Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers utilised both a 343 and a diamond formation against Manchester United on Sunday, but neither approach seemed to work against Louis Van Gaal's tactically well-drilled team. What else could the Reds have done to turn things around? According to LFC legend Dietmar Hamann, Rodgers should've played Van Gaal at his own game.
During Liverpool's 2-1 defeat, Hamann made the following tactical suggestion:
"Why do they [Liverpool] keep playing out from the back. We couldn't break them down with 11 so never gonna do it with 10. Throw Lambert on and go long".
'Go long'? What is this, the 1980s?
Desperately reverting to long-ball tactics at home should never be an option, and utilising that anachronistic 'lump it up to the big man' approach is a glaring sign of tactical failure.
Granted, there are advantages to playing a long-ball game, such as bypassing midfield, and reducing a team's susceptibility to high intensity pressing, but it's a betrayal of Liverpool's footballing ethos, and totally goes against Rodgers' approach to football.
Instead of regressing into Allardycian ignominy, Rodgers could've made the following changes in an attempt to effect the game:
* Replace Allen with Lucas in a bid to get to grips with the midfield battle. If the Brazilian is on the bench, then he's fit to play, or why include him at all?
* Sub off Lallana; put Johnson at RWB, and moveshameless mercenary Sterling up alongside Sturridge (in the diamond) or alongside Coutinho (in a 343).
I'd rather see Liverpool play football the right way and lose than watch the team employ long-ball tactics and win, but maybe that's just me.
Author: Jaimie K
During Liverpool's 2-1 defeat, Hamann made the following tactical suggestion:
"Why do they [Liverpool] keep playing out from the back. We couldn't break them down with 11 so never gonna do it with 10. Throw Lambert on and go long".
'Go long'? What is this, the 1980s?
Desperately reverting to long-ball tactics at home should never be an option, and utilising that anachronistic 'lump it up to the big man' approach is a glaring sign of tactical failure.
Granted, there are advantages to playing a long-ball game, such as bypassing midfield, and reducing a team's susceptibility to high intensity pressing, but it's a betrayal of Liverpool's footballing ethos, and totally goes against Rodgers' approach to football.
Instead of regressing into Allardycian ignominy, Rodgers could've made the following changes in an attempt to effect the game:
* Replace Allen with Lucas in a bid to get to grips with the midfield battle. If the Brazilian is on the bench, then he's fit to play, or why include him at all?
* Sub off Lallana; put Johnson at RWB, and move
I'd rather see Liverpool play football the right way and lose than watch the team employ long-ball tactics and win, but maybe that's just me.
Author: Jaimie K
