Rumours of Fabinho‘s move from AS Monaco to Liverpool only broke on Monday night and two hours later, the club announced that the signing was completed.
The suddenness of the Brazilian’s arrival mirrors the impact his inclusion makes on Liverpool’s tactical variations.
You could only see the Reds operating at their optimum levels in one specific system that’s designed to play to the strengths of their front three, extracting the very best from Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. With Fabinho in the mix though, it opens the door to a plethora of tactical avenues.
Here, we run through the two most likely set-ups Jurgen Klopp could deploy next season with the current roster of players at his disposal.
4-3-3
Tried and tested: 4-3-3
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. That’s the theme that advocates sticking to the current system anyway. However, with two major inclusions in Fabinho and Naby Keita, what’s been a predictable – though nevertheless effective – set-up for Liverpool, attains a higher degree of dynamism.
The thought is a scary one given that ‘dynamic’ is already one of the most popular words that comes to mind when describing the Reds’ system and style of play. The two new midfield recruits would operate ahead of captain Jordan Henderson with their substantial mobility and energy allowing the England international to focus on shielding the defence and simply spreading play.
With 13 goals and eight assists between them in domestic league competitions this past season, the duo adds plenty of creativity and a prominent goal threat from midfield.
Their proficiency from range and runs into the box will only serve to aid Liverpool’s revered attacking line.
You’ll notice that even in a three-man central midfield, neither Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain nor Giorginio Wijnaldum features in this line-up but perhaps that’s precisely the point. Liverpool’s lack of strength in depth has been an issue this past season and with players like that make their bench a far more formidable one.
Suitability: 9/10
3-4-3
New beast: 3-4-3
This is where Liverpool can truly tap into Fabinho’s versatility and utilise it to morph into a very different beast whilst retaining the many threatening aspects the tried and tested 4-3-3 offers.
The Brazilian could effortlessly slot in at right wing-back in a 3-4-3 system which also capitalises on Andrew Robertson’s strengths in attack on the opposite flank. Fabinho’s presence on the right also means Salah can put tracking back out of his mind completely, direct all his efforts towards goal-scoring and essentially go full Cristiano Ronaldo.
Keita’s industrious nature makes a two-man central midfield of him and Henderson feasible while keeping the fearsome front three intact.
Where it could get really interesting is playing Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right side of a back three. The 19-year-old has featured at right-back enough to be more than competent at protecting the space in behind Fabinho. Meanwhile, being a midfielder by trade, the youngster could also be entrusted with stepping out from the back with the ball.
A role akin to the one Gareth Southgate has bestowed upon Kyle Walker for England bears the closest resemblance where the Manchester City man operates as an auxiliary central midfielder in possession.
Not only would this help the Anfield outfit enjoy a greater share of possession but also allow Keita to bomb forward with more freedom and join the attack in the knowledge that Alexander-Arnold can sit alongside Henderson in his stead.
Suitability: 8/10
MORE ADDITIONS
Of course, Liverpool’s summer spending is unlikely to end here. Nabil Fekir and Alisson Becker in particular continue to be strongly linked with a switch to Anfield.
Keeping that in mind, we’ve also looked at how Klopp could line up his troops should he land his summer targets.
Fekir’s inclusion serves up a few interesting options and can be found here.
