Liverpool defeated Ajax 3-0 in the Champions League by using a midfield diamond formation. And Klopp explains the new formation after the Reds thumping win over the Dutch giants Ajax.
Klopp on the new formation of Liverpool
In Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Ajax, Jurgen Klopp outlined the tactical reasoning for his use of the diamond formation.
Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott, and Mohamed Salah’s goals were enough to advance the Reds to the round of 16. Jurgen Klopp will now find out his destiny when the draw is announced on November 7.
Salah, Nunez, and Roberto Firmino made up the manager’s starting front three, although the former was occasionally dropping deeper as a new-look approach enabled the team to advance to the knockout rounds of Europe’s top championship for the sixth consecutive year.
In order to give Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold room to play from wide spots, Klopp recommended allowing Nunez and Salah to operate in a tighter front two.
Jurgen Klopp’s analysis
Liverpool could have positioned themselves in a 4-3-3 formation, but they opted to choose a diamond. Although there isn’t much of a change in terms of possession, it keeps the strikers a little bit further inside so they don’t have any obvious wingers and creates space for the full-backs.
In the No. 8 position and the full-back position, one needs to be quite daring. The issue is that when you get to the point in the challenge when you want to block the full-back, they pass to Tadic or Brobbey and the Reds were powerless to stop them there. They actually were there in person.
Ajax had a strong first half and had a chance to take the lead when Steven Berghuis hit the post. Later in the half, Alexander-Arnold stopped Dusan Tadic’s goal-bound attempt.
It’s hard to reverse that on the field because the things you have to accomplish are quite obvious very early on and we put the game in their favor. Liverpool needed their fullbacks to be higher so that Joey, Trent, and Robbo could move into position. Nunez’s best opportunity came via Robbo’s acceleration and connection with Bobby. As the German Boss once again demonstrated his managerial effectiveness, Klopp will now be looking forward to Liverpool’s next fixture against Leeds United.
