A new season for Liverpool begins with some familiar question marks: what to do in midfield and which system best suits the players available to Jurgen Klopp? The German’s squad for the trip to Stamford Bridge is very different to the one that visited in April, but the question now is how best he should deploy those resources.
Liverpool’s failure to sign a new holding midfielder leaves Jurgen Klopp with a big decision to make ahead of the match at Stamford Bridge. It’s been a month since it became clear that captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were both Saudi Arabia-bound, but the club’s surprise bid to sign Moises Caicedo, and their more prolonged pursuit of Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, have not yielded rewards.
With neither Stefan Bajcetic nor Thiago match-fit after only returning to training this week following long-term injuries, Klopp doesn’t have a specialist No 6 to start against Chelsea. Where should he turn? Alexis Mac Allister played there in the final friendly against Darmstadt and I’d like to see him trusted in that role until that gap in the squad is filled. He’s a World Cup winner and he has experience of playing deeper for Brighton, albeit usually when he had Caicedo for company.
With Klopp set to stick with the 3-box-3 system he used at the back end of last season, I’d pick Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones to fill the more advanced midfield positions. Selecting a back four is more straightforward with Andy Robertson on the left, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk in the middle, and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the hybrid role, operating as the right-back out of possession and then stepping into midfield when Liverpool are building attacks.
At the top end of the pitch, I’d start Cody Gakpo through the centre with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah on either side of him. I toyed with leaving out Jones, picking Gakpo in midfield and then having Diogo Jota as the central striker but I think that would be too bold away to Chelsea. Jota and Darwin Nunez would be great options off the bench.
This fixture will be different to the goalless draw at Stamford Bridge four months ago when the perilous state of both clubs was highlighted. But since then, Liverpool’s move to a new-look system has helped inject fresh life into a faltering team.
The back line, alongside goalkeeper Alisson, is undisputed with the only real question around Alexander-Arnold and how progressive he is in the hybrid role between right-back and holding midfield. New captain Van Dijk should partner Konate with Robertson on the left and the safest option — albeit a not entirely secure one — feels like starting with Jones at No 6.
That leaves five more starting positions with seven realistic options to choose from plus Ben Doak, who is emerging as a player with genuine potential to get minutes from the bench this season. A sensible suggestion is to leave Szoboszlai out and slowly bed him into the team. Mac Allister is already well up to speed with the pace of the Premier League, so playing him alongside Gakpo — who has been tested in an advanced central role — with Diaz, Jota and Salah as the attackers sounds like a plan. Liverpool’s biggest strength this season will be their goalscoring forwards.
While I wish I was slotting in either Caicedo or Lavia into the No 6 position against Chelsea, Klopp has little choice in who does line up in that role. It’s between Mac Allister and Jones, and I would opt for the former. He’s a responsible, calm footballer who has experience playing that position in the Premier League. That’s not to take anything away from Jones, but he excelled at the end of last season in the more advanced role.
Gakpo is such a smooth player to watch and his tactical intelligence and positional understanding have allowed Klopp to use him in a deeper role briefly last season and in pre-season. What’s been really impressive from the Dutchman in that role is the relationships he’s formed with Diaz and Jota, who I would start alongside Salah, as he’s been able to link play.
I would use Szoboszlai from the bench. Away at Stamford Bridge in a Premier League game is a tough ask — let alone for a debutant. He’s shown plenty of encouraging glimpses in pre-season but the thought of him and Nunez coming on at 60
What challenges does Klopp face due to the absence of a specialist No 6 in Liverpool’s midfield, and how can this impact their success against Chelsea
Ld’s role. The 3-4-3 formation provides more defensive stability and allows Alexander-Arnold to contribute in attack as well.
In midfield, the absence of a new holding midfielder is a concern. Henderson and Fabinho’s absence means Klopp will have to make some tough decisions. Mac Allister could be a suitable option for the No 6 role, as he has prior experience playing deeper and has shown his versatility. However, it would be ideal for Liverpool to sign a specialist No 6 as soon as possible to fill the gap in the squad.
In the more advanced midfield positions, Szoboszlai and Jones would be my picks. They have the ability to create chances and contribute offensively. This midfield trio, along with the solid back line, can provide a strong foundation for Liverpool.
Upfront, Gakpo would be my choice through the centre, with Diaz and Salah on either side. This attacking trio has the potential to cause problems for Chelsea’s defense. Jota and Nunez would provide great options off the bench, adding depth to Liverpool’s attacking options.
Overall, Liverpool’s move to a new system has injected fresh life into the team. The upcoming fixture against Chelsea will be different from their goalless draw earlier this year. The new system has provided defensive stability and improved the overall performance of the team. However, the absence of a specialist No 6 remains a concern, and Klopp will need to make wise decisions in midfield to ensure success against Chelsea.
