Liverpool Football Formation

Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Midfield:

Keeping the engine the same as previous rounds was vital. Fewer midfields will give you the energy they do. Fewer players will give you the two fold gusto of offensive and defensive play as Gullit will in that position. But despite the core being the same, with new players in, the dynamics which run them will now change. A further explanation will follow later in the tactics. I ask you to keep patience in the meantime.


The Attack:

Lionel Messi is at his devastating best when the entire team is built around him. The barca dynamics are not supporting his game in this setup but a different sort of dynamics is. Albeit he will have the support of a rampaging Ronaldinho. Messi will have a free role. He is free to roam around everywhere on the pitch. Especially deep down or higher up on to the right if he so wishes in order to exploit Brehme's penchant for leaving that inch of space which only the likes of Messi may exploit. He will especially drive into the spaces in between CB and FullBack.

Ronaldinho's dynamics will change only ever so slightly. Dinho still gets to take advantage of the spaces created by the player up top. Only with Messi around, the spaces will be more open, the defenders more stretched with Dinho only more dangerous than the previous games because of it.

Barnes' role now is a matter of situational requirement. The situation we like to call Cruyff. If Cruyff starts on Barnes' wing, Barnes will start from much deeper in support of his fullback, attacking only when he is able to keep threats from Johann in check. But if Cruyff starts on the other side or more centrally, Barnes will stretch the play on the right and add more attacking numbers. Off the ball Barnes will slot back into midfield.

Gullit: For long now, Ruud has been playing a free role. But with the mantle now with Messi and Dinho, Gullit has only ONE major responsibility. PUMMEL their midfield. Throw them off the game by getting into spaces between them when we are in the ball. Pressing at them like a maniac with Messi helping him when off the ball. Gullit MUST isolate Rijkaard and FORCE him to take his focus off our other attackers. With Rijkaard spending most of his time dealing with Gullit, either their wingers defend or we hammer them into submission.

The Defense:

The shape of our defense is absolute. If it's Maldini vs Cruyff we have Keane supporting Paolo and Lothar and Gullit pulling back into midfield to deal with other attackers. If it's Cruyff vs Lahm. Lahm has Keane and Baresi supporting him in a triad that will cut out space. In case Cruyff is somehow play Central then there is Keane and Baresi-Desailly to deal with

Every measure is taken to make the defense airtight and yet never let it lose it's shape. This way it wont be just about Cruyff but Cruyff will be kept on edge.

Whichever Fullback has lesser pressure on him, attacks whenever possible, Stretching play and giving us extra width (Thus pressuring their midfielders more)

The Midfield Part 2

In the entire set of tactics, we've given Gullit a specific role and we've given Keane a role as well. That leaves us with Lothar. When I said the midfield dynamic will change it did involve Gullit doing more pressing and being more disciplined because Keane will have a lot more defensive work to do this time. To balance the strength of the midfield out, Lothar will be our Tour De Force in midfield. He will be relentless in his attacking foremost and will of course pull himself back when off the ball. Lothar will provide the extra man exploiting central spaces, Lothar will overload Rijkard and his partner in midfield and of course maybe even threaten to utilize spaces left behind by their forward running defenders whoever that might be by running into those spaces releasing other attackers.

(NOTE: BUT In case Cruyff plays towards midfield and more centrally, then he will be a little more restricted, leaving one of the fullbacks to stretch play instead)

The Attack:

Again, the attack is movement based with players creating more space for others to shift into and take advantage of. The blinding movement between our attackers who have the right balance of power, pace and magic should worry them all game long and create chance after chance for us. With our forward minded players very capable of taking their chances and being clinical, we should be giving them a really tough time at the very least.

SUBS:

IF Drawing, None:

They will change the balance of their team to pursue the win and will eventually unbalance their team to overload attack. Our team remaining balanced is very important.

IF Winning, None. Team has the legs to play a game and a half if need be. NOTE: We just become more compact though. Lesser spaces for them by clogging up the midfield.

IF Losing

Henry comes on for Barnes. We change to a 4-3-3

The midfield becomes more compact and our attack becomes further movement oriented. Henry with Dinho and Messi on either side with Henry creating space for the duo who both continue their free roles. Gullit and Lothar play a more attacking game.