The Mailbox explains why a tweak to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s position will have Liverpool ruling the Premier League again. Also: referees have too much authority, apparently.
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Liverpool’s problems solved with one genius move
In all the controversy about the game on Sunday comparatively little attention has been paid to what was a radical change in tactics by Jurgen Klopp and a potential solving of the Achilles heel that has been holding them back the past 2 years.
Of course I refer to his radical positioning of TAA as a free floating deep lying playmaker hybrid full back. I genuinely think this is a stroke of genius, only confirmed by the fact that Gary “impartial” Neville bashing it afterwards (see also Keane’s immediate slurring of Andy Robertson having the temerity to react to being elbowed in the neck as a sign of infantile behaviour) ie when the Manu blowhards are giving out you’re doing something right.
Anyway I digress.
Trent as a deep lying midfielder in attack firstly solves so many issues for us. He is going to be practically impossible to mark with a field of influence from one goal to the other and the entire right half of the field to pick pockets of space in. In space he is devastating at picking out runners or delivering the perfect pass from the inside right position. Ahead of him Jones/Thiago and Hendo played as aggressive defending 8s. They can and should be upgraded during the summer providing Trent with a shield from behind which to wreck havoc on defences.
So far so good, but not that radical.
The genius comes in the hybrid back 3 this creates. Instead on facing Bambi on ice at full back now you have Konate breathing down your neck with Trent providing auxiliary right sided sweeper cover. If he recovers the ball in this position Liverpool then have their most devastating player on the ball ready to unleash the counter for their runners. Now attack that side at your peril. Big Virg can take up the central Beckenbauer role for the next 5 years of his career away from nippy right sided wingers and Robbo can continue pissing off Manu moaners on the left flank as only he can.
Overall for me it’s the first time in two years I’ve been excited about this team under Klopp. The formula works and will only improve with coaching and fine tuning. Instead of needing a full overhaul like some commentators have suggested we’re only a couple of players short of being competitive…
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