has had his creativity shackled.
His finest recreation includes entering into the ultimate third and swinging in crosses. Nevertheless it’s tougher to try this when taking part in successfully as a left sided centre again.
The group’s defensive safety has come at the price of Robertson’s finest belongings.
Timing beats pace
Liverpool have tried to get the left again concerned larger up the pitch at instances. However the method and timing of how that occurs is essential.
With Curtis Jones nailing down a spot on the left of the midfield three, he has recurrently pulled out to the left wing. This permits Luis Diaz to get into extra profitable central areas. Nevertheless it additionally creates area for Robertson to push forwards.
If Liverpool can discover him, nice. But when the ball is misplaced, there’s a large hole on the left flank that groups can exploit.
With slower, extra affected person buildup, Liverpool’s centre-backs have time to separate vast, protecting Robertson’s flank behind him.
But when the ball is misplaced, the opponent can successfully get one-on-one with Alexis Mac Allister within the No. 6 place, and exploit the area behind him.
Brighton’s Carlos Baleba did this a number of instances throughout the Reds’ draw on the Amex, and on one other day, it might have proved expensive.
The chance and reward of getting Robertson forwards hasn’t fairly been balanced correctly but.
Cautious it doesn’t Kostas
That is how Tsimikas could be anticipated to play if he comes straight in. He’s even much less comfy taking part in centre-back, and has been caught out on the ball throughout build-up – notably giving up a purpose to Leicester within the Carabao Cup.
Klopp may determine the reward of Tsimikas’ attacking play is well worth the threat. Limiting the change to only one new participant would additionally hold the upheaval to a minimal.
Nevertheless, with Mac Allister’s combined outcomes because the deepest midfielder, it could be needed to herald Wataru Endo because the No. 6.
He would offer extra defensive cowl for Tsimikas’ forays forwards. However Klopp has handed Endo only one league begin up to now – counting on him to make the system tick appears dangerous.
One various might be a return to the ‘basic’ 4-3-3. Fielding an all new midfield three might enhance the counter-press from final season, fixing the tactical weak point of this setup.
With Endo, Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai snuffing out counter assaults at supply, Tsimikas could be free to push excessive and vast.
He has earned his supervisor’s belief on this function beforehand, and a return to a extra superior function might additionally profit Alexander-Arnold on the alternative aspect.
However maybe essentially the most easy answer doesn’t contain Tsimikas in any respect. With the left sided defender successfully a centre-back, Joe Gomez might be the excellent candidate.
He did debut as a left-back (albeit in 2015) and has already performed each centre-back and full-back this season. He’s additionally one of many few senior choices to not play any worldwide soccer throughout the newest gruelling double spherical of fixtures.
Being proper footed would encourage him to play extra passes inside, that means the pivot participant would should be alert to any urgent traps. However in any other case, it’s a strong defensive change to protect Liverpool’s situational again three.
It’s not the sexiest answer, but it surely’s most likely the most secure.
When the motion resumes with the derby this weekend, all eyes might be on Liverpool’s left aspect. Hopefully Jurgen Klopp will get it proper.
