Jurgen Klopp has made wholesale changes to the Liverpool midfield ahead of next term.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has identified his side’s midfield as an area in need of significant improvement having already made two high-profile acquisitions, with the latter coming just days after the Reds’ Champions League final defeat.
Here’s a glimpse at what the midfield will likely look like come kick-off next term, and the respective jobs of each player:
Klopp’s preferred formation: 4-3-3
Fabinho – defensive midfield
The newest signing at Liverpool, Fabinho will occupy the role of holding midfielder – currently held by Jordan Henderson – and will grow into the role over a number of years, having arrived at Anfield at just 24-years-old.
Klopp outlined his need for experience and tactical nuance in central midfield, in quotes via Sky Sports, claiming: “He is tactically very strong and football smart. I like that he is young yet experienced also, with a high number of games at a club that compete to win.”
The Brazilian will provide a steadiness to a forward-thinking Liverpool side, sitting in-front of the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren, where he will screen the defensive third making interceptions similarly to Nemanja Matic or N’Golo Kante, and will dictate the pace of the game from deep with intelligent use of possession.
Naby Keita – box-to-box
The £50 million midfielder from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, Naby Keita will join up with his new team-mates in July, with Sadio Mane having tipped the Guinea midfielder for big things at Liverpool, in quotes via The Telegraph.
Keita will occupy the role of either of the two box-to-box midfielders in advance of Fabinho – most likely the left-side – as he likes to go on inverted runs towards the box, making diagonal through-balls or rifling shots towards goal from range with his preferred right-foot.
Having scored nine goals in 30 starts last term, Keita is definitely renowned for his attacking qualities, bagging a number of highlight-reel goals from range, but he is also industrious out of possession and will make interceptions and tackles, sometimes recklessly, but the intent to work for the team is always there.
James Milner / Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – box-to-box
The final role will be occupied by either James Milner or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, once he returns from injury. Both players have shown their attacking quality this term and have stepped up in big moments for the team.
Milner, at 32, is in some of the finest form of his long career and broke the record for number of assists registered in a single Champions League campaign last term with eight.
His tireless pressing is pivotal to Jurgen Klopp’s philosophy making him a frequent starter, as the Reds are most effective when recovering possession high. And his crosses from deep are dangerous for any defence.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, has turned a corner under the tutelage of Klopp and looked something of a revelation before his injury.
His speed and mobility through the middle of the park are unmatched by any other midfielder at the club, and he has finally added end-product to his runs – notably netting an emphatic long-range strike against Manchester City in the Champions League.
The ex-Gunner is likely to start in games where Liverpool can afford to be more offensive and have the majority of possession.
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