Liverpool Football Formation

Lineup (4-3-3)

The back five don't need any sort of justification - two pacy, strong and fit fullbacks who provide a near-constant out-let on the touchline, as they bomb past the narrow wingers in front of them. Johnson and Enrique are two of the best attacking fullbacks in the league, and last season both contributed with goals and assists (and had others been more clinical, the fullbacks might have claimed more of the latter).
The CBs are, at the moment, the best two on the Club's roster. Toure provides as much experience, intelligence, and leadership as Carragher did, he is just quicker and stronger. He is an excellent foil to the classy Agger, who is likely to be bestowed with the vice captaincy this season. In goal, Mignolet will hopefully provide a more reliable shot-stopper than Reina has done, though the competition between the two is likely to spur whoever plays in this position on to greater and greater things. Overall, the back five will operate in the same way as last year, only in a tighter and more efficient unit.

The midfield three was less easy to select. Although Lucas almost picks himself as the anchor of the team, and Gerrard does likewise with the role of 'controller', really pulling the team's strings, the advanced role of attacking midfielder - the playmaker - was less easily selected. Coutinho was the obvious choice, as from that position he is able to utilise his excellent vision and passing range to open-up defences and put goals on plates for his attacking colleagues. Henderson has grown increasingly effective in this role, though lacks the natural gift that Coutinho has for putting opponents to the sword, in the most creative and delicious of ways. If Suarez were to leave, and Liverpool signed H.Mkhitaryan as a replacement (in addition to another striker, one would hope), Coutinho might have to be shifted to the left of the attacking front three. If Mkhitaryan could reproduce the form for Liverpool he's shown for Shakhdar, he could be even more deadly in that advanced midfield role than Coutinho, scoring goals to replace Suarez's and creating assists to further the team as a whole. Coutinho can play with equal guile on the left, especially as he cuts in on to his favoured right foot, and would compete with Mkhitaryan to be the creative hub of the team. The idea of those two footballing wizards working in tandem in a felxible and fluid system is mouthwatering, and the prospect promies chances galore for the team and the death by football that Rodgers promised upon his appointment for our opponents. Enqiue would use the space on the flank created by Coutinho's narrowness well and the shape of the team is one of multiple points of penetration through an opposition's defence.

The right-hand side is less messy. Iago Aspas appears a clear replacement for Downing, who, though improved this year, remains a relatively meek outlet on the right. About time one was found. Aspas marries Suarez's doggedness (memories of Kuyt, anyone?), competitiveness, dribbling and fuildity with Coutinho's deftness of touch and creativity. He could complete the front-three excellently, and provide a better overall balance as each side would vie to be the primary outlet for the team, with goals and chances coming from both sides in equal measure throughout a game; making the attack an unpredictable and teasing one.

Sturridge has been picked to lead the attack because, at the moment (with Suarez on the left), he is the best central striker we own. He showed glimses of brilliance last year. He was an inventive and flexible component of that attacking trio, and arguably the most clinical in front of goal. He has the physical attributes of speed and strength to act as the spearhead, though whether he has the work-ethic and durability remains to be seen. An additional striker to provide real competition is invaluable, particularly if Suarez does leave. With Aspas and Suarez (or Coutinho) either side of him, and Coutinho (or Mkhitaryan) behind, Sturridge could be an excellent focal point to a mobile and unpredictable, interchanging and intelligent front four. Those four attacking players - whether Sturridge, Aspas and Coutinho be joined by Suarez or Mkhitaryan come August - seemingly would have enough goals and ability, technicality and physicality, beauty and brawn, to trouble any team in the league and move Liverpool forward as a potent attacking force.

This would be an excellent environment in which the youngsters, in particular Suso and Sterling, could learn the trade of the reinvented Liverpool-way. Borini would surely also benefit from the competition and example set by this array of attacking talent, and from being more settled come his second season on Merseyside. Downing may be retained as a squad player, although if a younger, more clinical and cheaper alternative can be found, his services are certainly dispensible. Brendan might be wary of too much change and too much youth, too quickly, however. These players would provide competition for places within the squad, though should we loose Suarez we would potentially acquire another two strikers, both of a very high standard - Jackson Martinez from Porto, or Hulk, are the sort of calibre we should be approaching. In midfield Henderson and Allen will provide competition to Lucas in particular, as Gerrard is essentially guaranteed to start.There is good competition at the back from younger players; Martin Kelly especially is a strong candidate to replace Johnson at right back. Srktel and Coates are not the strongest of candidates to challenge Agger and Toure, as their Liverpool careers have slowly grown stale. Fresh faces are needed in this position, and could easily be funded by the sale of Srktel and Coates. This would breed healthy rivalry within the squad in every position other than left-back, where another new face is required, other than the highly inexperienced Jack Robinson. Someone like Eric Abidal, an experienced and highly-decorated player, could occupy a similar role to Toure, as an example of professionalism and the winning mentality.