Liverpool vs Man City - Premier League (18/19 - Game 8)

[danperkins]

The only thing I would be concerned about playing Shaqiri in CM is the positions he takes up

I cant remember which game it was but we started Shaqiri in that exact attacking role you are advocating in one game recently and we had to shift Firmino out of the centre and play him out wide to accommodate him (it might have been the game he was hauiled off at half time). We had to put Salah upfront to encourage him to look to go beyond the centrebacks in order to create that space for Shaqiri to go into

Shaqiri had a great half but the rest of the frontline looked all over the gaff and Klopp was keen to say post match that tactically we were all over the place

Basically Shaqiri was playing beyond their midfield and in the hole, the exact hole that Firmino drops off into if he was in the centre and that completely altered our shape and many of our attacking moves (which if you watch a lot of them are definitely rehearsed/choreographed training ground moves)

I get what you're saying, I just used Shaq as an attackign example, Ox would be primed for this type of role but he's not available. I would be happy to see Mo go centre forward, Shaq out right and Bobby dropping deeper like he played at Hoff.

We simply need something in midfield than the 3 lads unfortunately haven't been able to give us.. a very obvious disconnect in recent times.

[rodo]

[ame]https://twitter.com/TheAnfieldWrap/status/1049239994349568000[/ame]

[Buzzo]

30 years of hurt.

[Fosterbloke]

I wonder if a diamond formation would accommodate Shaqiri better?

[Lecter]

I think it was Southampton at home? I think the idea is right though, if Shaqiri can learn the position. We definitely miss Ox/Lallana carrying the ball in midfield when the opposition is working hard to block our passing lines to the front three (as Napoli and City were doing very effectively). Shaqiri is the obvious one who could come in, but he'd have to do it from deeper or wider and avoid crowding Firmino as you say.

Yep Shaqiri drifts into those areas and generally occupies them

Chamberlain makes runs through the areas and beyond the frontline

[Lecter]

I get what you're saying, I just used Shaq as an attackign example, Ox would be primed for this type of role but he's not available. I would be happy to see Mo go centre forward, Shaq out right and Bobby dropping deeper like he played at Hoff.

We simply need something in midfield than the 3 lads unfortunately haven't been able to give us.. a very obvious disconnect in recent times.

We badly miss Oxlade-Chamberlain for some games because of this

I frankly thought Keita would do this

I think part of Firminos play is dropping off and getting lost by defenders

Not sure he will be that effective from a deeper role facing the goal as much

[danperkins]

We badly miss Oxlade-Chamberlain for some games because of this

I frankly thought Keita would do this

I think part of Firminos play is dropping off and getting lost by defenders

Not sure he will be that effective from a deeper role facing the goal as much

Ox's drive is sorely missed, although Shaqiri is very capable of doing that IMO, he has the pace and power to do that but I do agree Firmino does drop into that hole. Lately though he's been going even deeper to try get into the game which isn't doing us any favours either.

I too thought Keita would do exactly this but his pace isn't what I thought it was, just shows you how slow the Bundesliga is. I really thought he looked lightening fast there. It's an awkward one with Firmino but he tore it up at Hoffenheim playing at AM and was very productive but I'm not sure Klopp sees him as an option there.

Do we keep playing the same way and hope the lads click or do we mix it up? I honestly don't know. We have so much quality, one of the best attacking line ups in the world when it works but it simply isn't working this season for some reason.

I suspect with a few games coming up where our forward lads could potentially score a few goals and get back on track, we might just see the same front 3 but a change in the middle 3 of Hendo/Gini & Milner. I do think that Keita will come into the side in this games and play a more progressive role, which seems to suit him. We are desperately missing some creativity from the midfield & I know the front lads have been poor but the service in the last few game in particular has been dire.

[fidget]

We haven't seen Keita let loose yet - it'll come