This weekend will prove to be a defining weekend of the Premier League season. Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield and the consequences are huge. If the Reds beat their Lancashire rivals they will go nine points clear of the champions, leaving the Blues in fourth place. Pep Guardiola could spoil the party if he goes for a 3-5-2 formation.
When Manchester City were centurion champions in 2017/18 they occasionally played with a 3-5-2 formation. This formation can equally be seen as a 5-3-2 depending on which players are utilised in the wide areas.
Liverpool are vulnerable when facing a 3-5-2. Against Manchester United, Trent Alexander-Arnold in particular struggled to get his bearings when coming up against Ashley Young in the left wing back role.
The Scouser struggled to play to his offensive best as he couldn’t figure out whether to press forward and get tight or drop off and give the wing back space on the ball.
When Trent got tight, the ball was pinged over his head for the on rushing Daniel James. When Trent dropped off, the wing back was given too much time and space to pick his pass and it interfered with Liverpool’s pressing system.
If Guardiola plays a 3-5-2 he could neutralise Jürgen Klopp’s most dynamic threat: his wing backs. By pinning Trent and Andy Robertson back using offensive wing backs of his own, Pep can force the Reds attack infield.
If the Liverpool attack is narrowed then our front three will find themselves with little space to operate as they come up against three centre backs. Against Tottenham the Reds approach play was stagnant at the start of the game as it was far too central, the likes of Mo Salah play at their best when drifting in from wide.
Fingers crossed there are no tactical surprises from Pep Guardiola, a 3-5-2 could change the game.
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