Philippe Coutinho

[RedReet]

Was really hoping to see him back this week and see how the 3412 works with the right personnel.

[Mostar]

I'm glad he is very close to join the first team.

Against WBA we should be ok but we will need him for Gunners game.

[Gibbo]

Philippe Coutinho will return to full training on Tuesday and will be fit to face West Brom at the weekend

This is Bender reporting for Est news @6

[Fernandinho]

I have seen a few people mention that they expect us to go back to a 4-2-3-1 with Coutinho back into the side, but I really hope Rodgers stays with the 3-5-2 or whatever you want to call it, because I think it absolutely suits Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge perfectly.

We get to have our most influential two attackers in their preferred position as well as Coutinho playing in behind. There aren't many formations which successfully do this without having to play a diamond midfield.

While we are hopefully also taking advantage of the quality of Johnson and Enrique/Aly out wide. It seems the perfect fit at the moment for the squad and we are doing well with it.

I am actually really excited to see Coutinho in this formation, the way it lets him drift almost anywhere on the pitch will be perfect for him I think.

[spider-neil]

I have seen a few people mention that they expect us to go back to a 4-2-3-1 with Coutinho back into the side, but I really hope Rodgers stays with the 3-5-2 or whatever you want to call it, because I think it absolutely suits Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge perfectly.

4-1-2-1-2

[Fernandinho]

Great formation for FIFA, but there is no way it would work for us

Who would you play in midfield? It only works as a diamond as a more 4-3-1-2, and unless you want to play Henderson(or allen)-Lucas-Gerrard;Coutinho I really can't see it working, especially considering that would probably leave Gerrard playing in wide CM type positions which he is totally not suited to.

4-1-2-1-2 with Moses and Sterling as wide players would leave Lucas amazingly exposed and Gerrard on the bench pronanly.

[RedReet]

Great formation for FIFA, but there is no way it would work for us

Who would you play in midfield? It only works as a diamond as a more 4-3-1-2, and unless you want to play Henderson(or allen)-Lucas-Gerrard;Coutinho I really can't see it working, especially considering that would probably leave Gerrard playing in wide CM type positions which he is totally not suited to.

4-1-2-1-2 with Moses and Sterling as wide players would leave Lucas amazingly exposed and Gerrard on the bench pronanly.

It doesn’t have to be too dissimilar to what we are playing now. Instead of 3 CB’s you have 2, with Lucas sitting in front as a sort of advanced CB. You have Gerrard and Henderson in front of him, playing similar roles to how we played on Saturday. Then the width still comes from the FB’s as it always does.

[spider-neil]

Great formation for FIFA, but there is no way it would work for us

Who would you play in midfield? It only works as a diamond as a more 4-3-1-2, and unless you want to play Henderson(or allen)-Lucas-Gerrard;Coutinho I really can't see it working, especially considering that would probably leave Gerrard playing in wide CM type positions which he is totally not suited to.

4-1-2-1-2 with Moses and Sterling as wide players would leave Lucas amazingly exposed and Gerrard on the bench pronanly.

Diamond formation.

---------------Lucas-------------
Henderson----------------Gerrard
-------------Coutinho------------

[spider-neil]

It doesn’t have to be too dissimilar to what we are playing now. Instead of 3 CB’s you have 2, with Lucas sitting in front as a sort of advanced CB. You have Gerrard and Henderson in front of him, playing similar roles to how we played on Saturday. Then the width still comes from the FB’s as it always does.

[spider-neil]

Not convinced by 3 at the back. Any team with half decent wingers will take us to the cleaners.

[Corndog]

Whilst we pumped West Brom with Cissohko at left wing-back in a 3-5-2, i'm not sure he has the pace required for it in a game where we will not have it so easy. Keen to see Cou back in the side though, whatever the formation.

[Fernandinho]

Diamond formation.

---------------Lucas-------------
Henderson----------------Gerrard
-------------Coutinho------------

Unless we play more like a 4-2-2-2 kind of like a square midfield I can't see Gerrard being very good there, it could be worth a try though if Rodgers wants to change and keep 2 up front.

[RedReet]

Unless we play more like a 4-2-2-2 kind of like a square midfield I can't see Gerrard being very good there, it could be worth a try though if Rodgers wants to change and keep 2 up front.

They don’t have to play wide. We just line up like we did against Palace, except we swap Lucas for one of the CB’s and have him playing between the 2 CB’s and Gerrard and Henderson. I don’t think we’ll be any more exposed at the back than we are now.

[Corndog]

Unless we play more like a 4-2-2-2 kind of like a square midfield I can't see Gerrard being very good there, it could be worth a try though if Rodgers wants to change and keep 2 up front.

It does seem this way and you can't argue with the return of that partnership so far but i'm not sure it is necessary to our attacking play. i reckon so long as studge is the man up top you could just place suarez/coutinho 'out wide' but tell them to roam wherever they like.

[PTP]

just nice to get him back and have options

i still feel we lack just a little bit of class/strength in depth in our squad to really challenge...

but it's improving - take the side that played saturday....those 11 plus Agger/Enrique/Coutinho - gives us 14 good first teamers, plus the options from Kelly/Allen/Moses/Alberto/Sterling gives some decent cover and the ability to change tactics/try something different if it's not working