Soccer Premier League

Longevity Will Decide How Successful New Liverpool System Will Be

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Despite Liverpool‘s level of performance improving dramatically in recent weeks after a change in formation, it is still uncertain just how successful the new tactics of Brendan Rodgers will be for the team in the long term. In the short term, the results have spoken for themselves, but the proof, as always, will be in the pudding — not the wrapper.

Rodgers first decided to switch to a 3-4-3 formation when Liverpool played Manchester United in early December, and although United won the game 3-0, Liverpool’s performance was much better than the scoreline suggested. Consequently, Rodgers decided to stick with the system ever since and a draw and two wins later, Liverpool are suddenly being talked about for a top four place once again.

That can only be good news, obviously, but the jury is still out on whether Rodgers has now found the system to take Liverpool forward again. The problem in judging the results at this moment in time is that there’s still a surprise value involved; nobody is used to coming up against it or even, potentially, have any answer to it.

But as time goes on, and opposition coaches begin to study Liverpool’s new approach more and more, that is when the new formation will get it’s real test. Recently, teams have looked confused and unprepared for the 3-4-3 but the longer time goes on, the more prepared the opposition will become.

What happens if a team can pass through the initial front three attackers of Liverpool that are pressing the ball high up the field and take them out of the game? What happens when an opposition team floods the midfield and maintains possession and has Liverpool press for long spells and then, perhaps, gets tired? What happens when an opposing team can quickly move the ball wide and attack those spaces with their full backs overlapping?

There is still a lot to be answered when it comes to Liverpool’s new system. At the moment, it is catching everybody by surprise. But is that the reason for it’s current success, or will time prove it to be a bigger problem for teams than just that alone? Longevity will be the key and only after an extended period of time will anybody be able to truly assess the merits of Liverpool’s new system.

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